Mmmmm Tofu

Chipotle announces date to unfurl its spicy vegan tofu Sofritas in Texas

The Sofritas are here, the Sofritas are here: Chipotle Mexican Grill has settled on a date to introduce its new vegan Sofritas menu options across the South: October 13.

Chipotle representatives Nate DeMercurio and Danielle Winslow took the opportunity to announce the exciting Sofritas news during a media preview of Cultivate, its big-deal food-music festival that's coming to Dallas (well, Irving) October 18.

Sofritas is organic shredded tofu braised with chipotle chiles, roasted poblano peppers and a blend of spices. It takes its name from "sofrito," a combination of peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes used as a base in many Spanish and Latin American dishes. The Sofritas will be available at restaurants in the South and Southeast including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

"Sofritas is a very different kind of menu item, not just for Chipotle but for any fast-food or fast-casual restaurant," said Chipotle founder Steve Ells in a release. "In creating the recipe for Sofritas, we wanted to produce something that would appeal to vegetarian and vegan customers, but that was delicious enough to have crossover appeal as well."

Chipotle's tofu supplier is Hodo Soy, known for its organic, non-GMO tofu and artisanal production methods. Based in the San Francisco area, Hodo Soy's mission is to craft the highest-quality, best-tasting whole bean tofu, and it has become one of the most reputable tofu producers in the country. Its products are featured in some of the Bay Area's leading restaurants, as well as farmers markets and specialty food stores.

Sofritas is available in burritos, tacos, burrito bowls and salads, and it can be combined with other signature ingredients such as white or brown cilantro-lime rice, pinto beans or vegetarian black beans, salsas, and guacamole.

The rollout across the South follows test launches in California, Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, Chicago and select East Coast cities. Sofritas were placed as a permanent menu item in Boston and New York earlier this year.

Sofritas will be a featured item at Cultivate, the one-day festival which will include cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, live music, local food artisans, regional beer and wines, a special Chipotle festival menu, a Kids’ Zone with games, and other activities that emphasize fresh and affordable food made with sustainable ingredients. Admission is free.

The preview event took place at Times Ten Cellars in Dallas, with samplings of Sofritas as well as a sprouted "porridge" by FT33 chef Matt McCallister, a curried shrimp pancake by Casa Rubia chef Omar Flores, a custom "Cultivate Farmhouse Ale" for the festival from Lakewood Brewing Co., a chipotle-chocolate brownie from Brownie Cottage, and offerings from other vendors who will be featured at the event.

Chipotle's Sofritas tofu mixture is good in tacos.

Photo courtesy of Chipotle

Chipotle's Sofritas tofu mixture is good in tacos.

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BBQ news

11 Dallas-Fort Worth BBQ joints showcased in Texas author's new tome

Photo by Brianna Caleri

This hefty book highlights the behind the historical connections that make Texas Barbecue so interconnected.

Most Texans know our barbecue traditions are more complicated than a bit of salt, pepper, and smoke, but how much else is there to say? For Austin-based food and travel writer Veronica Meewes, the answer is: a lot.

Her new 512-page book, Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow, covers the subject in great detail, from long restaurant and pitmaster profiles to shorter blurbs that weave the complicated web of who's who in Texas 'cue. Gorgeous photographs round out this feast of a coffee table book.

Eleven Dallas-Fort Worth barbecue restaurants get featured in the book, including Cattleack Barbeque, Zavala’s Barbecue, Goldee’s Barbecue, Smoke-a-Holics BBQ, Heim Barbecue, and more.

This book stands out not just for its beauty — including embossed lettering and a cloth wrap that looks and feels like a high-quality denim apron — but for the depth at which it chronicles each establishment.

Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow table of contents Big photos make Texas BBQ fun to flip through.Image courtesy of HarperCollins

Some of the most notable entries, such as Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth, Truth BBQ in Brenham and Houston, and Aaron Franklin in Austin, get six to 10-page spreads. Each is written in a way that the reader would understand if they simply flipped to their favorite restaurant, but during long reading sessions, bigger narratives start to unfold.

The author recounts the story of Fort Worth's highly acclaimed Goldee's, from its founders' childhoods and early work experiences to its beginnings just before the pandemic, to its Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction in 2024. There are even a few recipes, equipment, and cooking secrets revealed.

