Articles for February 27th, 2013

El Padrino, Kicked Out of Bishop Arts, Finds New Home in Southeast Dallas

posted by Carol Shih | February 27th, 2013 12:19pm | filed under oak cliff, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, Tacos | 11 Comments »
El Padrino in its old Bishop Arts location (photo by Carol Shih)

El Padrino in its old Bishop Arts location (photo by Carol Shih)

I’ve been rooting for the little El Padrino taco stand in Bishop Arts since last November, ever since we found out the Lombardi group’s plans to takeover/(maybe) bulldoze the iconic red-and-white building that housed those famously nice taco ladies.

For the last couple months, Juan Contreras, managing parter of El Padrino, has been trying his hardest to stay in Bishop Arts. “We hope to stay in the Bishop Arts; we were one of the original establishments before Bishop Arts became what it is now, and we’d like to be part of it as long as we can,” he said back in October 2012. Unfortunately, it looks like those plans have fallen through. El Padrino #2 is moving to southeast Dallas, and it’ll open on May 3.

Contreras wrote this email about the news. The headline is very bittersweet. Props to Bishop Arts for its blossoming area, but let’s not forget the little guys who helped make it what it is, shall we?

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El Padrino Taqueria a casualty to the Bishop Arts District’s success
DALLAS, TX – El Padrino Taqueria, affectionately known as El Padrino (Mexican Godfather), a popular Mexican food stand in the Bishop Arts District since the 1990’s has lost their lease and has found a new home.  El Padrino was housed in an old original Jack in the Box shaped fast food stand located on 330 W. Davis St., and provided great Mexican fast food to N. Oak Cliff’s diverse clientele.

El Padrino lost their lease to Sarah Lombardi in May. “We didn’t see this coming, but we were grateful that Ms. Lombardi let us operate through November. Which allowed us some time to look for a new location and for our employees to find jobs nearby.” says Juan Contreras Jr. El Padrino hoped to move to a new location in the Bishop Arts District or somewhere nearby, “Unfortunately it was harder than we thought. Our broker Charlie Perdue, from Perdue Equities worked with us to find us a home nearby, however, there were just no options to fit our needs.” says Juan C. Contreras Jr., Managing Partner.

The Contreras say that they decided to move to southeastern Dallas on 1215 S Buckner Blvd not only because they got a good deal in their new location but also because they also wanted to expand their locations: one in Oak Cliff and the other in Pleasant Grove. “One of our friends here in the community approached us with a deal we could not pass and well we decided to give it a try.” says Juan Contreras Jr.

The new Padrino’s expects to open May 3rd, 2013 serving the same type of original Mexican food items and more.

“We had a great run in the Bishop Arts District, and were surrounded by inspiring friends in the community and we expect to continue our success in our new location.” says Juan Contreras Jr.

 

El Padrino also has the original location located at 408 W. Jefferson Boulevard, which remains open.

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Thank you,

Juan Contreras
El Padrino; Managing Partner
Website: elpadrinomexicangrill.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CafeteriayLoncheriaElPadrino
Twitter: ElPadrinoTejas

11 Comments »

Calling All Chefs: Last Chance to Apply for a Space in Permanent Pop Up Restaurant, Kitchen LTO

posted by Carol Shih | February 27th, 2013 11:58am | filed under Bring it! | 2 Comments »

Owner Cassie Caldwell’s extending the deadline to the end of this week. Anybody who has the chops to open their own restaurant for a few months inside permanent pop up restaurant, Kitchen LTO, is welcome to apply. Go for it right here.

2 Comments »

The Taste, Episode 6: Nose to Tail

posted by Christina Colavecchia | February 27th, 2013 10:31am | filed under The Taste |
Ludo Lefebvre, Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, and Brian Malarkey (via popgoestheweek.com)

Ludo Lefebvre, Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, and Brian Malarkey (via popgoestheweek.com)

I should warn you: this week’s episode is absolutely disgusting. The judges warn their chefs they may be entering into “unfamiliar territories,” and that was putting it politely.

This week’s theme: offal (also known as organ meats.) Yum.

Guest judges Frederic Morin and Dave McMillan of Montreal’s Joe Beef enter The Taste with a very pink, very dead pig on a stick. The cheftestants are told they must create a spoon made with some sort of offal for the team taste test. The winner gets immunity and the help of the guest judges on their team for the looming solo test.

Malarkey provides his team with items like yellowtail collar and lamb belly, while Bourdain gives his some tripe and a very curly pigtail. Ludo, being French and all, chases the other judges around the arena with pig blood all over his hands and hands Gregg a pig head.

Bourdain helps Diane jigsaw some sort of bone in half and she adds collard greens and pig skin to her dish. Our Girl Uno uses tripe, pigtail and beef tongue in a soup and warns, “Elimination could be on the horizon for me.”

Continue reading "The Taste, Episode 6: Nose to Tail"

Hump Day Fun: Lance Bass, Susan Boyle, and Wynonna Judd Sing About Miracle Whip

posted by Carol Shih | February 27th, 2013 10:07am | filed under Foodie Video, Really?, sassy pants |

 
Congratulations, Miracle Whip’s marketing team, you’ve created a very catchy ditty, but unfortunately, there’s no way anyone can sing open your mouth, find your tangy creamy side and let it all out. People are going to raise their eyebrows.