cafecito

New family-run taco cafe tops this week's 5 hottest Fort Worth headlines

This week's hot headlines

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that listhere.

1. Fort Worth mom & daughter debut cafe with tacos and homemade tortillas. A new Fort Worth café is serving up breakfast tacos and burritos with homemade tortillas just like abuela used to make. Called Cafecito, it's a mother-daughter operation from Cinthya Duran, a South Fort Worth native, who's partnered with her mother, Yaneth Sanchez, on their first food and beverage endeavor.

2. Acclaimed Thai restaurant expands to Fort Worth's hottest neighborhood. An acclaimed Thai restaurant in the mid-cities is making a big step up to Fort Worth's hottest street: The new place is called Ko Thai, and it's opening at 721-725 W. Magnolia Ave., a couple doors down from Shinjuku Station (which sadly just closed after 13 years in the Near Southside).

3. Fort Worth to host forgiveness day for those with outstanding warrants. Scofflaws in Fort Worth are getting cut some slack: The Fort Worth Municipal Court is hosting a forgiveness event where anyone with an outstanding citation can clear it up without fear of arrest.

4. 4 DFW universities earn top rankings on new list of best colleges in U.S. Four Dallas-Fort Worth area universities have risen through the ranks in a highly anticipated new list of the country's best universities. Niche, an education review and ranking website, has deemed Texas Christian University the sixth best college in Texas, for the third consecutive year.

5. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 6 restaurants with the best sandwiches. For this month’s Where to Eat, we point you to the best sandwich shops in and around Fort Worth. These are traditional sandwiches, and include venerable classics as well as some worthy newcomers.

cafecito

Fort Worth mom & daughter debut cafe with tacos and homemade tortillas

Family businesses

A new Fort Worth café is serving up breakfast tacos and burritos with homemade tortillas just like abuela used to make.

Called Cafecito, it's a mother-daughter operation from Cinthya Duran, a South Fort Worth native, who's partnered with her mother, Yaneth Sanchez, on their first food and beverage endeavor.

They began in December 2022 as a food trailer that operated outside Hotel Revel, and have now opened a block away at 1229 Eighth Ave., in the same building as Wabi House, Filipino rice bowl concept Ober Here, and boba tea spot Sharetea.

They're serving the same menu, but now can offer an interior space to sit.

Duran, who has a background in interior design, focuses on the business side. She calls her mom "the magic in the kitchen."

"Neither one of us really has much professional experience in the food industry, but my mom has always loved the kitchen," she says.

Sanchez is known for her holiday tamales and homemade tortillas – both now somewhat of a lost art in many Mexican-American home kitchens. She's also the family go-to for large gatherings and parties, such as quinceaneras.

“I have so many memories of her waking up super early to make tortillas and pack a bunch of breakfast tacos wrapped in foil for road trips, which is what inspired our idea for Cafecito,” Duran says. “She loves to feed people and it has always been her dream to open a restaurant.”

Their menu includes tacos and burritos, including their best-selling potato & chorizo combo. There are also three distinctive starters: sincronizadas, their twist on a quesadilla with ham and cheese melted between flour tortillas and topped with avocado; molletes, an open-faced bean and cheese sandwich served with salsa; and a breakfast sandwich with ham, eggs, and cheese on wheat toast.

Cafecito taco Tacos from CafecitoCourtesy photo

Prices range from $3-$9 per item.

They make their tortillas fresh daily, including what has become an Instagram favorite: pink tinted tortillas that are naturally dyed with beet juice.

Cafecito means "coffee" in Spanish, and they serve a version called Café de Olla, which Duran describes as traditional Mexican coffee with brown sugar, cinnamon, and spices. (A bottled cold brew version of the coffee made by Ostara Coffee Roasters, set to open on Race Street, is coming soon.)

“So often our customers share that our food or coffee reminds them of their childhood or a special time with their mom or grandma, and that is honestly the best part of the job,” says Duran. “We love bringing home-style, feel-good food to the community.”

Cafecito is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 am-12:30 pm. Hours will extend to 3 pm starting September 5.

Photo courtesy of Goldee's BBQ

Where to find the most iconic — and best — meals in all of Texas

Hit the Road

Texans don't need much of a reason to hit the open road. Our state is brimming with natural beauty and charming small towns, but nothing motivates us to fill up the tank like a bonanza of regional foods.

There are renowned Texas flavors to be found throughout the entire state, from small towns like Round Top to the far west end in El Paso. And with meals ranging from Tex-Mex and barbecue to Frito Pie and kolaches, the Lone Star State is known for some of the most iconic foods in America.

When you hit the open road to explore (and taste) it all, know that a Hilton Hotel is nearby for a good night's rest. Whether you're traveling with family, friends, or as a couple, the right room is waiting with a warm welcome.

