Bacon Dishes that Make Me Bacon Crazy!

Saturday, September 4, is International Bacon Day 2021

Everyone dreams about bacon!

Trey’s Chow Down LIVE on Fox 4 Good Day.

When Trey’s Chow Down saw there was an International Bacon Day and it was a real thing my mouth started salivating and all I could think about was how delicious bacon truly is.

Have you ever eaten a bad piece of bacon? I think not! No matter how it’s cooked, (soft, crispy, medium, or rock hard) bacon is always perfectly delightful.

Ever since 1500 B.C. folks have been eating and enjoying bacon. That’s a long time ago, but it just goes to show you how much everyone loves bacon.

Bacon’s history dates back thousands of years to 1500 B.C. The Chinese were curing pork bellies with salt. Basically, they were creating an early form of what we know today as bacon.

I’m shocked about how long ago bacon was being eaten and was created. I wonder how the first bacon fry went down. Here piggy piggy! Come here piggy piggy! Come over here let’s see if we can fry some of your body parts up? Seems legit to me lol!

Now that I’m thinking about it, I bet they could smell bacon frying a mile away and come strolling by to see what that delicious aroma was. I’m sure smelling that bacon for the first time set their foodie senses into overdrive. Well, of course, they didn’t call it bacon at that time but we will play along as if they did.

The first bacon fry must have not only been a mess, but also an exploration to try and figure out how to eat these creatures we call pigs. You know it smelled delicious and they were like, “YES that smells soooooo good”!

Today we have all kinds of various bacon flavors, thickness, bacon dishes, and bacon farmers who create some of the world’s best bacon right here in the good ol’ U.S.A.

When I spoke with the Fox producers about Bacon Day, it was clear that everyone loved bacon and we need to locate some of the best bacon dishes in the DFW area.

I sought out to locate some of the best bacon dishes for all my fellow food lovers to enjoy and boy… Did I find some great dishes to eat. If you love bacon you will love this article and my choices.

B&B Butchers

( The Cover Photo)

Fort Worth & Houston, Texas

Knife Steakhouse Bacon Sampler

B&B has this amazing bacon dish named after Chef Tommy. Let me tell you, “Chef Tommy’s Bacon Dish” is loaded with flavors. When I read about this dish, I had to visit B&B so I could Chow Down and enjoy it for myself. It’s prepared with fresh blue cheese, truffle infused honey, and thick house bacon. This dish meets all the requirements for an award winning dish. The taste has an amazing flavor profile, tenderness, cooked perfectly, great texture, and fantastic eye appeal. One of the best bacon dishes anywhere, period! You need to try this dish, and it’s only 20 bucks.

Knife Steakhouse

Dallas & Plano, Texas

Chef John Tesar always has his creative side in forward motion. I haven’t had one dish, or food item, from John that’s not totally amazing. He’s crazy about using fresh ingredients, having perfect execution, pallet busting flavor profiles, fantastic restaurant atmospheres, and amazing customer service. The Knife bacon appetizer, simply put, is deliciousness with every single bite. The succulent variety of bacon is so flavorful you will order an extra one. I know it because we did it. The dish is simplistic. A tasting of five varieties of bacon and it’s served on a beautiful wood cutting board. It is truly life-changing and you need this dish in your life.

Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen

McKinney, Texas

Del Frisco’s Bacon Dish

Oh, I love me some Sugarbacon! You’re probably saying to yourself, what the heck is Sugarbacon? Well, it’s two things really; A fantastic restaurant and a delicious lip-smacking bacon dish. The team over at Sugarbacon in McKinney have come up with a flavor-packed bacon dish that will send your taste buds to the flavor town. It’s truly an opportunity to try something new and exciting. The “Sugarbacon Appetizer” is prepared with house-smoked pork belly, ancho chili bbq sauce, B and B pickles, and served on thick bacon square bites. I’m telling you right now it has a fantastic flavor profile and is downright delicious. Folks, it is absolutely worth a trip to Chow Down and see what Sugarbacon is all about.

Cowtown Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

I drove by this place at least 25 times before I stopped into Chow Down. I had heard all about their flavor-packed barbecue treats, but I kept waiting to see some photos and reviews before I made the journey because I’ve been extremely busy. That was a mistake!  We stopped in and had a variety of delicious BBQ treats but what really caught my eye was the “Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños.” I eat these all the time but Cowtown’s were different. They were wrapped tightly and the bacon was glazed just enough. Damn, they were delicious so flavorful that I ate 5 out of the 6 and we ordered some more for the whole table. They really were amazing. When you get a chance, head over to Cowtown for little bacon throw down. Tell’em Trey sent you!

