Coffee, ice cream coming to Midtown in one place
Ice cream and coffee fans will have a new place to convene in Midtown when Capitals Ice Cream and Coffee opens this spring.
Almost a year in the planning, the new concept at 1006 N Hudson Ave. (next door to Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes) is owned by Landon Ferguson, Connor Cox, and Ibsen Crespo, of Oklahoma City; Eric Gilbert, of Tulsa; and Layne Ferguson, of Dallas.
“We have all been friends for a few years now, but we realized that as we were growing older and working, we spent less and less time together. So we decided to combat this, we would just start a business together that forced us to spend time together.
“Our commitment and goal for each other are that we would work through conflict and become better friends through this process ... so far so good!”
Originally a food truck scheme, Capitals’s fate was changed by the Swanson’s pop-up shop competition.
“We entered the contest and told them about our concept and they called us the next day and asked if we would be interested in a lease. They worked with us to make our concept fit in this space and we signed a lease with them in January.”
Landon Ferguson, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, worked in Portland, Oregon, for a summer and befriended the owners of an ice cream truck called Zed’s Real Fruit Ice Cream. They used a machine that mixed ice cream with real fruit for a healthier alternative.
“We are expanding on this idea by also offering other toppings, such as cereal and cookies that can be swirled into the ice cream,” Ferguson said. “We’re even working on a flavor where we can put a whole piece of pie swirled into ice cream.”
Capitals will also serve pour-over coffee and cold brew.
“We will utilize Oklahoma City coffee roasters,” Ferguson said.
Look for the new concept to open by the end of May. Keep up with their progress by following on social media at @capitalsicecream; for more information go online to capitals icecream.com.
“Burnt Ends” BBQ competition coming in May
Burnt Ends, a new barbecue competition calling itself the inaugural Oklahoma Barbecue Championship, is scheduled for May 24 to 26 at the Criterion Event Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
The event will include local and regional barbecue teams competing for more than $12,000 in prize money.
Coinciding with the Big 12 Baseball Championship, tournament ticket-holders will be allowed free admission to Burnt Ends.
The 2018 Big 12 Baseball Tournament is May
27 at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Burnt Ends is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The winner will advance to the American Royal, the World Series of barbecue, in Kansas City. The Oklahoma champion will also be eligible for an invite to the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
The festival will also feature a “Backyard Barbeque Competition” with awards and a more flexible format for novice competitors.
Teams can register online at www.okbbqchamp.com.
Burnt Ends will offer a barbecue workshop on April 28 for first time andveteran competitors. The workshop will feature World Barbecue Champion David Bouska, pitmaster of Butcher BBQ. Workshop details and registration will be available online.
A portion of the proceeds from Burnt Ends supports the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids Programs.
Taste of Yukon Tickets on sale
The 19th Annual Taste of Yukon, sponsored by Weokie Federal Credit Union, is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 22 at the Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore Dr.
More than20 of Yukon’s best restaurants will offer appetizers, main courses and desserts to raise fundsfor the many free City of Yukon events, including Freedom Fest and Concerts in the Park.
Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children
under 10. Three years and under are free.
Tickets are available at the Yukon Community Center, Jackie Cooper Gym, and the Dale Robertson Center. Online tickets can be purchased on eventbrite.com. Tickets the day of the event are $17 for adults and $12 for children.
For more information, go online to cityofyukonok.gov or call 405-350-8937.
COOP parties for a cause
COOP Ale Works celebrated its ninth anniversary on March 3, drawing its biggest crowd yet and raising a record high of nearly $24,000 for the Central Oklahoma Humane Society.
COOP Ale Works is a craft brewery in Oklahoma City founded in 2009, and has since grown to create a year-round lineup of nine canned beers, four canned seasonals and limited releases throughout the year. Each year, COOP invites the public to its annual anniversary party at the brewery. The annual party has raised more than $100,000 forthe Humane Societyover the past nine years.
Turkish festival set
The Raindrop Turkish House, 4444 N Classen Blvd., will host its annual Turkish Food & Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.April 7.
