“Nothing-NOT a conversation, NOT a handshake or even a hug establishes friendship so forcefully as eating together!”

Jonathan Safran Foer

Nashville Chicken in Texas, Say Whaaat?

Trey Chapman Chow

When you think of Nashville hot chicken, all kinds of delicious thoughts come to find. Just think of crispy fried hot chicken dripping with delicious savory flavors that make you foodie senses run wild.

Choose YOUR Heat ( Texas Hot )

Nashville hot chicken has skyrocketed in popularity in the last two decades. I use the term “skyrocketed”, but really I think it’s been more like a supersonic ride.

If you don’t know what Nashville hot chicken consists of, then you must be a vegan or vegetarian, because these days it’s everywhere!

The origins of Nashville hot chicken are simple; it was created in the south Nashville back around 1930. In the 1970s, the new addition was created by using a different array of peppers and served with slices of white bread.

If you research the definition it’s a pretty basic explanation;

“Hot chicken, or Nashville hot chicken, is a type of fried chicken that is a local specialty of Nashville, Tennessee, in its typical preparation, it is a portion of breast, thigh, or wing that has been marinated in a water-based blend of seasoning, floured, fried, and finally sauced using a paste that has been spiced with cayenne pepper. It is served atop slices of white bread with pickle chips. It is both the application of a spicy paste and the presentation that differentiates it from similar dishes, such as Buffalo wings. It can be viewed in similar context to other foods that have been tweaked to be unique in a regional way, such as the slugburger or the Mississippi Delta tamale.”

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Dallas Chocolate Festival 2019 VIP Dinner – I LOVED IT A CHOCO-LOT

Trey Chapman Chow, Events

In 2009 the Dallas Chocolate Festival was born.

Last Saturday evening August 17, at 7:00 pm we attended the 10th-Anniversary Dinner for the Dallas Chocolate Festival at the wonderful FAIRMOUNT Hotel in Dallas, Texas. It was a fun and vibrant night, surely one not to be forgotten. We were able to meet two amazing chefs and dine on some fantastic from scratch menu items, all from a five-course dinner menu. All the dishes had a touch of chocolate in them and were extremely creative dishes. At the event, they had various speakers after each course to help explain the ever changing wide world of craft chocolate.

It was an amazing evening.

Fairmont Chef James Phillips

Here’s a little backstory for you folks about the Dallas Chocolate Festival.

“In 2009, DallasChocolate.org’s founder hosted a chocolate-themed dinner celebrating the bean-to-bar makers who had just started bringing craft chocolate to life in the United States. – See more on DallasChocolate.org. From that night of education and deliciousness, the idea for the Dallas Chocolate Festival was born. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of that fateful dinner, and kick-off our the 2019 Dallas Chocolate Festival season, they hosted an exclusive multi-course chocolate dinner in the beautifully restored Venetian ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel. Executive Chef Jared Harms has crafted a five-course meal featuring chocolate flavors in each course from some of today’s leading craft chocolate brands: Dandelion Chocolate from San Francisco, CA; Amano Chocolate from Provo, Utah; French Broad Chocolate from Asheville, NC; and Dallas’s own 5 Mile Chocolate from Oak Cliff will all have their makers on hand to tell the stories of how this chocolate made it from bean to bar to dish. And of course, Fairmont’s amazing Pastry Chef, Cristal Gonzalez, will cap the meal with an array of chocolate desserts.  – See more on dallaschocolate.org and we will see you at the 2019 Dallas Chocolate Festival.

Please see the 1oth Anniversary Dinner Menu and photos below.

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East Texas Barbecue Oasis & Deliciousville

Trey Chapman Chow 2 Comments on East Texas Barbecue Oasis & Deliciousville
Slaughter’s BBQ a little paradise in East Texas.

There is always something to be said for spur of the moment gut feeling. You know what I’m talking about, right? I always trust my gut, and in 95% of the situations, my gut feeling is correct.

The last two months I’ve been seeing barbecue pictures of this place in east Texas. Being a true food expert, critic, and reviewer, I literally spend 8 to 10 hours a day, three to four days a week, researching online.

I search for new restaurants, chefs, dishes, events, and of course everything barbecue. I kept seeing these photos over and over. They kept popping up in my searches.

Don’t be fooled. The social media platforms know what you’re looking for and they send it to directly to your feed.

After seeing these pictures repeatedly, plus looking at reviews, my gut said “TREY let’s ride!” I decided to make the three-hour trip to see if they where slinging Barbecue deliciousness or just great photos.

My trusty side kick Maverick and I took off and headed East to Sulphur Springs, Texas!

