Grocery Chef Leaves

Rising star chef leaves innovative supermarket restaurant to concentrate on Cajun food

H-E-B's massive new Tanglewood store has emerged as a legitimate dining destination thanks to the presence of its in-store restaurant Table 57 Dining & Drinks. In addition to featuring a menu created by former Haven chef Randy Evans, Table 57 also benefited from the presence of Allen Duhon as executive chef, but that situation changed on Sunday. Duhon, who worked as Evans's sous chef at Haven, tells CultureMap that he has worked his last day at Table 57.

"It just wasn't a good fit for me," Duhon tells CultureMap via text message. "Time to do my own food."

"My Maw Maw and Dad (taught me). Plus I'm Cajun so its in my blood," Duhon writes.

For a Port Arthur native like Duhon, "my food" means Cajun cuisine. He's joined up with the owners of Fat Bao and will be taking over their Fat Wagon food truck. Tentatively called Maw Maw's Rustic, the truck will feature items like gumbo, fried chicken liver po' boys, skillet cornbread and a whole host of other Cajun specialties.

"My Maw Maw and Dad (taught me). Plus I'm Cajun so its in my blood," Duhon writes. The chef also had professional guidance, as he explains. "Randy helped, too. Teaching me how to do Southern food in a restaurant setting . . . I'm happy for the opportunity H-E-B gave me and glad I worked under great chefs like Randy Evans and Philippe Gaston."

H-E-B public affairs representative Cyndy Garza-Roberts provided the following statement about chef Duhon in response to a request from CultureMap. "Chef Allen Duhon is no longer with Table 57. He has decided to leave H-E-B to pursue other opportunities. Executive Chef Randy Evans continues to lead all the culinary efforts at the popular new concept restaurant, Table 57. He is assisted by stable H-E-B chefs and we are continually amazed by his creative cuisine."

Duhon expects it will take a couple of weeks for him to finalize the menu for Maw Maw's. For now, the Fat Bao truck will keep its current menu. In addition to his responsibilities on the truck, Duhon also expects to assist Fat Bao chef Pak Trui at Trui's upcoming restaurant Ka Sushi in the Heights.

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q

Grocery Chef Leaves

Rising star chef leaves innovative supermarket restaurant to concentrate on Cajun food

two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

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