BBQ, Whiskey, and Sweets OH My!

Tasty Craft Cocktails!

I got invited to a V.I.P. barbecue and whiskey dinner last Thursday night at Barrel and Bones in Fort Worth, just off of West 7th Street.

When I answered the phone, all I heard was two words; Bar-be-que and Whis-key!

You never have to ask me twice when there is beef and whiskey involved. Especially when it’s craft Texas whiskeys and cocktails served up with big phat slabs of beef, smoked turkey, smoked wings, fried deviled eggs, and fried poblano corn Fritters. Yea I bet I have your attention now, don’t I?

So there I was sitting in Barrel and Bones in Fort Worth salivating over smoked meats, tasty whiskey, and fried deliciousness.

The aromas coming from the kitchen were almost too much for this cowboy to handle. I was ready to pounce on some deliciousness and start slinging back some whiskey.

The barbecue and kitchen team at Barrel and Bones has done a great job at creating some amazing flavor profiles for all to enjoy.

Photos – 25 Best BBQ Spots In North Texas On ABC

When anyone says the word “barbecue” it sends most folks in what I like to call the full tilt barbecue boogie. Their minds simply start overloading on the thought of tender, succulent, and flavor-packed proteins that have been cooked to perfection over a fire, in a pit, or in a smoker. Well, at least mine does! Almost everyone loves a good barbecue. It’s one of the most popular foods in the world. As a passionate restauranteur, food expert, chowhound, and barbecue lover, my mind stays in F.T.B.B all day. I love BBQ and I am passionate about the pitmasters and chefs that create these wonderful dishes for all of us to enjoy.

Trey’s Chow Down spent two hours on Victory Plaza in DALLAS with six pit masters on ABC DAYBREAK displaying some of Texas Best BBQ. We had a great time with the Channel 8 DAYBREAK crew slinging some delicious BBQ and creative sides.

The pit masters who joined where some of North Texas very BEST!

Hutchin’s Barbecue

Hurtado Barbecue

Texas Spice On Lamar

Zavala’s Barbecue

Joe Riscky’s Craft Barbecue at Wild Acre Brewing Company

407 Barbecue

We had a fantastic time displaying some of North Texas BEST barbecue and creative sides.

Please see our original blog/article on the TOP 25 BEST BBQ SPOTS In North Texas.

25 Best Barbecue Spots In North Texas for ABC

Enjoy these delicious Barbecue photos.

 

Wagyu Steak Cook Off & Texfest Event

Josh, & Craig with Blaine Stone Lodge & Trey

Trey’s Chow Down brands is proud to partner with the NEW Blaine Stone Lodge for this exciting premier event in Ellis County on June 15th 2019.

Blaine Stone Lodge is located 30 minutes south of both downtown Dallas and Fort Worth and is the newest catering and events center in Ellis County. The lodge sits on a scenic lake and is surrounded by 1,000 acres of a Texas outdoorsman’s paradise. 

At Blaine Stone Lodge, we are creating North Texas’ premier steak cookoff and Texfest.  We’ve partnered with Wagyu Excelente, one of the finest Texas Wagyu beef, to create a fine dining event paired with specialty beers, wines and liquors. 

This is a family-friendly event and will feature an off-road race in the morning, classic car and truck show, local and regional culinary delights, as well as several fun activities for adults and kids like a Floating Hole-in-One Competition, Tug-of-War, Cornhole Competition, and Balloon Launch!

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, a Texas-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring military and first responder communities by keeping families together.

General Admission tickets (ages 15+) are $59.  Ticket includes full day access to all events as well as the chefs, access to side buffet, two (2) drink tickets, and one (1) voting voucher.

Child Admission tickets (ages 6-14) are $39.  Ticket includes full day access to all events as well as chefs, and access to side buffet.

One of the beautiful patio areas.

VIP tickets are $99.  Ticket includes full day access to all events as well as the chefs, three (3) drink tickets, one (1) voting voucher, guaranteed VIP seating near the entertainment stage, Texas Gulf Shrimp and Wagyu Prime Rib Dinner, and a VIP Goody Bag.  

All-Day Premium Bar Pass is $39.  Package includes full day access to Texas-centric premium drinks.

Cookoff

All teams must bring everything they need except for meat.