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The Ultra-swanky Clover Club in Dallas

Trey Chapman Chow, Drinks
Grilled Atlantic Salmon: granny smith apples, bitter greens, lobster caramel

Back in the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, long before there was any social media platforms, entertainment facilities, and organized bar events we had luxurious dinner clubs.

These clubs had first-class service where the staff catered to every customer’s need. No matter what they needed, the staff and the dinner club would make it happen.

I know this because my family-owned restaurants and two meat companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area at that timeframe. My granddad, along with his sales staff, would make sales calls on dinner clubs and gambling halls offering all kinds of meat products. I heard all the stories about how vibrant, interesting, and classy those clubs were back in the day.

My granddad and grandma would visit these places in the evening time, socializing with clients and their customers. It was a different time and place back then, and at times I wish as a society we still had some of those values.

Lobster Potstickers: soy-ginger dipping sauce

If you’re one of the three million or so folks we reach every month then you how much I love to socialize, listen to great music, and slingback some cocktails. They say the apple doesn’t far from the tree and my case that is true.

I’m passionate about locating the very best food and drink experiences in Texas for everyone to enjoy. That means when I get a call, or I hear about a new place, I always make time to visit and see what it’s all about.

When I heard there was a new dinner club in Dallas I wondered if it would be a true dinner club or one of those places that just called themselves a dinner club.

As we were riding up the elevator to the dinner club I was getting excited about the possibility of certifying this place as one of the only true dinner clubs in DFW for our followers.

I’m happy to say I was extremely excited by the time the doors opened on the elevator.

Roof Top Bar and lounge area

The Clover Club is everything you could imagine and more. It’s a vibrant club with fantastic music, delicious chef-driven, flavor-packed menu, with a classy retro feel. I’m in love with the 1950’s vibe and the 2019 sound.

Chef Anthony believes in using only farm fresh vegetables and ingredients to achieve bold flavor profiles in every dish.

Eddie “Lucky” Campbell, who also owns the Parliament and the Standard Pour, partnered with Chef Anthony Van Camp to create dinner club magic in Dallas.

Season of Summer: Citrus infused vodka, lemon verbena, watermelon, yuzu, sea salt, soda…

They have an entertainment director onboard as well. They organize the big band entertainment to ensure they keep the first-class standards that makes the Clover Club truly an original in Dallas.

After you eat and listen to some amazing music, or if you just want to take a little break, you can head upstairs to the rooftop bar and lounge area.

I truly enjoyed the rooftop it has amazing views of the Dallas area. You can grab some cocktails and take a seat on some comfortable patio furniture. If you like the bar area you can sit there too, or stand and gaze over the city of Dallas while you enjoy the beautiful evening in Texas.

I’m excited and thrilled to say I’m in love with The Clover Club. The offer real dinner and music experiences for everyone who walks through their doors. All I can say is: ” Clover Club is a place where one can eat, drink, and listen to some amazing music in a vibrant atmosphere. It’s truly a Dallas original and I’m glad they decided to create this beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.”

See you at the table, or maybe the bar!

Trey Chapman

Follow our weekly podcast at Trey’s Chow Down Live. We’re on iHeartRadio, Dash Radio, iTunes and a bunch more.

 

Poster for brunch from Clover Club Social Media

Dog Haus Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its First Arlington Location

Trey Chapman Chow, Drinks

I couldn’t be more excited for the Dog Haus craft causal chain to open their new location in Arlington this Saturday August 3rd.

I’ve long been a BIG fan of the Dog Haus concept and everything they offer dog and burger lovers. The menu is creative and the chow is always prepared fresh and loaded with flavors. All the dogs have a nice snap when you bite them and the burgers are always succulent and delicious.  

The Dog Haus Old Town Dog; smoked bacon wrapped dog, caramelized onions, pickled jalapeños, chipotle aioli, cotija cheese.

Dog Haus– the craft casual concept known for its gourmet all beef hot dogs, handcrafted sausages, humanely raised Black Angus beef burgers, one-of-a-kind fried chicken sandwich, and local craft beers on tap – will celebrate the grand opening of Texas’ second Dog Haus Biergarten location in Arlington on Aug. 3.

Located at 4000 Bagpiper Way, Ste. 110, in Arlington Highlands, this will be Franchisee Ron Ryan’s second Dog Haus Biergarten location. To commemorate its arrival, Dog Haus is inviting locals to swing by for a FREE Haus Dog on Saturday, Aug. 3.

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand in Dallas-Fort Worth and can’t wait to introduce the people of Arlington to our all beef Haus Dogs, handcrafted proprietary Haus Sausages and Black Angus beef burgers,” Ryan said. “Our first Texas location in Richardson has experienced great success and I have no doubt that Arlington will be any different. We’ve assembled an awesome team and, in addition to the great food, we have a gorgeous Biergarten featuring a wide array of American craft beer from some of the top local, regional and national brewers. We are excited to open our doors and welcome the community to our beautiful new restaurant.”

