Rolling Through Town

A food truck for dogs creates a human craze — treats are 100 percent edible forpeople too

Few creatures are more obsessed with food than the domestic dog.

But, when Best Friends Pet Care launched its canine-friendly Treat Truck in early 2011, little did they know how obsessed humans would be about a doggie food truck — which is currently wrapping up a tour of the Houston area with stops in Conroe and the Woodlands through Monday.

"The idea for the truck initially came from the way little kids react when the hear the ice cream truck coming down the street," Deb Bennetts, a spokesperson for the Connecticut-based pet care boutique, told CultureMap.

"Children always get so excited for the ice cream truck. We just wanted to do the same thing for dogs during our summer promotional campaign last year."

"We launched the idea and soon realized we were part of the food truck craze," laughed Deb Bennetts, a spokesperson for Best Friends Pet Care.

After spending several chilly winter months selecting, purchasing and outfitting the perfect vehicle, the Best Friends Treat Truck made its inaugural run throughout the Northeast, serving up canine ice cream at dog parks from Boston to Washington, D.C.

Flavored with bananas, peanuts and honey, the homemade vanilla ice cream is engineered specifically for canine taste buds, yet is 100 percent edible for humans as well. Spoons, though, surely will be in short supply.

"We launched the idea and soon realized we were part of the food truck craze," Bennetts laughed, explaining how everything just fell into place. With more than 75 million dogs in the United States, according to the American Pet Products Association, why limit the popularity of food trucks to the world of humans?

"People were absolutely crazy for it," she said. "So this year, we've decided to tour the South." In January, the Treat Truck hit up Best Friend Pet Care centers in Raleigh and Charlotte before heading to Atlanta for a week-long visit and then onto sunny central Florida. Late last week, the truck made its way to Houston.

Brandy Waggoner, who manages the local Best Friends branch near Bellaire, dished out bowls of doggie goodness over the weekend.

"This is pretty much just a regular ice cream truck . . . but for dogs," she chuckled. "We're all about creating a fun atmosphere for the animals."

Click here for a list of the final Treat Truck stops before the party returns north until next year.

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there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.