We are inviting twenty (20) of the top Beef Chefs in the DFW area to compete with two (2) cuts of Wagyu Excelente NY strip steaks.  Winner gets trophy/bragging rights, Chris Kyle trophy, special chef coat, four (4) night’s stay in a private home in Belize, and other prizes to be determined.  

An additional 50-100 teams, including military and first responder teams, will compete in cooking Wagyu Excelente New York strip steaks.  Entry fee for teams is $150 and can include up to four (4) people.

The party is waiting for you at Blaine Stone.

Each cookoff team will receive two (2) 14 oz Wagyu New York strip steaks and two (2) hours to cook.  Start time is at 11 am with presentation at 2 pm.  Teams should bring one (1) hot or cold signature side for guest sampling at their booth.  Guests will vote on Best Beef and Best Side. 

Quail entry $25 with presentation at 1 pm.    

The top fifteen (15) steaks chosen will then get two (2) more steaks to cook at 4 pm, for the Judging Panel, with presentation at 5:45 pm.  Teams are encouraged to create a signature side dish to accompany their steaks.  

The Judging Panel is comprised of beef professionals, chefs, and celebrity guests, referred by the Steak Cookoff Association (SCA), the sanctioning body that certifies steak cookoffs around the world.

Awards

Cash awards for 1st thru 10th place, along with a prize for 1st and 2nd for Best Beef and Best Side.  Top prize is $2,500, the same as the world championship prize!  Quail payout – winner takes all.  

Entertainment Activities

  • Clay Shoot
  • Car & Truck Show
  • Photo Booth
  • Meat Market & education
  • Gun Raffle
  • Cookoff Team Competition Tug-of-War
  • Floating Hole-in-One
  • Corn Hole Tournament 
  • Messina Hof Winery tent with tasting & retail
  • Food vendors:  Texas Quail, Beef Jerky, Texas Cheeses and Charcuterie

Giddy Up and we will see y’all at the world famous Blaine Stone Lodge.

Trey (Chow Down) Chapman

Trey’s Chow Down LIVE w/John Tesar #115

55 BEST Eateries & Eats in DFW 2019

Trey on ABC 8 DAYBREAK w/Kara Swell. Trey’s Chow Down Best Burgers DFW ON Victory Plaza Party.

I’m proud to write about the very BEST PLACES and DISHES I’ve eaten in the last twelve months and I’ve enjoyed my research time. I am passionate about what we do at Trey’s Chow Down and bringing the very best to you!  The named restaurants and chefs I have listed continually change the culinary landscape in DFW area. 

Food is an event itself and the chefs who prepare it are now celebrities themselves. It doesn’t matter what kind of food you’re talking about, whether it be a $1 dollar taco or a $250 steak dinner, it’s all taken the center stage in the last decade.

Any and all food can be prepared with a creative and colorful flair that’s packed with delicious flavors. Chefs have no boundaries in what they can create and deliver to anyone’s table. It can be at a food festival, a food truck, a taco shack, standing by a smoker in the middle of now where, in a restaurant with a white table cloth, or a food hall, it just doesn’t matter!

Great food creates bonds from friendships to business partnerships. We are being brought together over great meals more than ever. It is true, nothing brings us closer than a good meal. We have more fun, relax, and socialize when you have some food and drinks. It’s just a proven fact!

If you look back over the course of history, there are many photos of folks enjoying meals with big parties. Have you heard of the little thing called the Last Supper? I’m sure you’ve seen that photo. Also, kings and queens had big tables with extravagant parties for dinners. In the late 1800s to the early 1970s families would all sit down and eat dinner, breakfast and sometimes lunch.

Trey On Fox 4 Good Day Best BBQ Episode for the DFW area.

Why would they do this? It was a way to form a place for communication. An event where you could discuss your day, work, family, and any issues one might have. Somehow for three or four decades we lost that. Food became a necessity. We just ate in most cases to stay alive and keep moving so we could make more of the oh mighty dollar. I guess one might say for a lack of a better term it was GREED that halted the family and friendly food gatherings. We just didn’t have time.

Not any more! It’s back in our life’s and society has said, “Bring it on, let’s eat! We LOVE a great dining experience with family and friends it’s all about the food and drink NOW!”

There’s been a progression in competition in the food and chef wars, and I’m in happy about it. I’m in love with food and always have been. I love all that food offers us from and friendships and bonds it creates. I’m passionate about the chefs that create it and the restaurants that house it. This is why I wanted to give my fellow foodies my award-winning restaurant picks for 2019.