Hope you're hungry, because here is but a small slice of some of the best.

Barbecue
Goldee's BBQ, Fort Worth
Few barbecue joints in Texas can make a name without serving the holy trinity of brisket, sausage, and ribs. Still, the young chefs and pitmasters at this Fort Worth stop one-up the competition with unexpected sides like chicken rice and collard greens and crowd-pleasers like fish and chips.

Chicken Fried Steak
Babe's Chicken Dinner House, Carrollton
All Texans take their chicken fried steak with some degree of seriousness. We dare say this eatery — which originated in Carrollton and has locations all over North Texas — takes it the most seriously of all, with plenty of family-style sides to round out the table.

Tacos
La Cocina, McAllen
Former oil worker Evin Garcia combines tradition and innovation at this McAllen haunt. Enjoy everything from birria tacos dipped in a luscious consommé to an octopus version served with traditional al pastor fixings like onion, cilantro, and grilled pineapple.

Elotes
Elotes Fanny, Austin + North Texas
With locations in Austin, Fort Worth, and Garland, this snack shop mini-chain knows everything about corn. Get it by the cob or in a cup, and make sure to douse it in the fiery homemade Atomic Salsa.

Fried Chicken
Dolli's Diner, Nacogdoches
This diner does just about everything right, but the crowning jewel of the menu is undoubtedly the chicken fried chicken. It's served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh veggies for color and is best enjoyed with funnel cake fries for dessert.

Frito Pie
RD's Burger, Cibolo
This casual stop does its namesake dish with aplomb, but found pure magic in its Frito Pie. It's served with no muss or fuss and occasionally on the insanely delicious burger.

Kolaches
Slovacek’s, West
When it comes to kolaches, any bakery in West will serve the real deal. Relative newcomer Slovacek's gets the vote for its dozens of fruit flavors and creative klobasnek (the meaty cousin of kolaches) filled with boudin, pepperoni, or kraut.

Pies
Royer's Round Top Cafe, Round Top
No trip to Round Top's famous antique fair is complete without a stop at this darling cafe. "Pie Man" Bud Royer makes every visit sweet with pies like buttermilk, pecan, and the multi-fruit Troy's Junk Berry.

Queso
L & J Cafe, El Paso
This El Paso tradition is by a graveyard, sure, but don't let that deter you from enjoying its queso. The miraculous concoction made with roasted green chile, tomatoes, and onions is served with just-fried tostadas.

Tamales
Leal's Tamale Factory, Lubbock
A Lubbock classic, this mainstay doesn't go for newfangled tamale flavors like sweet potato. Order pork, chicken, or cheese and rediscover the fundamentals.

Viet-Cajun crawfish boils
Crawfish & Noodles, Houston
Who knows what James Beard-nominated chef Trong Nguyen puts in his secret sauce. What we do know is that it's one of the most intensely flavorful experiences in all of Houston.

Texas knows no bounds when it comes to to where you can go (and eat). No matter where your next foodie adventure takes you, a Hilton hotel is waiting for you.

With over 550 Hilton hotels spanning across the state of Texas, the possibilities to earn more while exploring the Lone Star State are endless.

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These are the 14 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

It will be a busy weekend in and around Fort Worth, with choices available in a variety of topics. They include four different local theater productions, two comedy events, six concerts, a couple of big festivals, the finale of the symphony season, and art showcases.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

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Flo Rida will be one of the headliners at the Tacos & Tequila Festival at Panther Island Pavilion on May 20.

Thursday, May 18

The Cliburn presents Amir Siraj
Leading up to the third edition of the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, taking place in June in Dallas, the Cliburn presents a Cliburn in the Community concert featuring Amir Siraj, who competed in the first-ever Cliburn Junior in 2015. He has gone on to perform at the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, Millennium Park, and Carnegie Hall, and for the heads of state of Korea, Canada, and Jordan. He'll perform at White's Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake.

KWC Performing Arts presents Look Up
KWC Performing Arts presents the original musical Look Up, a profound and hilarious production that examines the digital world and its effect on our lives. When going off the grid seems impossible, can we turn these new online communities into tools for positive change? The one-night-only production will be at W. E. Scott Theatre at Arts Fort Worth.

Amphibian Stage Productions presents Sara Schaefer
Sara Schaefer is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer, and producer currently based in Los Angeles. She was the co-host of MTV’s late night show Nikki & Sara Live, and has appeared on @Midnight, John Oliver’s New York Stand Up Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Inside Amy Schumer. She'll perform four times through Saturday at Amphibian Stage.

PBR World Finals Concert Series
With the PBR World Finals continuing through Sunday at Dickies Arena, so too will the nightly post-event concerts at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall. Country singer Easton Corbin will play on Thursday, followed by Texas Hippie Coalition on Friday, and Warrant on Saturday.

