Dean Fearing Does DFW

Dean Fearing's Southwestern cuisine feeds fancy travelers at exclusive DFWAirport lounge

American Express opened a new lounge at DFW Airport's Terminal D with some serious perks, including food from Dallas chef Dean Fearing and an Exhale spa where you can get facials and manicures.

Called the Centurion Lounge, it celebrated its opening on October 15 with a ribbon-cutting that included a feast and in-person appearance by Fearing himself.

This is the second Centurion; the original opened in Las Vegas in early 2013. It has sparked interest from jaded travelers for its lineup of features that go beyond the usual airport facility:

Card- and travel-related services such as reservations at restaurants, airlines and hotels
Free spa therapies from Exhale
Texas-inspired signature cocktails created by mixologist Jim Meehan, or wine from a selection curated by wine director Anthony Giglio
Access to Wi-Fi, use of personal computers and noise-buffering workspaces
Southwestern cuisine designed by chef Dean Fearing

The food format is a buffet, with a breakfast version running from 7 am-noon, and a lunch and dinner buffet that extends until 10 pm. At breakfast, it's almond bread French toast; egg frittata; blueberry muffins and vanilla-and-orange pound cake; and tacos with spinach and onions, or with egg, sausage and jalapeño Jack cheese.

Dinner options include corn soup, chicken enchilada casserole with green chile sauce, spinach and queso enchilada, brisket tacos, and a warm apple buckle for dessert.

"When American Express asked me to bring a local food tie to the lounge, I said absolutely yes," Fearing says. "I am thrilled that world travelers can experience a little bit of my Texas flavor and local cuisine while traveling through DFW.

"From a personal standpoint, and as a traveler myself, the American Express Centurion Lounge concept also suits all of my needs. I can relax, work on the road, enjoy great food, and have access to well-known wines and spirits – all in a single lounge. I am excited and honored to be part of this innovation."

Access is free to Platinum and Business Platinum as well as Mercedes-Benz Platinum cardholders and Centurion card members. Any other American Express card member can access it for a $50 fee.

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Spicy chicken joint

TikTok-famed hot halal chicken chain The Red Chickz pecks into Carrollton

Facebook/The Red Chickz

Dipping hot chicken into sauce is a big thing at The Red Chickz.

A California hot chicken chain that's famous for being TikTok-famous is making its Dallas-Fort Worth debut in Carrollton. Called The Red Chickz, it will open at 3204 E. Hebron Pkwy. #220, Carrollton, on Saturday, July 25.

This will be The Red Chickz's second location in Texas, following a restaurant in Cypress, outside Houston.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2018, The Red Chickz serves 100 percent halal chicken with a California twist on Nashville hot chicken, says a release. Halal refers to the method in which the chicken are slaughtered, one that focuses on humane treatment of animals, cleanliness, and acknowledging the value of life.

The Red Chickz menu features chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, tacos, and loaded fries, with seven spice levels ranging from no heat to extra hot.

Their signature item is the Honey Butter Sandwich, which pairs a Nashville hot chicken breast with honey butter, pickles, and slaw on a brioche bun. Other menu standouts include a French Toast Sandwich, Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos, cauliflower for vegetarians, plus sides such as cheese curds, corn ribs, mac and cheese, and seasoned fries.

They also offer a range of sauces for dipping, including Comeback Sauce, Honey Butter, Smoky Honey Mustard, and Homemade Buffalo Sauce.

The Carrollton restaurant is owned by franchisee Nazar Osman, an entrepreneur from Northeast Africa, who moved to the United States in 1992. He says he plans to open two more locations around Dallas.

CEO and co-founder Shawn Lalehzarian says the success of the Cypress restaurant made expanding further into Texas a logical decision.

"The incredible response we've seen in Cypress confirmed Texans have a strong appetite for bold flavors, quality food, and memorable dining experiences," he says in a release. "As the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues to attract new residents, businesses, and investment from across the country, Carrollton is a natural next step for our expansion."

Part of the chain's appeal comes from its modern social media strategy. Rather than relying on traditional advertising, The Red Chickz built its brand through TikTok videos showcasing the crunch, texture, and spice of its chicken, often tapping into viral trends and encouraging customers to create their own content.

Some (ie, those who don't work in traditional media) might say the strategy has paid off: The chain has amassed more than 1.2 million TikTok followers and recently was named a finalist for the 2026 Chicken Marketer of the Year award.

Similarly, their strategy to build buzz around the Carrollton store seems to have been to invite influencers to post videos of chicken being dipped in giant buckets of sauce, like this one and this one and this one and this one. Yummy!

To celebrate the grand opening in Carrollton, the first 150 customers on July 25 and 26 will receive a free Honey Butter Sandwich with a purchase, and all guests will get 25 percent off their order during opening weekend. Sauce for everyone!

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