I spent all of 2018 chowing down, visiting with chefs, and locating some of the best food creations you will ever eat. I’ve eaten at some amazing places and I’ve listed them all.

These are my top places to CHOW DOWN for great experiences with some incredibly creative and delicious foods. From trailers to restaurants, nothing is off limits when it comes to eating deliciousness. Let’s sit back,  relax, and enjoy some incredible eats and eateries.

I’ve hosted a few of these restaurants and dishes on Fox Television Fox 4 GOOD DAY and ABC Channel 8 DAYBREAK. Please click on the restaurant or chefs name for more information or videos. 

#1 Knife

Dallas / Plano, Texas

Chef John Tesar video

Knife Dallas/Plano ?: @matthews_meals

Knife is much more than a steakhouse because John Tesar is incredibly passionate about his customer’s experiences. It’s a place where you can dine, drink, and socialize. Its a guarantee you’ll be having a fantastic time with friends and family here. It’s not stuffy but it is a classy place with a wonderfully comfortable atmosphere. Knife has some of the best flavor profiles in Texas. The steaks are award winning 44 Farms cuts of beef. You can get amazing dry aged beef from Chef John’s cooler. The choices are endless! John desserts, simply put, are just ridiculously delicious. I’m also in love with his Blue Cheese Wedge salad.  The lettuce was chilled to the perfect temperature and the dressing was so good I wanted to drink it. Knife is an all-time favorite for me and I’ve chowed down all over the world. They offer brunch at the new Plano location too. #FlavorRodeo

#2 Clay Pigeon Food and Drink

Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Marcus Paslay video

Chef Bri Downey

Clay Pigeon could possibly be one of those places where you could eat and drink every night. Chef Marcus is passionate about his restaurants and everything that is created in his kitchens. They change the menu four to six times a year and they only use farm fresh vegetables and ingredients sourced locally where available. I’ve loved everything at Clay Pigeon. At most occasions, I have even licked my plate clean. They change the menu so much I’m not going to list any particular dish. I’ll just let you know, everything I’ve had has been riddled with flavor and is so delicious you can’t stop eating until it’s gone. #FlavorCentral

#3 Grace Restaurant & Bar

Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Blaine Staniford video

Grace has been on my radar and in my food directory since the first time I dined there. Chef Blaine changes his menu seasonally and always has some of the most creative dishes in Texas. His creativity has no bounds and his flavor profiles are always on point. Since the menu changes regularly I’m not going to give you any one dish, I just want you to dine at Grace and try anything. I do love Blaine’s Steaks and unique creations like his one-of-kind escargot dish. The snails for this dish are only fed fresh basil. They also have a seven-course tasting dinner option that is truly amazing!  If you’re looking for an incredible dining experience prepared by one of the most creative chefs in Texas then head over to Grace and try the Seven Course Tasting Dinner. #WorthIt

#4 Petra and the Beast

Dallas, Texas

Chef Misti Norris

I’ve eaten Chef Misiti’s dishes and they’re incredibly colorful, creative, and just beautiful to the eyes. Misiti is so passionate about her cooking, being a chef and most of all taking her creativity to the next level. She’s always trying to stay one step ahead of everyone in the culinary world by consistently creating new flavorful creations that amaze food lovers and chefs. Petra and The Beast is a must visit for any food lover in Texas. I can promise you, it’s worth the drive and trip from anywhere in Texas to dine with Chef Misiti and enjoy her culinary delights. Check her website for hours of operations and menu details.

#5 Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen

Downtown McKinney, Texas

Sugarbacon Rib Video 

Asian Mint Dallas Locations

Located in an old historic building in downtown McKinney, Texas, Sugarbacon has some amazing and creative items that are worth the drive from anywhere in the DFW area. I’ve tried five different items in 2018 and this place has never let me down. I love the pork belly dish. The desserts are stupid delicious too! After research and discussions, we discovered everything is farm fresh and sourced locally when possible from the McKinney-Dallas area. They offer  “Tender Belly Farms ” Pork, “ Morgan Ranch” Beef, and “ Lewellen Farms” greens. Seriously, it is local and farms fresh vegetables and ingredients ONLY. What more do you need? #Worthit

