feeding the needy

Good-hearted new pop-up kitchen feeds Houston seniors and unemployed

A Houston City Council member has teamed up with a group of Houston chefs to feed people who have become unemployed during the coronavirus pandemic. Pop-Up Kitchen will operate out of Midtown restaurant Seaside Lounge (702 W. Dallas St.) beginning Wednesday, April 8.

Organized by Council Member At-Large Letitia Plummer, Pop-Up Kitchen aims to feed seniors, especially those who "rely on multipurpose centers or faith-based organizations or non-profits to provide their daily meals," according to a release. Seeded with money from Mario Azodinia, CEO of the private equity firm Capstone Houston Group, LLC, the program aims to feed at least 100 Houstonians a day April 8-12 and April 14-19.

Seaside Lounge chef Wendall Price is leading the culinary side. Other participants include Ana Beaven (Cuchara), Andres Albarran (New York Deli & Coffee Shop and Houston Catering Concepts), Nick Semoudiaris (Roadster Grill at Eighteen36), and Rafi Nasr (Craft Pita). Dishes slated to be served include potato tacos (Beaven), lasagna (Albarran), and grilled chicken skewers (Semoudiaris). Chefs who are interested in joining the effort may sign up online.

Available between 10 am and 2 pm (or sold out), meals will be distributed to people who can demonstrate recent unemployment or have proof they are age 65 or older. Measures will be in place to promote social distancing and proper hygiene.

Plummer and the chefs intend to keep the project going for as long as they have funds to support it. Houstonians may make tax-free contributions via a GoFundMe organized by local non-profit Disaster & Humanitarian Services, Inc. Contributions may be as small as $4, the cost of one meal.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our neighbors in Houston in more ways than one, with job loss being a major hit to so many lives,” Plummer said in a statement. “I am so appreciative and humbled by the incredible local chefs, our organizing team including Mario, chef Wendell and Laurie Robinson [founder of Disaster & Humanitarian Services], and the generosity of our neighbors who are donating to our GoFundMe to help us keep our neighbors in need fed for the next few weeks.”

Falafel rice bowl from Craft Pita.

Courtesy photo

Falafel rice bowl from Craft Pita.

charity chefs fundraisers

Let's a-go-go tacos

Houston taqueria opens 2 new locations with cocktails by Anvil owner

Tacos A Go Go Sharon Haynes Bobby Heugel Maribel Gomez

Photo by Dylan McEwan

Co-owners Sharon Haynes and chef Maribel Gomez with Anvil owner Bobby Heugel.

Residents of the Heights and Briargrove have a new options for tacos and margaritas. Tacos A Go Go has opened new locations in both neighborhoods.

Located in the former Lola Neighborhood Diner (1102 Yale St.) and Killen’s STQ (2231 S. Voss Rd.), the two new restaurants are the first Tacos A Go Go locations to feature a full bar. Owners Sharon Haynes and Maribel Gomez turned to Anvil owner Bobby Heugel to create the cocktail program.

“Launching a full bar felt like the natural evolution of Tacos A Go Go,” Haynes said in a statement. “We’re known for fresh, authentic flavors, and our bold, fun new cocktails and designated bar area are totally in line with that thinking. Working with Bobby Heugel meant we could bring that same care and thought to the bar, offering excellent cocktails with fresh-squeezed juices and perfectly matched spirits.”

Heugel, along with bartenders Máté Hartai and Tyler Wang, put a Mexican spin on familiar cocktails, including the Mole Espresso Martini (vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and mole spices), the Frozen Mangonada (Mexican rum, mango, lime, chamoy, and chile spices), and a fresh spin on the margarita that can be enhanced with a housemade pico de gallo syrup and finished with a pico de gallo garnish.

At 2,646 square feet, the Heights location offers more space and better parking than Tacos A Go Go’s former home on White Oak. Both new locations feature interior design by Brittany Vaughn of Garnish Designs (Milton’s, Tiny Champions) and hand-painted graphics and collages by Matt Tabor of Letterset Houston.

The restaurants will serve Tacos A Go Go’s familiar menu. Led by chef Gomez, it includes street-style tacos with fillings such as carne guisada, pastor, picadillo, and barbacoa. In addition, the restaurant offers breakfast tacos all day and more elevated options such as grilled shrimp and smoked brisket. Non-taco options include burritos, quesadillas, and salads.

The Heights location is open from 7 am-10 pm Sunday through Wednesday and 7 am-12 am Thursday through Saturday, while Briargrove is open daily from 7 am-10 pm. Both restaurants offer happy hour daily from 2-5 pm, including $5 margaritas.

Photo by Dylan McEwan

Co-owners Sharon Haynes and chef Maribel Gomez with Anvil owner Bobby Heugel.

news-you-can-eat openings tacos the-heights