As part of its introduction to the community and its surroundings, guests can stop by from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on opening day to enjoy a *FREE Haus Dog from a selection of Dog Haus’ seven signature hot dog creations, featuring all beef handcrafted dogs, created by Würstmacher Adam Gertler, and premium toppings, served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls. Options include fan favorites like Sooo Cali, with wild arugula, avocado, tomato, crispy fried onions and spicy basil aioli; Scott Baioli, featuring a smoked bacon wrapped dog, cheddar cheese sauce, caramelized onions, garlic aioli; and Chili Idol, with Haus chili, cheddar cheese and onions. *Guests must download and scan the Dog Haus app to receive a FREE Haus Dog.

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25 Best Barbecue Spots In North Texas for ABC

Trey Chapman Chow 2 Comments on 25 Best Barbecue Spots In North Texas for ABC

This isn’t about barbecue I found on the internet or on television… I spent twelve months traveling to various restaurants, barbecues, festivals, and events. I visited 119 barbecue joints and tasted some 280 different items. Of course, I visited some fantastic dedicated barbecue and food festivals like Smoked Dallas, Smoked Fort Worth, Red Dirt Barbecue & Music Festival, Chef For Farmers, Austin Food and Wine Festival, and many others seeking out my mission to find the VERY BEST barbecue for our followers to enjoy in 2019

https://www.facebook.com/news8daybreak/videos/2498475263547758/UzpfSTMwNzE5ODcyOTQ2NDEzMjoxMTQ1MDk0MjQyMzQxMjM5/

If this is your first time visiting Trey’s Chow Down; HELLO! Welcome, and thank you for stopping by! I highly encourage you to watch one of our television broadcasts, social media episodes and give us a follow on social media.

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The BEST Hot Diggy Dogs You Will Eat!

Trey Chapman Chow
Cover Photo – Little Red Wasp Craft Chili Dog

In 1805, the creation of the hot dog is said to be created by the people of Vienna, Austria. The term “wiener” is name after the birthplace Vienna (Wien). As the story is told, the first master sausage chef received his early training in Frankfurt, Germany. He called the sausage the “ wiener- frankfurter.”

Hot dogs didn’t make its way into the USA until 1871 when, Charles Feltman, a German baker opened up the first Coney Island hot dog stand. He sold more than three thousand sausages in a milk roll during his first year in business. I would call that, a HIT dog, right?!

Who doesn’t love a big phat succulent hot dog with all the fixings?

I sure do, I don’t just like them – I LOVE them.

I don’t care where the dog came from, all I know is I’ve loved hot dogs since I was a child. Not just regular hot dogs but all kinds of different dogs with ALL the fixings; mustard, chili, cheese, relish, red or white onion, nacho cheese, shredded cheese, brisket, even bacon.

Chefs nowadays days have taken hot dogs to the next level. That’s why I call some of them Craft Dogs. The most creative hot dogs are created to achieve that special flavor profile a chef is striving to achieve.

They’re using custom created buns, meats, sauces, special cheeses, delicious chilis, smoked Texas meats, and of course, fresh creative relishes. The flavor profiles are amazing and these dogs look beautifully picture perfect!

It’s hard for anyone to resist the temptation of a mesmerizing hot dog. Especially one that looks incredibly delicious, colorful, and carries a celebrity chef name.  I know I can’t resist one! I’m always all in on chowing down on a hot dog. I’m always like, Hot Diggy Dog let’s GO!

After eating hot dogs all over Texas, I decided to create a list of some of the best and delicious hot dogs everyone can enjoy. I want y’all to enjoy some of the deliciousness that I fell in love with.

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Food Truck Championships of Texas-Delicious!

Trey Chapman Chow, Events

Howdy Chow Down Hounds!

What does someone do when they want to get some delicious food truck cuisine? They head over to Graham, Texas and chow down on some tasty food and listen to some magnificent music. We did just that!

Trey and his team took a ride out to Graham and visited with some Food Truck Chefs and chowed down on some great eats. The Food Truck Championship of Texas had FREE admission to everyone. It was an all-day battle of the best food trucks and creative cuisine in Texas.

Food trucks gathered from all across Texas, and Oklahoma, in the one place. America’s Largest Downtown Square in Graham, Texas was big enough to hold all the food, friends, and fun. The Food Truck Championship contestants competed for a grand prize of $10,000.

There was plenty of activities to entertain the entire family on the square from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Activities include; Possum Pedal Bike Ride, children’s activities, live music, artisan showcase, and of course A LOT of food! They Also had a concert that evening with the Randy Rogers Band.