#6 Asian Mint

Dallas, Texas

Chef Nikki Phinyawatana

The flavor profiles and creativeness that chef Nikki is slinging from her kitchens is just ridiculous! It’s billed as Asian Fushion but all I can say is it’s like you own little “Flavor Land” with every single bite you take. Everything I eat is just riddled with goodness that will make your head snap back in disbelief. It will leave you saying, “I just can’t get enough”. Just last week I tried something as simplistic as “bacon fried rice” and I went back three more times. I couldn’t stop eating it! If you haven’t tried the MINT then I would suggest you do, and soon! #Delish

#7 BBQ On The Brazos

Cresson, Texas

Chef/Pit Master John Sanford

This place is a cozy little Texas hang out. The menu is loaded with items that will send your taste buds to the flavor rodeo. I don’t care what you eat, whether it be the brisket with thick delicious bark, chili, the gobble gobble sandwich, it’s all just packed with deliciousness. Everything is cooked, smoked, or prepared by the creative BBQ team at BBQ on the Brazos. No wonder they made the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joints on Texas! #SmokyGoodnessAlways

#8 Buttons Restaurant 

Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Keith Button Hicks video 

My man and soul food legend Chef Keith Button Hicks… When I think about soul food of any type, Chef Hicks is always the first to pop in my head. I’ve known him for over a decade now and everything his kitchen is slinging is purely delicious. I will tell you, Chef Hicks has a “Chicken and Waffle” dish that is truly amazing. Anyone who eats this dish will fall victim to Chef Keith’s cooking spell. There are rumors that folks start babbling all kinds of soul food phrases after they eat his chicken and waffles like, “That was the best I’ve ever had”, “Man, that cat can really cook”, “That food was groovy baby”, “I found my soul food happy place with Chef Hicks”! Buttons’ Famous Chicken & Waffles is prepared with special seasoned fried chicken and a homemade Belgium waffle with blueberry infused butter. Served with sweet potato pommel frites and their signature collard greens. Oh man, you need this in your life (and it’s only 15 bucks). Get to Buttons and enjoy the comfort soul food. Life is groovy, baby.

#9 Little Red Wasp

Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Blaine Saniford  Video

J2 Steakhouse Lunch Sandwich Deliciousness.

The Wasp, as locals call it, has something for everyone. It’s the brainchild of Celebrity Chef Blaine Saniford of GRACE who has created a little world full of magic bites for everyone. The service is incredible, the staff is friendly, and the drinks are strong. I love so many items from this place I’m just going to list a few. The Rebun and Chicken sandwiches, the amazing fresh Chili Dog, the Cheddar Cheese Fried Chicken Biscuit, and of course the pot stickers. Jet head over to Wasp and enjoy some delicious creations from Chef Blaines culinary team! #TasteLikeMore

#10 J2 Steakhouse

Lewisville, Texas

Chef Jonathan Pauley

J2 Steakhouse has one of the most amazing atmospheres to me. It was built and created in an 1880 grist mill. They used the old equipment, furnishings, and antique items found in the construction and restoration project inside and outside the restaurant. I can’t begin to explain the creativeness and atmosphere J2 has except to say it’s wonderful. Chef Pauley has done an amazing job with his menu items. They have dry age cooler, a pasta room, dessert room, and a cold preparation room. It doesn’t matter if you’re eating one of his delicious pattie melts, a dry aged steak, or house prepared Mac-N-Cheese because everything is stupid delicious, period! Make the drive to J2 in Lewisville. #WorthTheDrive

#11 Billy Can Can

Victory Park Lane in Dallas, Texas

Billed as a vibrant saloon extraordinaire!  Billy’s Tale as stated by the restaurant: “Being that he was confident and enigmatic, Billy Can Can is an artful sensationalist a brooding bon vivant. Host, master of ceremonies, guru and social conductor, he keeps his distance from the action, while slyly orchestrating every happening”. The place simply put is freaking awesome! it’s everything they claim it to be and more. The staff is lively and the atmosphere is upbeat and wide open. It’s a saloon, it’s a restaurant, it’s a bar with creative cocktails, and a fun palace with creative delicious chow and creative drinks. I’ve tried several dishes but the best ones “SMOKED FISH DIP” and the “HOT FRIED QUAIL” both are packed with flavor and the presentation is awesome. If you want to have a great time at fun place head over to Billy Can Can because you CAN CAN! #SensationallyDeliciouness

#12 Fred’s Texas Cafe’s

3 locations in Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Terry Chandler

Fred’s and Chef Terry Chandler a.k.a. the Original Outlaw Chef has been slinging deliciousness for THREE decades now and is still going strong. Terry’s menu items keep things fresh and new. He has some of the best comfort food you will ever eat. If you love live music, Fred’s has that covered too. They have a “Chicken Fried Steak – Queso” that is amazing. They have so many dishes I love at Fred’s, but the chili, hamburgers, and fried pickles are superb. If you’re looking for some comfort food, great music, and cold ass beer then head to Fred’s.

