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

 

The Ultra-swanky Clover Club in Dallas

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

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