The day includes Turkish tea and coffee, arts and crafts tables, kids play areas, traditional folk dance shows, drinks, baklava and ice cream stands.
For more information, email okc@turkishhouse.org.
Oak & Ore cited for excellence
For the second year in a row, Oak & Ore has been recognized
as the best beer bar in Oklahoma in the annual Great American Beer Bars competition conducted by CraftBeer.com, the Brewers Association’s website for beer lovers.
To see the full list of Great American Beer Bars, go online to CraftBeer.com. See details of the beer program at the Plaza District tavern online at oakandore.com.
Tower to host Uptown event
Uptown 23rd District’s annual Uptown Uncorkedwill be6 to 9 p.m. March 29 at the Tower Theatre.
Benefiting the Uptown 23rd District Association, revenue supports the nonprofit’s efforts to promote the ongoing renaissance of the area.
Byron’s Liquor Warehouse returns as beverage sponsor, with the lineup of local and national beer and wines. Each guest receives a tasting glass from COOP Ale Works.
This year’s restaurant lineup includes Uptown favorites Cheever’s, Cuppies and Joe, Back Door BBQ, Big Truck Tacos, Chick N Beer, HunnyBunny Biscuit Co., Guyutesand Pizzeria Gusto.
Chefs Feast returns
Tickets are on sale for the 31st annual Chefs’ Feast, which will be 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 10 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Ticket-holders will enjoy complimentary beverages and food from the metro area’s finest chefs and restaurants. Proceeds from this food tasting event benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids Programs.
Chef Rob Johnson from US Foods and Chef Don Thiery from Guckenheimer Cafe are
co-chairs for this year’s event. Participating restaurants and chefs include: Michael Paske, Café 7; Rob Farris, Gage’s Steakhouse; Aaron Miles, Park Avenue Grill; Chad Willis, The Drake; Eddie Hartwick, Sonic Drive-In Culinary Innovations and Whole Foods.
Individual tickets are $150 and patron tables with seating for 10 are $1,700. Early entry tickets are an additional $25 per person and grants access 30 minutes before the doors officially open at 6:30 p.m.
For tickets and more information, go online to chefsfeast. org or contact Kallie Mikles at 600-3193 or kmikles@regionalfoodbank.org.
General Admission tickets are $50 each, and the $75 VIP experience includes an extra hour of food, wine and beer tasting, exclusive access to the VIP balcony, and a gift bag of items from businesses along Uptown 23rd.
Buy tickets online athttps:// uptown23rd.com/uncorked/.
Bennett Named
Design Appetit Honorary Chef de Cuisine
Focus on Home is proud to announce legendary chef and native Oklahoman, John Bennett as honorary Chef de Cuisine at Design Appetit 2018, an exciting multi-day event intent on providing 50 new beds for 50 very deserving children in Oklahoma City.
Design Appetit will kick off May 10 with an evening highlighted by a multicourse dinner, thoughtfully set at themed tablescapes designed by local artists and designers.
Each sponsored table will feature its own custom menu prepared by Oklahoma City’s most loved chefs, including Mitchell Dunzy, Esca Vitae; Jonas Favela, MMR Prime Steakhouse; Kurt Fleischfresser, Vast and Western Concepts; Jonathan Krell, Patrono; Kevin Lee, Vast; Michael Paske, Café 7; Josh Valentine, and Patrick Williams, Flint.
Bennett also promises to delight guests with stories of his early years working with James Beard and Frank Hightower at The Cellar to change the culinary landscape of Oklahoma City.
On May 11, Focus on Home’s beneficiaries will receive their new beds at the inaugural Slumber Bash. This unforgettable evening will begin with a special “mocktail” party of cookies and milk plus kid-friendly entertainment, arts and crafts.
For complete details, sponsorship information and ticket purchases, go online to www. DesignAppetitOKC.com or contact Julia Baker with Epic Events at 706-4526 or Julia@ EpicEventsOK.com.