#13 Michaels Cuisine

Upper West 7th in Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Michael S. Thomson Video

Michael’s Cuisine has been around for so long that I consider it to be a Fort Worth staple. Chef M.T. aka Michael Thomson works hard to keep his menu offering different dishes depending on the season, and he gives back to the community in so many ways. This cozy restaurant is located on upper West 7th. It has fireplaces, Texas décor, and an old-school Fort Worth feel. I truly love everything Chef M.T. creates and slings out the kitchen. I especially adore his appetizer “Texas Quail Pops”, and for my favorite cut of meat… It would have to be the “Cowboy rib eye” because it is so delicious, tender and juicy. I always want to order an extra to take home with me! When you have time to check out Michael’s, tell’em Trey sent you! See video here: Chef M.T. Quail Pops 

#14 The Biscuit Bar

The Granite Boardwalk

The Biscuit Bar Plano/Dallas Loaded Tots

Hwy 121 Plano, Texas

Yep, you read that correctly. A Biscuit Bar! I waited six months for this place to open last year and it was worth the wait. Nestled right off Hwy 121 in Plano, on a little man-made lake and a Board Walk, complete with water fountains and birds chirping. Boy, the atmosphere is perfect. Everything is prepared in-house from fresh ingredients to create big bold flavors of deliciousness. The El Jefe, The Fancy Chicken, and The Monte Cristo, all taste amazing. I’m in love with the fresh “Fully Loaded Tator Tots”. Just DAMN Delicious! They say everything tastes better on a biscuit and I completely agree. Check out The Biscuit Bar! #Yummy

The BEST Steaks & Steakhouses For 2018


Steakhouse Magic in Old Town Lewisville in DFW

J2 Large Dry Age Cooler #1

If you’re a steak LOVER, do I have a story for you! Here’s some deliciousness with a historical background you will surely enjoy.

About three months ago, I heard about this new steakhouse in Lewisville, Texas that was opened in an OLD 1886 FEED MILL. A Chef I met Chef Johnathan Pauley was extremely passionate about his baby J2 Steakhouse as he explained in detail about the new restaurant venture. Being in the food business, I hear a lot about the openings of new restaurants. You get all the information about the new restaurant buzz but sometimes you miss out on the NEW CONCEPTS in the Texas market. You say to your self, “I’ll get there when I can. It’s a steak restaurant in Texas. That’s nothing out of the ordinary in the Texas restaurant market.”

Well, friends, I should have made the trip to J2 Steakhouse much SOONER than later. I waited over three months before making the chow down trip to J2 in Lewisville.

Craft Cocktail from J2 Craft Master

Chef Johnathan and J2 state on their website,  “J2 Steakhouse is a new restaurant in a familiar space. Opened in the Spring of 2018 by a family who was just as fond of great food as they were of preserving the past. After operating since 1886, the Lewisville Feed Mill at 119 E. Main St had seen its fair share of history and reinvention. There is something special about what the Polser family created over 100 years ago that lends itself to preservation. It’s rare to find a restaurant that feels so comfortable in its own right and place – so written into the lore and landscape of a neighborhood and it seems it has always been at that address.

Today, J2 Steakhouse serves elevated Texas fare with a wonderful selection of dry aged beef in the heart of downtown Lewisville. It is kept up by a staff who strives to maintain an unobtrusive sense of hospitality & service.”

When I pulled up to J2 I saw the historic building and old machinery displayed around the building. I started to get excited! I love Texas history, especially farming and ranching history. The building was originally constructed in 1886 as a feed mill. It’s a very large building with lots of character and charm. When they purchased the building it had been locked down for decades. What they found inside was a large number of Texas treasures. They found old machinery, bottles, cans, and all kinds of historic items. Simply said, what they found was amazing.