Paseo nearing its prime?
Buttermilk the latest to make arts district a more delicious destination
Whether it’s a sign of the apocalypse or just sign of Oklahoma’s easygoing approach to gettin’ ‘er dun, evidence for all to see now exists to suggest the long-promised comeback of the Paseo Arts District is not only happening but might some day end.
The news comes from my most recent attempt to build my life story one biscuit at a time with a visit to the district’s latest addition, Buttermilk — the bricks-and-mortar yield of the former Buttermilk Southern Sliders food truck from Todd Woodruff’s Day One Concepts.
Buttermilk opened last week next to the new Scratch Kitchen in the Pueblo on Paseo development. Fans of Day One’s blockbuster Waffle Champion will recognize the spirit of the menu. And those of you who never understood why anyone would want a waffle as the foundation of a sandwich, Buttermilk offers a large biscuit with crisp edges and a soft center.
I tried the Chicken Honey Biscuit. The fried chicken with a hint of smoky paprika honey and house-made pickles is the best excuse I’ve come across to cut off all visits to Chick-fil-A, no matter how cheerful the drive-through brigade.
But next time, I’ll probably try the B.E.C., which includes Nueske’s bacon and a fried egg to order with cheddar, or the Cheeseburger Biscuit. That is if I can resist the Avo & Egg with its grilled jalapenos, avocado, mayo and custom-fried egg.
The menu, which is all under $10, also includes sweets, hashbrowns bites,
and a smoothie bowl. Look forward to many happy returns and an eventual chance to share the whole story.
Buttermilk is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. See the whole menu online atbuttermilkokc.com.
Meanwhile, Uptown just added aHurts Donuts franchise, but Paseo added locally owned Holey Rollers not too long ago. Hurts, which hails from Missouri, has earned fans from all over for its gourmet offerings, but Holey Rollers serves truly distinctive dairy-free doughnuts. The dough contains noeggs and can even be made gluten-free.
We’ll have some expanded coverage of Holey Rollers next month.
But perhaps the most jarring discovery on my most recent visit was a newly cleared parcel of property where some day soon Picasso Cafe’s Shaun Fiaccone and chef Ryan Parrott will open Frida.
But first, a structure must be built on the corner of Paseo and Walker Avenue, so we’ll save talk of the menu until then.
McKenna on the move
Chef Chris McKenna sent shock waves through Oklahoma City’s professional kitchens last week when he resigned as executive chef of Packard’s New American Kitchen and Hunny Bunny Biscuit Company.
McKenna said the decision was all his own and that it was the hardest decisionof his life. Between the demands of Packard’s, which McKenna shaped into one of downtown’s top dining destinations during his time, and the newly minted Hunny Bunny, McKenna said his “quality of life” had suffered.
McKenna said his next job will be on a farm.
“I feel as a chef it’s important to go to where it all begins,” he said via text.
McKenna said he’s not through making life decisions. His time on the farm will be a matter of weeks, augmented by private chef gigs. He said his returns to the local dining-sphere is inevitable and will be sooner rather than later.
“Mark my words,” he warned.
The team at Packard’s is heartbroken to lose their chef but wish him well.
“We understand and wish him the best, he is an outstanding chef,” said Robert Ross, who is partowner of both concepts.
On Tuesday, Ross confirmed Packard’s has promoted Brianna Shear to executive chef. Ross said she has been McKenna’s protégé for five years.
“Bri is super excited and up for the challenge,” Ross said.
Look for her first spring menu in April.
Kwan’s embarks on massive egg roll giveaway today
Kwan’s Kitchen, 3031 W. Memorial Road, has been open for about a month but will celebrate its official grand opening today by giving away 88,888 egg rolls.
Dine-in guests who post food photos from the restaurant on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and use the hashtag #KWANSLUCKYROLL will receive a free egg roll when they show the post to their server.
Be there when the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and take part in the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce’s formal ribbon-cutting. The first 88 guests will receive gift certificates— $88 for the first eight, $8 to the next 80.
Tonight, Kwan’s will host a tasting tour/cocktail party from 6 to 9 p.m. Tour the massive restaurant and sample your way through a menu of shrimp bisque, Mongolian beef, Kung Pao chicken, chicken breast with sautéed mushrooms, Champagne sweet and sour chicken, Kwan’s combo lo mein,
Kwan’s combo fried rice, stir-fried chicken julienne with grilled pineapple, Sriracha hot chili mixed vegetables with sautéed shrimp, Hunan General Tso chicken, sesame beef, Agrodolce braised spare ribs, Kwan’s sweet pulled pork with mushroom pate, chicken lettuce wraps, Wok-tossed Chinese string bean frites, and egg rolls. Cost is $25.
The Savoy Trio will play classic jazz and swing from 6 to 8 p.m. during the tasting tour.
For full menu details, go online to www.kwans. kitchen.
Stella Nova marches north from Norman
Stella Nova Coffee, which first opened in Norman back in January, added its first Oklahoma City location on Monday.
Owners Kelli Lay and John Kennedy purchased the property at 4716 N Western Avenue last May and have spent the interim razing and redeveloping the property previously occupied by Abraham’s Western Café. The longtime Local Federal Savings and Loan building is no more, replaced by a sparkling new building where folks can choose from tea, hot chocolate and gourmet coffee.
The local-centric concept also offers muffins, ice cream and soda. The new kid on Western Avenue also offers plenty of space to, as Flatt and Scruggs suggested at the end of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” sit a spell. (Alas, you will have to keep your shoes on).
Stella Nova will open two more locations this year. Records show a northward campaign, bringing coffee and conversation to the evolving intersection of NW 63 Street and May Avenue and fast-developing NW 110 Street and Western.
Fast Food
Easter hops onto the calendar Sunday and Rococo chef/owners Bruce Rinehart and Jason Bustamante are firing up the cruise-line brunch at the Northpark Mall location for the occasion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring omelet stations, a smorgasbord and mimosas, the restaurant now limits the service to special occasions, and Easter certainly qualifies so call 212-4577 for reservations . ...
Stella Nova isn’t the only Norman concept opening in Oklahoma City. Mamaveca Mexican and Peruvian Restaurant opens at 2925 W Britton Road next week, taking over a space intended to house the Red Beret Restaurant. Do NOT miss the ceviche.
Chef Ken Mills left Cajun King to open his own place in Midwest City several years ago, and I guess it was a good decision. Mills first C’est Si Bon location was so successful he immediately needed a second space. Apparently, even two locations wasn’t enough to satisfy Oklahoma’s demand for Cajun, Creole and catfish as he just opened a third location at308 W Edmond Rd. in Edmond.