Friday, May 19

39th Annual Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience
Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience in Historic Downtown Grapevine is a fun event for all ages, with a carnival, artisans, shopping, A Taste of Texas, the Craft Brew Experience, and more. Live music will be featured along Main Street from headliners Vertical Horizon and Little Texas, as well as tribute bands like Blaze of Glory, Dunn & Brooks, and King George. The festival takes place through Sunday.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Haydn: The Creation"
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra closes out conductor Robert Spano’s inaugural season with Haydn's monumental Creation, a dramatic oratorio for vocal soloists, orchestra, and choir that renders the Biblical text in music. The Miami-based vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire joins the orchestra while visual artist Elaine J. McCarthy lends her talents to bring this ambitious production to life. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Impractical Jokers: The Drive Drive Drive Drive Drive Tour
Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano of Impractical Jokers will bring The Drive Drive Drive Drive Drive Tour to Arlington. Impractical Jokers is a hidden camera comedy show that follows Q, Murr and Sal as they compete to embarrass each other amongst the general public with a series of hilarious and outrageous dares. This event will feature never-before-seen videos and storytelling stand-up.

Artisan Center Theater presents Brigadoon
In Brigadoon, from musical theatre icons Lerner & Loewe, New Yorker Tommy Albright unexpectedly arrives at the mysterious Scottish Highland village of Brigadoon, which only appears for one day every 100 years. When Tommy meets and falls in love with Fiona, a beautiful villager in this magical hamlet, he must decide whether to return to his old life, or stay in Brigadoon - forever. The production runs through June 24 at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst.

Jubilee Theatre presents Praise The Lord and Raise The Roof
Praise the Lord and Raise the Roof is a light-hearted comedy set in the fictional town of Rule Hill County, Virginia, where an African American church takes in a friendly white drifter amid fear and suspicion about a rash of local church burnings. When tragedy strikes, they must reconcile their own prejudice with their Christianity. The production runs through June 18 at Jubilee Theatre.

Hip Pocket Theatre presents Riders of the Purple Sage
Johnny Simons and James Maynard adapted Zane Grey’s original story Riders of the Purple Sage, which was last seen at Hip Pocket in 1996, with two previous productions. Featuring action, adventure, and romance in the wide open spaces, it’s a classic Western of the silent film era, about Lassiter, an avenging gunslinger in black; Jane Withersteen, a plucky and determined cattle rancher; and the dastardly forces that separate them. The production runs through June 11 at Hip Pocket Theatre.

Chancey Williams in concert
Country singer Chancey Williams is a grinder. Since he put out his first album in 2008, he has self-released five of his six albums, a dedication that indicates he's in it for the pure love of the music than for a desire to get rich and famous. He'll get his first-ever showcase at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new album, One of These Days.

Saturday, May 20

Amon Carter Museum of American Art openings and closings
It's moving weekend at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Opening on Saturday will be Elizabeth Turk's "The Tipping Point: Echoes of Extinction," a continuation of the multiyear outdoor sculpture program to activate the Museum’s grounds. Turk’s series, on view through May 1, 2024, comprises vertical sound sculptures of bird species that are endangered or are extinct. Closing on Sunday is "Morning Light: Photographs of David H. Gibson," which takes viewers to two of Gibson's favorite sites, Cypress Creek in Wimberely, Texas, and Eagle Nest Lake, nestled in the mountains east of Taos, New Mexico.

Tacos & Tequila Festival
The Tacos & Tequila Festival will feature some of Dallas-Fort Worth’s best taco chefs, handcrafted margaritas, Lucha Libre wrestling, a chihuahua beauty pageant, exotic car showcase, salsa & queso competition, art installations, photo ops, and more. There will also be a huge live music showcase, including performances by Flo Rida, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Bones Thugs-N-Harmony, Montell Jordan, Ying Yang Twins, Paul Wall, Murphy Lee, DJ Ashton Martin, and more. The single-day event takes place at Panther Island Pavilion.

Stoney LaRue in concert
Singer-songwriter Stoney LaRue, who was just in town a couple of months ago as part of the inaugural Fort Worth Music Festival, is part of the recent wave of Texas Country/Red Dirt artists, having put out six albums since 2002, including 2019's Onward. LaRue is as close to a regular at Billy Bob's as you can get, having played there multiple times and even recording a live album there in 2007. He'll play there yet again on Saturday night.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Ultra-chic Postino WineCafe brings wine and bruschetta to Southlake

Wine News

A nationally acclaimed wine bar-restaurant has opened in Southlake: Postino WineCafé, specializing in wine, bites, and a chic atmosphere, opened a location at 1440 Main St., in Southlake Town Square, in the no-brainer slot next to Trader Joe's.

