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Macoumba Kandji is not just helping out the Houston Dynamo.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com -
While Macoumba Kandji scores on the field, he is fighting malaria off it.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com -
David Beckham is hardly Macoumba Kandji's biggest worry.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
A new restaurant concept from California has landed in Texas, staking a bold claim: Called Roll-Em-Up Taquitos, it calls itself the first place dedicated to taquitos, and who are we to disagree.
Pearland will be the first Houston-area locale, at 15818 Hwy 288. In mid-September, Roll-Em-Up opened their first Texas location in Garland, at 5949 Broadway Blvd., serving taquitos with a variety of fillings, along with key sides including corn on the cob, queso, and guacamole.
There are five taquito options, including shredded beef, shredded chicken, potato, cheese, and avocado. Taquitos can be topped with cheese, spicy house sauce, guac sauce, queso sauce, and their "lit" sauce.
Other menu items include bacon beans, rice, bomb AF chips, churro doughnuts drizzled with caramel, and street corn with butter, mayo, and cotija cheese, with an optional dusting of Hot Cheetos and Tajin or coated in queso. You can get the corn on the cob or cut into a cup.
Roll-Em-Up Taquitos was founded by father-and-son Ron and Ryan Usrey, who debuted the concept in Chino Hills in 2019. The taquitos are hand-rolled and pan-fried to order in cast iron skillets, and the restaurants also boast a colorful interior with a bright and cheerful mural that runs the length of the back wall.
There are tables for inhouse dining, but takeout is also a huge deal, with party packs of 25 or 50 taquitos, for $50 to $100, accompanied by shredded cheese, guac sauce, sour cream, mild sauce, and LIT sauce.
Taquitos topped with queso and guacamole.
Roll Em Up Taquitos
Restaurant operators David Weaver and Blake Terry, who have worked with many brands including Wingstop, The Catch, Burger House, Subway, Smashburger, and Rusty Taco, are bringing the concept to Texas.
"Having great food is no longer enough in today's fast casual space and this is what made us thrilled about Roll-Em-Up," Weaver says in a statement. "The food, ambiance, and operations of Roll-Em-Up are outstanding, not to mention the reggae music playing in the background. It's a vibrant, fun, and delicious place to be and we had to be a part."
They'll build and operate a percentage of stores, and also recruit and train future franchise partners in the region.
In addition to Pearland and Garland, there's already a location coming to Hurst, at 1842 Precinct Line Rd., opening in fall 2022, with Amarillo in the works, as well.
One of Houston’s most beloved cultural celebrations is back for three days of food, dance, shopping, and family fun.
The Original Greek Festival returns this weekend, Thursday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral for an astounding 55th year.
More than 35,000 Houstonians are expected to pack the church’s complex to devour the famed and authentic, homemade Greek food, take in traditional dance performances, and — also a crowd favorite — lots of shopping.
Ahhh, baklava...
Arguably the biggest festival draw is the enormous food spread, all of which is prepared by Annunciation Greek Orthodox clergy members and much of coming from generations-long family recipes. Expect souvlaki (marinated seasoned beef cubes), tiropita (a triangular shaped cheese-filled puff pastry), spanakopita (tubular shaped spinach and cheese filled puff pastry), and dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with beef and rice).
Greek sweets include flaky baklava (nuts and spices layered in phyllo with honey syrup), kourambiedes (butter cookies with toasted almonds topped with powdered sugar), and loukoumades (hot honey puffs) made to order.
Get fired up for savory Greek meats.
Authentic Greek beer Fix Hellas, imported Greek wine, and a variety of domestic beers will refresh those strolling the food offerings.
Song and dance
Visitors clamor to watch a variety of traditional Greek dance performances by groups of adults and children. Musician Alex Kalos — known as “The Golden Greek” — will perform, where fans can practice or learn Greek dance. Young fans can check out the children’s activities area, the Athenian Playground.
Tiny dancers are sure to steal the show.
All about the agora
Shoppers, once full on food and properly refreshed, always stop by the festival shop (agora) to peruse the veritable feast of jewelry, clothing, cookbooks, icons, and religious items. Purists can find imported olive oil, popular Greek grocery store items, and even olive trees.
Keeping the faith
Fittingly for the venue, the festival offers cathedral tours, hosted by cathedral clergy who will explain the symbolism represented in the Byzantine style and the new hand-painted iconography in the cathedral.
Here’s a rundown of the festivities:
Thursday, October 6
5 pm – 10:30 pm
Dance program begins at 6 pm
Friday, October 7
11 am – 10:30 pm
Dance program begins at 6 pm
Saturday, October 8
11am – 10:30 pm
Children’s dance program begins at 11:30 am
Adult dance program begins at 5 pm
Festival tickets are $5 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free; free admission between 11 am-3 pm on Friday.
Fans can rest assured their money is going to a good cause: a portion of ticket proceeds benefit the Children’s Assessment Center, Harris County Sheriff's Office, S.E.A.R.C.H., the Covenant House, and more.
Consider this family fest a chance to celebrate Greek friends and neighbors, one of the biggest Greek communities in the U.S., and of course, a chance to scarf down all the souvlaki and baklava.
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The Original Greek Festival runs October 6-8 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd. For more information, call 713-526-5377 or visit the official site.