New Food Park Coming

Big Sexy's food truck seeks a fowl makeover before big move to new park

Big Sexy is back on the road. After having helped his business partner Matt Opaleski launch Hugs & Donuts, food truck veteran Jason Hill is ready to hit the streets with a new food truck that builds on two things Houstonians love: fried chicken and mac and cheese.

Towards that end, Hill is converting the H-Town StrEATs truck into a new venture called Luv Me Tenders that blends items from the StrEATs menu like the popular Shorty Mac sandwich and avocado tacos with the chicken tenders he served during The Bird House pop-up.

Hill has also sweetened the pot a little. "If we get to the goal, everyone will receive one order of truffle fries."

Recently, Hill launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money necessary to get the truck a new vinyl wrap with the Luv Me Tenders logo. For $15, backers get a Shorty Mac sandwich, which was one of the truck's most popular items, and $2 off all subsequent orders.

Hill has also sweetened the pot a little, "If we get to the goal, everyone will receive one order of truffle fries."

Former Houston Press critic Kaitlin Steinberg described the Shorty Mac as "junk food gone gourmet, with tender, juicy short rib sandwiched between two slices of buttered, toasted bread and mingled with melted Provolone and macaroni and cheese . . . a cheesy, meaty amalgamation of awesome."

New food truck park

That should come as good news to residents of Spring and The Woodlands, because Luv Me Tenders will be permanently posted at a new food truck park called Bernie's Backyard (no relation to the burger truck) that will open July 3 near the intersection of I-45 and FM 2920.

Hill calls Bernie's Backyard "the first true food truck park in Houston."

Hill calls Bernie's Backyard "the first true food truck park in Houston," because of the amenities it offers to both diners and the trucks. Most importantly, the trucks have dedicated electrical hookups that will prevent them from having to run on noisy generators.

In addition, the park features covered seating areas to offer some protection from the elements. It also plans to have a beer and wine license, a stage that will host live music and two climate-controlled spaces for events — all of which should make it a draw for diners.

Of course, the setting is irrelevant if the food isn't any good, and Bernie's has that covered, too. In addition to Luv Me Tenders, Bernie's will feature tempting options like popular barbecue truck BBQ Godfather, Korean fusion truck Oh My Gogi and Rustica, a new pizza truck from Italian favorite Lasagna House.

Being in a permanent location will come with benefits for diners. "I can focus on food and building a brand," rather than hunting for spaces or catering gigs, Hill says.

Opaleski may be focused on Hugs & Donuts, but Hill does have some news about the popular spot that's been embraced by its Heights neighbors. Next month, the shop will be open seven days a week. Later in the fall, Hugs & Donuts will stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

If nothing else, that should be welcome news to the all the people who are working at the restaurants that are opening in the area.

Luv Me Tenders will serve the chicken tenders that found success at The Bird House pop-up.

Courtesy image

Luv Me Tenders will serve the chicken tenders that found success at The Bird House pop-up.

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bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe