BBQ News

BBQ fest Lone Star Smokeout to bring 14 pitmasters to Arlington

Slow Bone BBQ

Slow Bone

There's a new BBQ-fest coming to town: Called the Lone Star Smokeout, it's a 3-day event combining BBQ and country music that'll debut outside of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington in May as an offshoot of the Windy City Smokeout, an award-winning annual festival in Chicago from Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants.

According to a release, the three-day event will take place from May 2-4, with BBQ staples from 14 pitmasters, live music performances from country music acts, and other retail pop-ups and sponsor activations.

Of the 14 pitnasters, 10 are from Texas, and five are from DFW, as follows:

Dayne’s Craft Barbeque from Aledo
Hurtado Barbecue from Arlington
The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque from Trophy Club
Michelin-recommended Panther City BBQ from Fort Worth
Slow Bone BBQ from Dallas
Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue from Harker Heights
The Salt Lick BBQ from Driftwood
The Original Black’s BBQ from Lockhart
two-time James Beard-nominated and Michelin-recommended 2M Smokehouse BBQ from San Antonio
two-time James Beard semifinalist Curry Boys BBQ from San Antonio
Little Miss BBQ from Phoenix
Meat Mitch Barbecue from Leawood, Kansas
Pappy’s Smokehouse from St. Louis, Missouri
Wright’s Barbecue from Fayetteville, Arkansas

Each featured BBQ vendor will be selling two items throughout the festival.

In a statement, Lone Star Smokeout Culinary Director Max Robbins says the festival is about highlighting the influence of Texas BBQ.

Featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, USA Today, and Forbes, the Windy City Smokeout was created in 2013 and is operated by Lettuce Entertain You, an independent, family-owned restaurant group based in Chicago that owns, manages, and licenses more than 120 restaurants nationwide.

Lone Star Smokeout already announced its daily music lineup, as follows:

Friday, May 2: Cody Jinks, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Meloy, Ian Harrison, Grace Tyler, JoJo DiSalvo
Saturday, May 3: Jon Pardi, Dylan Gossett, Tucker Wetmore, Tanner Adell, Lauren Watkins, Catie Offerman
Sunday, May 4: Midland, Wyatt Flores, DJ Pauly D, Eli Young Band, Hudson Westbrook, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper

They'll also serve cocktails and beer plus pop-ups from Tecovas, Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, Hale House Boutique, and a custom hat bar Flea Style.

General admission tickets start at $68, while a weekend pass is $177. The admission price does not cover food. VIP tickets start at $546 and get the food inclusive, plus amenities such as climate-controlled and shaded viewing areas, air-conditioned bathrooms, and reserved parking.

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Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

deep-ellum tex-mex openings