New Chef at Berryhill

'Freak genius' reality TV chef tapped to bring fresh ideas to iconic Tex-Mex restaurant

Alvin Schultz will be introducing new dishes at Berryhill Baja Grill.

Courtesy photo

One of Houston's iconic Tex-Mex restaurants has a new chef in the kitchen who's bringing some fresh ideas to the menu.

Berryhill Baja Grill has hired Alvin Schultz as a consultant corporate chef to introduce new menus items and oversee consistency at both company-owned and franchise locations. Schultz, a former Bose Corporation employee, hasn't followed the traditional path of attending culinary school to learn about the restaurant industry. Rather, he first became a presence in Houston's culinary scene in 2011 when he appeared on season two of the Fox reality show Masterchef. His use of a homemade immersion circulator led head judge Gordon Ramsay to dub Schultz a "freak genius."

Since then, Schultz has launched his Eat.Drink.EXPERIENCE! culinary events company that hosts elaborate dinners that blend high-quality ingredients with a scientific approach to cooking. While those dinners may cost $125 per person or more, Schultz's dishes for Berryhill will be considerably more affordable.

Berryhill's core menu will remain the same, but Schultz has been given a wide berth to introduce new ideas. Although the company is still finalizing what dishes will make it to a menu, some of the possibilities include a shrimp and cheesy queso grits taco, Korean fried chicken taco, ginger mojo grilled chicken, and a new breakfast taco, according to a representative.

“The idea is to reach around the globe for flavor profiles of taco fillings,” Schultz said in a statement. “We’ll be celebrating as much of Houston's own diverse culinary scenes as possible, while keeping with Mexican culinary traditions and flavor."

When Schultz's new creations do arrive, they will be served at Berryhill's current River Oaks location. The company's plans to relocate to the former 60 Degrees Mastercrafted/Harwood Grill space on Westheimer are temporarily on hold due to "design and business issues."

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Smoke on the Thames

2 Michelin-starred Texas barbecue joints fire up monthlong London pop-up

InterStellar and La Barbecue at The Ned London

The Ned London/thened.com

Even in Austin's home scene, these restaurants are considered the cream of the crop. Abroad, this is an extra special treat.

Two of Texas' best barbecue joints are are firing up their smokers in London. Austin-based InterStellar and La Barbecue are in residence for one month a London hotel called The Ned.

Service started on September 4, and guests have until October 4 to see what great barbecue tastes like on the other side of the pond.

Each restaurant sent its best representative: John Bates of InterStellar BBQ and Ali Clem of La Barbecue, the two pitmasters who led them to barbecue's first Michelin stars. Both are somewhat traditional with a few signature twists, making them a good match beyond their similar levels of prestige.

Proteins on the menu include pork ribs, pulled lamb shoulder, chopped cheese sausage, and InterStellar's famous peach tea pork belly burnt ends. Brisket will be available as an add-on. The team is also cooking up sides and pairing the bites with cocktails made for the occasion by Jack Daniels.

The exclusive sharing tray is available for $75 per person, with a minimum of two people per reservation ($150). A 14.5 percent service gratuity is also being added.

Many barbecue fans understand that a smoker plays a huge part in the final product, and being away from home could dramatically change the cooking process. An Instagram post explains (and seems to lightly promote) that the pitmasters are using Ironbrand smokers, which are custom-made in the United Kingdom.

The residency is happening at Electric Bar & Diner, The Ned's all-day American diner. The 248-room hotel is located in Poultry, on the north side of the River Thames near St. Paul's Cathedral. It is also very near to the Bank Station, a connecting station for four rail routes, making it easy to get to from many parts of London.

Booking is already going fast, so guests who want to snag a space should commit soon.

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