Yum Pig created ( PiggieHeaven)

We walked, we chowed down, we drank some dranks, and we found some clear winners that had creative and delicious dishes that we really enjoyed.

The Urb Express – Chickasha, Oklahoma: S’ More Egg Roll #FlavorRodeoInYourMouth ( Cover Photo)

Bite My Biscuit – Fort Worth, Texas: The Contender Biscuit #Worthit

Doughboy Donuts – Fort Worth, Texas: The Cereal Killer Donut #DonutDeliciousness

Yum Pig – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Three Piggies #PiggieHeaven

The Food Truck Championships picked their winners too for 2019. Winner! Winner! WINNER! Here’s the list;

People’s Choice Award –Daddy Bob’s Smokewagon

Best Food Truck Spirit – Bite My Biscuit

Best Food Truck Theme/Design – YUM PIG OKC

Best International Dish – F&F Express

Dough Boy Donuts (Ceral Killer Donut)

Best American Cuisine – Bada Bing Wood Fired Pizza

Best BBQ – Catered Delight

Best Dessert – Of Grace Cakes

Most Unique Menu – Dough Boy Donuts

Best Signature Dish – SouthernXposures

Grand Champion – CAMO Hippie Chowhall

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Celebrity Texas Wagyu Roundup & Cookoff!

Trey Chapman Chow, Events

Celebrity Chefs and Steak Teams Slinging Beef! ?‍??

Blaine Stone Lodge, created North Texas’ premiere steak cookoff and Texfest. Trey’s Chow Down partnered with Blaine Stone for this amazing event. They had several partners and the largest was Wagyu Excelente, one of the finest Texas Wagyu beef, to create a fine dining event paired with specialty beers, wines and liquors.

It was a family-friendly event which featured a 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!

Proceeds from the event help 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.

I sincerely want to THANK all the celebrity chefs, pit masters, and steak teams who came out to sling Wagyu Beef at the Blaine Stone Lodge Trey’s Chow Down1st Annual Texas Wagyu Roundup & Cookoff event! We had such a FUN time and won some prizes. We had over 40 cook teams- WHAT a great day!

1st John Sanford  from BBQ on the Brazos ?

2nd Bryan McLarty from 407BBQ ?

3rd Michael S. Thomson from Michaels Cuisine ?

I can’t thank each of you enough for your participation and dedication to what we are trying to do.

See Y’all next year!

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Taste Of Dallas-2019

Trey Chapman Chow
Taste of Dallas, Dallas’ premier summertime food and drink festival, returns for its 33rd year at the new in door Dallas Market Hall location debuting a host of new food and beverage attractions. New beverage attractions for 2019 include:
WHISKIES OF THE WORLD
Whiskies of the World gathers over 200 of the most fascinating distilled spirits from around the globe, along with their makers and ambassadors, to give attendees an unforgettable experience. This attraction benefits Helping A Hero and allows attendees to discover The Art of Whisky in the company of connoisseurs and whisky ambassadors.
TASTE BEER GARDEN Presented by Texas Beer Bus
The Taste Beer Garden Presented by Texas Beer Bus will feature over a dozen delicious craft beers from great local breweries. You will be able to engage with the local breweries and learn about their beers.
TASTE WINE GARDEN
Take a stroll through the Taste Wine Garden located next to The Gallery which features dozens of delicious wines from Texas and around the world. Enjoy a variety of flavors and blends along with small plate pairings that complement the wines perfectly.
AND MORE
Interactive Sponsor Beverage Experiences throughout the event including Activations for Baileys, Bulleit, Don Julio, Kevita Kombucha, Johnnie Walker, and Ketel One.
Get your tickets TODAY: https://tasteofdallas.org/tickets/
Last years event was awesome! Please click to read Taste Of Dallas 2018:http://treyschowdown.com/chowing-down-taste-of-dallas-2018/

Wagyu Steak Cook Off & Texfest Event

Trey Chapman Chow
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

Hershey’s BAR CHANGES After 125 Years!

Trey Chapman Chow

Hershey’s changes it’s chocolate bar redesign after 125 years for the texting generation!

Can you believe this? I can’t, not at all!

For 125 years Hershey’s has been serving America with delicious chocolate treats. In this ever changing society we reside in they are leaving the Hershey’s comfort zone of old and entering a new EMOJI ZONE. All my life I’ve loved Hershey’s chocolate bars I can’t believe their leaving the comforting stability of a classic milk-chocolate bar for a new emoji design? In this ever changing world I’m not shocked Hershey’s is introducing a new design by adding emojis, the chocolate company’s new bar does have an edgy version but, I’m sure it will be extremely popular I’ll let you deciede.

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