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse

Locations All Over U.S.A.

I have to confess something to each of you. I’ve had dreams about the bacon dish at Del’s. Oh man, there’s nothing like naughty bacon dreams folks. It’s the THICK-CUT NUESKE’S BACON AU POIVR served with a Bourbon Molasses Glaze and a side of deliciousness. Oh, the food gods are shining down on Del Frisco’s for this bacon dish! By all means, this is so good it should be illegal. The succulent bacon flavor just rolls across your tongue and sends your taste buds into full mode overload. Don’t be surprised if you have to wipe your chin after each juicy bite. A true trend sitter and it’s only 16 bucks, ladies and gentlemen.

Logan’s Roadhouse

Multiple Texas Locations

I know you’re thinking… What did he just say? Logan’s Roadhouse? Am I reading this correct? Yes, you are! This is all about bacon and Logan’s Roadhouse locations has some great bacon. They have a little appetizer that goes by the name “Bacon On A Stick” and it’s in a bucket too. I’ve had this twice and both times the bacon was perfectly cooked, loaded with flavor, and easy to eat right off the stick. This is a great little bacon treat you will love. It’s prepared from 12-hour smoked bacon seasoned and grilled in a brown sugar glaze with a kick of spice. Served with crispy fried onions and your choice of original BBQ or Bourbon BBQ. Just damn delicious if you ask me. Your taste buds with take a trip to the “bacon flavor rodeo” and it’s only 10 bucks. Check it out!

Shady Oak BBQ & Grill

North Fort Worth, Texas

My favorite Bacon “TENDER BELLY”

I took a trip over the Shady Oak to try some barbecue. As I sat down and was reviewing the menu when the server said, “Hey, do you want to try some of our bacon burnt ends“? My head snapped up and said, “Do tell? Why yes I will”! Those bacon burnt ends were saucy and mouth-watering delicious. The flavor really pops in your mouth as they roll across your tongue. This is a dish you must try and price right too!

There are a lot more bacon dishes I have tried, but these are truly some of the best you will find in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. All of these truly stand on their own with fantastic flavor profiles that will leave you wanting more. As a chef once told me, “Trey, if I can leave you wanting more then I’ve done my job. I know you will come back and dine with us again”.

Please visit these local restaurants because eating and buying local is extremely important to our chefs and restaurants.

If you LOVE cooking bacon at home then I would try my favorite Tender Belly Bacon. You can locate Tender Belly at https://www.tenderbelly.com

Don’t forget to listen or watch our worldwide podcast Trey’s Chow Down Live every Friday on iHeartRadio, iTunes, Dash Radio or tune and watch us LIVE.

Remember, I’m passionate about bringing each of you the very food and drink experiences I can find.

Much love,

Trey Chapman Follow me for deliciousness and fun

 

BEST Fajitas in DFW for National Fajita Day! HOLY GUACAMOLE!

August 18, 2020 is National Fajita Day in the USA!

They say the first culinary evidence of fajitas was in the 1930s, along with the Spanish naming.  The cooking style used at that time was by a campfire or directly on a fire pit or in a skillet. Originally, it was made from throwaway cuts of beef by Mexican vaqueros in Southwest Texas. The fajita was developed as an everyday meal in the early 1930s. Since then everyone has fallen in love with the fajita!

Who doesn’t just love some succulent delicious fajitas? I think everyone loves fajitas! Well, at least every one I’ve ever spoken with loves them.

The main issue I’ve learned about fajitas and the folks enjoying them is everyone seems to always want more meat. Some of the other issues I hear from folks when I inquire about how they like there fajitas is pretty basic. They say fajitas can be dry and have little or no flavor, or they didn’t receive enough fixings. Everyone might desire more meat or fixings and eat them differently, use a different choice of corn or flour tortillas, but when it’s all said and done everyone loves fajitas.

Every chef, restaurant, or family business that offers fajitas has a different flavor profile. You won’t find any particular fajita meat with the same flavor profile! Everyone uses a different preparation process. They use an array of different spices, marinades, marinating processes, and cooking techniques. Some restaurants offer you fixings with your fajitas, and some charge you extra for it.

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.

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

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.

Food Truck Championships of Texas-Delicious!

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