In between comprehensive restaurant histories, the author offers snippets of more general knowledge: a barbecue glossary, a breakdown of different types of wood and knives, and a profile of two popular barbecue education courses.

Since the book is organized by region — North, East, Central, South, and West Texas — it's both a great semi-personalized book for Texans who love their hometowns and a useful travel guide.

The title of this book could be a tongue-in-cheek reference to how it's written, with a clear passion for getting to the bottom of things, finding the flavor, and trimming very little fat.

Author Veronica Meewes at la Barbecue.Photo by Alex Gray

Texas BBQ is published by HarperCollins, with an original release date of November 11. It is available via the publisher for $50, or as an ebook for $34.99, as well as from other stores across Texas and major online retailers. (As of publish time, it's on sale on Amazon for $30.04.) This is Meewe's fifth book.

Here's the complete list of the Texas barbecue joints featured in the book:

North Texas

Goldee’s Barbecue - Fort Worth
Panther City BBQ - Fort Worth
Cattleack Barbeque - Dallas
Zavala’s Barbecue - Grand Prairie
Smoke-a-Holics BBQ - Fort Worth
Heim Barbecue - Fort Worth & Dallas
Sabar BBQ - Fort Worth
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue - Aledo
Hutchins Barbeque - MicKinney & Frisco
Lockhart Smokehouse - Dallas
Smoke’n Ash BBQ - Arlington

East Texas

Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue- Tyler
1701 Barbecue- Beaumont
Blood Bros BBQ- Houston
Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue- Tomball
Bar-A BBQ- Montgomery
Bodacious Bar-B-Q- Longview
Sunbird Barbecue- Longview
Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue- Crockett
Martin’s Place- Bryan
Khoi Barbecue- Houston
Harlem Road Texas BBQ- Richmond
Gatlin’s BBQ- Houston
Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue- Houston
Feges BBQ- Houston
Killen’s Barbecue- Pearland, Cypress, Shenandoah
Redbird BBQ- Port Lavaca
Patillo’s Barbeque- Beaumont
Brett’s BBQ Shop- Katy
Roegels BBQ Co.- Houston
CorkScrew BBQ- Spring

Central Texas

Franklin Barbecue- Austin
Louie Mueller Barbecue- Taylor
la Barbecue- Austin
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue- Austin
Micklethwait Craft Meats- Austin
InterStellar BBQ- Austin
Kreuz Market- Lockhart
Snow’s BBQ- Lexington
Eaker Barbeque- Fredericksburg
Rossler’s Blue Cord BBQ- Harker Heights
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que- Llano (and other locations)
Miller’s Smokehouse- Belton
Southside Market & Barbeque- Elgin, Bastrop, Austin & Hutto
The Original Black’s Barbecue- Lockhart, Austin, San Marcos
Terry Black’s Barbecue- Austin, Lockhart, Dallas, Waco
Distant Relatives- Austin
Rollin’ Smoke BBQ- Austin
Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen- Austin
KG BBQ- Austin
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew- Austin
Smitty’s Market- Lockhart
City Market- Luling
Black Board Bar B Q- Sisterdale
Victorian’s Barbecue- Mart
Viteks’ BBQ- Waco
Guess Family Barbecue- Waco
Helberg Barbecue- Woodway

South Texas

2M Smokehouse- San Antonio
Burnt Bean Co.- Seguin
Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que- Brownsville
Teddy’s Barbecue- Weslaco
Reese Bros. Barbecue- San Antonio
GW’s BBQ Catering Co.- San Juan
Lavaca BBQ- Port Lavaca
Butter’s BBQ- Sinton

West Texas

Perini Ranch Steakhouse- Buffalo Gap
Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque- Wolfforth (outside Lubbock)
Brantley Creek Barbecue-
Hallelujah! BBQ- El Paso
Desert Oak Barbecue- El Paso
Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue- Marathon

Profiles:

Daniel Vaughn
M&M BBQ Co.
Chief Firewood
BBQ Confessional
Houston Edgeworks
Camp Brisket (at Texas A&M)
Chud’s BBQ
Mill Scale Metalworks
Jess Pryles/Hardcore Carnivore
Brisket Country
The Sausage Sensei
Matti Bills (Three Six General, Howdy Child)

books barbecue texas history chefs pitmasters goldee's