New summer menu items at the Jones? Plus, new restaurants and more across Oklahoma
JaNae WilliamsIf you've been paying attention, then you know that Oklahoma City just brought home the state's first ever best Chef James Beard Foundation award, as two of the city's chefs headed to Chicago last week for the awards ceremony.
But don't think that's the only thing happening in Oklahoma City's culinary industry. The month of May brought with it many more accolades, a host of new openings, some delicious menu changes and more across the state.
Bold, bright flavors come to new spring and summer menu at The Jones Assembly
The Jones Assembly, 901 W Sheridan Ave., launched a revamped menu with several new appetizers, entrees and cocktails.
Start your meal with the scallop crudo or farmer's cheese, or share the new G.O.A.T. wood-fired pizza. This vegetarian friendly option is layered with the flavors of summer featuring dollops of tangy goat cheese, thinly-ribboned squash and zucchini, lemon, and the sweet pop of diced rhubarb paired with tajín roasted peanuts, szechuan oil, and honey.
Main course options still include the Jones beloved Nashville Hot Chicken and Buddha Bowl, but they've also added two new entrees to the menu. Turbot, a grilled white fish served with fennel, strawberry, kumquat, roasted caper sauce and a pea pod emulsion and Pork Moyo. The moyo features confit pork that comes with a variety of accoutrements including sambal, zucchini + squash farro, roasted pineapple and more, all waiting to be rolled up in the piadina — an italian flatbread — and enjoyed. Smoky, sweet, and spicy, there was no shortage of flavors.
The bar program at The Jones also inherited several new additions. The POG Days is a frozen cocktail featuring tequila and mezcal with pog juice, coconut, thai chili, cilantro and lime — think tiki drink dialed up. Other options include the Porch Swing — the best of a Pimm's cup and a southern-style sweet tea, the Tai One On — a spin on the Mai Tai that has apricot notes, aperol, lime, and sunflower orgeat, and the Giving Basil — a play on a gin and tonic featuring pistachio orgeat, basil and vanilla.
With so many new things to try, the Lively Concert Series ongoing and the recently updated dessert menu still available, it's a great time to stop by the Jones Assembly.
NBA-Star Kevin Johnson opens Fixins Soul Kitchen in Tulsa's Greenwood District
On the 102 anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, NBA Star Kevin Johnson and three of the survivors gathered along with Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum for the ribbon cutting of Fixins Soul Kitchen, 222 N. Detroit Street in Tulsa. The restaurant is a full-service soul food restaurant that celebrates African American culture and traditions and opens in the heart of the community destroyed by the violent acts of the massacre.
In addition to Bringing 85 new jobs for the local Tulsa community, Fixins Tulsa will also donate a portion of opening week profits to Greenwood Rising, the history center dedicated to the legacy of Black Wall Street before and after the massacre. Fixins Tulsa plans to make a further donation to the Thunder Fellows Program — developed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Creative Arts Agency, which provides curriculum in essential skill sets for Black high school and college students in the Tulsa area.
Cattlemen's inducted into National Steakhouse Hall of Fame
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, 1309 S Agnew Ave., has been honored by the newly established National Steakhouse Hall of Fame, as part of the organization's inaugural class.
The Steak House Hall of Fame, founded by Bob Sambol, owner of the original Bob's Steak & Chop House in Dallas, chose just seven inductees, including Cattlemen's Steakhouse, for its first round of honorees.
“We chose Cattlemen’s because of its rich history and, of course, the superb quality and preparation of their steaks,” Sambol said.
Originally named Cattlemen's Café, the restaurant has operated continuously since 1910 in the heart of Stockyards City, making it the "oldest continuously operating restaurant in Oklahoma City,” Cattlemen’s owner, Dick Stubbs, said.
Cattlemen’s official induction into the Steak House Hall of Fame will be held later this year in Las Vegas.
Nonesuch named 'Highly Recommended' by Opinionated About Dining
For the second year in a row, Opinionated About Dining, an online guide based on reviews contributed by registered individuals, has taken notice of Oklahoma City's Nonesuch, 803 N Hudson Ave.
While anyone can submit reviews to Opinionated About Dining, their system takes into consideration and puts a higher emphasis on the "opinions of reviewers who have demonstrated a higher level of expertise."
Nonesuch moved from "Recommended" to "Highly Recommended" on this year's list of North America's Top Restaurants. It is the only restaurant in the state to make the list.
Pioneer Woman Mercantile reopens in Pawhuska
Following an extensive renovation, Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman Mercantile's doors have officially reopened at 532 Kihekah Ave. in Pawhuska.
The updates include changes to staff uniforms, the menu, restaurant, bakery, store offerings and more. The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Oklahoma City Metro Craft Beers, Marketing win awards
Two separate beer industry award showings came down recently, one for brewers and one for marketers. Oklahoma City was able to walk away with one award in each.
The Craft Beer Marketing Awards saw Robot House win a Platinum Crushie — an award for marketing and branding excellence — for it's design work on the core beer packaging for Skydance Brewing, 1 NE 7th Street.
Meanwhile at the World Beer Cup in Nashville earlier this month, The Big Friendly, 1737 Spoke Street, won a bronze medal for its Oblique & Bent in the Session Beer or Belgian-Style Table Beer category.
Velvet Taco comes to town
Adding to its offerings in Norman and Tulsa, Dallas-based Velvet Taco opened a third Oklahoma location in North Oklahoma City, 13600 N Pennsylvania Ave. The counter-service spot offers a variety of tacos, margaritas and more with great patio space.
The Grove Bar OKC opens in Midtown
The Collective and Hall's Pizza Kitchen have a new neighbor. The Grove Bar OKC, 1009 N Harvey Ave., is now open offering up an indoor/outdoor patio bar in the heart of Midtown Oklahoma City. The bar is open Tuesday through Sunday. And yes, it's dog-friendly!
Church's Chicken opens new Bethany location
Church's Texas Chicken, the San Antonio-founded turned Atlanta-based, chicken chain has opened a new location at 7960 NW 23rd Street in Bethany, its 24th across the state.
VZD's mulls over what's next
After the sale of their current building and failing to come to an agreement with the new owner on acceptable lease terms, the owners of VZD's Restaurant & Bar, 4200 N Western Ave., made the unexpected announcement that they would be closing their doors on Sep. 2.
Prior to closing VZD'S will host two more cooking competitions, like the Best Burger Competition held in March, one in June for tacos and one in July for barbecue. Additionally, owners have said they are considering further options for what the future of VZD's will include.
The Vegan Shaq brings vegan hotdogs to OKC
Open each Friday and Saturday beginning at 6 p.m., The Vegan Shaq is a food truck specializing in vegan hotdogs and corndogs that can be found at Delmar Gardens Food Truck Park, 1225 SW 2nd Street in the Farmers Public Market area. From traditional options like chili dogs to out-of-the-box offerings like elotes dogs, all of them are 100% vegan.