Postino is known for its daily happy hour, bruschetta boards, and menu built for sharing, as well as a laid-back atmosphere, designed for all-day hangouts with friends, date nights, client get-togethers, and family outings.

The chain first came to Dallas in 2021 when they opened a location in Deep Ellum. They closed that location two years later in March 2023 and relocated to Addison, where they just opened in August.

"We are thrilled to bring Postino to Southlake and the heart of bustling Town Square," says Postino Co-Founder Lauren Bailey. “The Dallas/Fort Worth market is very important to us, and we are excited to be expanding our footprint here so soon – just a month since debuting in Addison."

Founded in Arizona in 2001, Postino's goal is to bring people together over wine and food. Its bruschettas are a menu mainstay, artfully presented on boards made of reclaimed wood, with 12 variations including:

Prosciutto Di Parma, Fresh Fig & Mascarpone
Sweet N’ Spicy Pepper Jam & Goat Cheese
Brie, Apple and Fig Spread
Ricotta, Dates & Pistachio

Guests can mix and match four bruschetta per board, meaning you can try more than one a time. The entire menu is that way: designed without a definitive beginning or end, with the freedom to tailor your experience based on the occasion, from a meal to a swift bite.

A category called Snacky Things features chicken and filet skewers with garlic yogurt, shrimp scampi, and crispy cauliflower with sultana raisins, capers, and a Romesco drizzle.

There are entrée salads, soups, hand-pressed paninis (on ciabatta or focaccia bread), with the option to mix-and-match sandwich, salad, and soup.

Desserts include: Chocolate Bouchon with vanilla bean ice cream, Crème Brulee, and Salted Caramel Sundae with vanilla ice cream, chocolate covered corn nuts, pretzel sticks, and salted caramel drizzle.

Weekend brunch is served from 11 am-3 pm with spritzy cocktails, lemonades, and bowls

The wine list by Advanced Sommelier and Beverage VP Brent Karlicek is especially fun to sample during their 11 am-5 pm happy hour spotlighting 25-plus wines for $6 a glass, along with $6 pitchers of beer, both local and beyond.

"We fervently champion winemakers across the globe – from trailblazers like Folk Machine, Mary Taylor, and Scarpetta to the guardians of tradition like Ernst Loosen and Bonny Doon," Karlicek says in a statement. "Producers dedicated to crafting approachable, harmonious wines without sacrificing excellence truly resonate with us. Our aim is to kindle a symphony of excitement and curiosity within our patrons during their dining journey."

Decor is attuned to the neighborhood, with art installations and local/vintage finds. At Southlake, that means a tribute to the Back to The Future series, which was the original inspiration that shaped architect Brian Stebbins’s design for Town Square. An interior wall is decked with close to 400 vintage clocks, juxtaposed by plants.

A semi-private dining space can accommodate up to 14 guests for showers, parties, and other events.

Fort Worth Fire Department welcomes its largest recruit class ever

Firefighter News

The Fort Worth Fire Department must be doing something right: On September 25, the department welcomed its newest class of recruits at Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex to start their Fire Training Academy journey, a 36-week course.

With 60 recruits, the class is twice the size as the usual Academy class — making it the largest recruit class in the history of the department.

The class of 60 includes two sub-groups:

The first group, Class 93, consists of 10 "fast-tracked" students who already hold their Fire and EMS certifications. They'll graduate on November 17.
The second group, Class 94, consists of 50 brand new recruits who hold no certifications. They'll graduate on May 17, 2024.

This largest class in the history of the Fort Worth Fire Department comes after the Mayor, City Council and City Management’s vote to approve staffing levels where they need to be for a Department serving a city this size.

In August, a fire ad-hoc committee recommended increasing the fire department's staffing with 76 new positions, from 979 to 1,049 positions - particularly to cut back on overtime costs, racked up due to an increase in the number of special events they are called on to cover.

The recommendation called for the department to take on two 50-person recruitment classes, one in September and one in February, with approximately 25 percent predicted to fall out due to attrition, for a total of 76.

In addition to the increased number of recruits attending the Academy, staffing studies and negotiations with City leadership and stakeholders has made room for an additional 15 people to be added to the training team. These new training instructors, as well as the use of adjunct instructors from within the Department, will provide even more skill-based learning opportunities with experienced and tenured firefighters.

In a statement, Chief JIm Davis said, "I want to thank the Mayor, City Council and City Management for their diligence in seeing us through our staffing study and helping make the necessary adjustments to our staffing levels. I’m excited that the Department is growing alongside the City of Fort Worth and look forward to watching the new recruits go through one of the best training academy’s in the country."

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Fort Worth Tacos & Margarita Festival