Tortaco
www.tortaco.com
Tokyo Cafe
www.tokyocafefw.com
Fort Worth Cocktail Week
www.fwcocktailweek.com
Lone Star Taps & Caps
www.tapsandcaps.com
By Courtney Dabney
cdabney@bizpress.net
Firebird Restaurant Group, which owns brands such as El Fenix, Meso Maya, Taqueria La Ventana and Snuffers, is adding to its lineup with a new concept called Tortaco. The first Tortaco will open at 910 Currie St. in the West Seventh area, next to Steel City Pops and directly across from Fred’s Texas. It is expected to be followed soon by a Dallas location at 2100 Ross Ave.
The ever-popular taco shop theme never goes out of style. Firebird also announced last October that a Meso Maya was planned for Fort Worth’s Kress Building downtown, but so far the company has devoted its attention to the new Tortaco concept. This casual restaurant will premiere a chef-driven menu developed by Nico Sanchez, who is the creative force behind menus at Meso Maya and Taqueria La Ventana. Tortaco will have a full bar with signature cocktails.
For Tortaco’s debut, the former Fixi Shop with is hue of ripe avocado has been transformed. The brick has been revealed, a wall of windows has been installed, opening up the space, and the slant roof is all that remains of its mid-20th century heritage. With a casual atmosphere and menu serving tortas, tacos and salads, Tortaco will be an appealing addition to the West Seventh landscape.
Tokyo Cafe is back
One of the most anticipated re-boots of all time, Tokyo Cafe, will be re-opening soon on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Chef Kevin Martinez is back in the kitchen. The lengthy/postponed/extensive restoration of the popular neighborhood restaurant owned by Jarry and Mary Ho has been long anticipated. A fire destroyed the restaurant in June 2014 and resources were shifted to opening their newer concept, Cannon Chinese, on the Southside.
In the meantime, Martinez took to the streets with his enticing Yatai Food Kart, allowing his creativity to shine and winning consistently rave reviews. The Tokyo Cafe menu features an extensive sushi section with even more premium and authentic options as well as all your favorites, and mine – yakisoba. The Hos now expect to open in late October.
Fort Worth Cocktail Week
Fort Worth Cocktail Week, Oct. 17-23, will celebrate the booming craft cocktail scene. Cocktail Week plans to shine a spotlight on some of Fort Worth’s greatest cocktail pioneers and talented mixologists. It will also give locals a chance to see some industry trends from other, more established cocktail cultures. Participating restaurants and bars will create their own craft cocktail menus, emphasizing fresh ingredients, cutting edge techniques and creative flavor combinations. The drinks will be sold at a discount and a portion of the proceeds will go to a local charity.
Aside from just having a fun, weeklong exploration of new cocktail trends, there will also be educational seminars, ticketed special events at area bars, live music and food pairings. A Texas Spirits tasting event will feature some of the Lone Star State’s best booze, while the Tiki Drink Party will focus on the tastes and history of the suddenly trendy tropical cocktails. The hope is that Fort Worth Cocktail Week will spark the same interest in our local drink culture that craft beer, fine wine and the culinary arts have enjoyed in their realms.
Lone Star Taps & Caps
Taps & Caps has announced the construction of its third location, “We can’t wait to bring our unique concept to Cowtown,” according to the website announcement. The 2,800-square-foot space is near the Ridglea Theater in the same strip that is home to Blu Crab, Starbucks and Snappy Salads, according to Facebook.
Patrons can expect 50 taps of craft beer as well as cooler doors filled to the brim with select cans and bottles. They can enjoy a few beers on site, then fill a growler and take a favorite beer home. With two previous locations, one in Denton and another in Lewisville, this laid-back pub is mostly a growler filling station and from time to time it offers beer pairing menu collaborations with other local restaurateurs.