Oso close to taco time in the Paseo
Construction is less than a month from completion over at Oso on Paseo, the new concept from Humankind Hospitality, which will be the first in another burst of new restaurants coming to the Paseo Arts District.
Humankind also operates Picasso’s and The Other Room in the Paseo Arts District and will open Frida in the spring of 2019. Humankind’s partners include Kim Dansereau, Martina Storie, Kindt Myers and Shaun Fiaccone, with chef Ryan Parrott installed as culinary director.
With two new menus to write and develop, Parrott was thrilled to rekindle his partnership with chef Chris McKenna, with whom he opened Tamazul. That concept was doomed by problems with ownership, and the food Parrott and McKenna developed never got a fair chance to find an audience.
Oso will right that wrong. Based on the two tastings I attended in the spring, and the reputation Parrott (Local, Iguana Mexican Grill) and McKenna (Packard’s New American Kitchen, Boulevard Steakhouse) have built through the years has me anxiously awaiting the early October opening.
Parrott and McKenna promise a variety of tacos unlike any other in town. I tasted varieties inspired
by every conceivable cuisine, each executed with precision and aplomb. Don’t be surprised if Oso’s sweet potato chips don’t win your heart as a salsa dip. The chefs served them mixed with blue corn tortilla chips and salsa verde good enough to eat with a spoon.
Not everything they made will end up on the menu at Oso. I have it on good authority the rendition of birria the chefs presented, which was eye-rollingly delicious, has a better chance of popping up on the menu at Frida when it eventually opens.
So, the countdown is on to see which of the tacos I tried make the final cut. Can’t imagine chicharrones with avocado and eggs won’t make the cut. Or the batter-fried fish tacos with pickled onions, spicy mayo and slaw. What about those shrimp tacos with the Mediterranean relish? Oh, and the veggie tacos with escabeche and chickpeas were amazing. And the ribs McKenna smoked at one point just because? They’ll fit on a tortilla.
This is why I’m no good helping edit a menu, especially one populated by tacos.
Once Oso and Frida materialize, it’ll be time for 84 Hospitality’s Rachel Cope to unveil her ambitious plans for adding to the arts district’s dining options.
Firebirds ready for takeoff
Speaking of coming soon, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will open its first Oklahoma location Sept. 12, in the Chisholm Creek development.
But before the doors open to the public, Firebirds will host local first-responders for a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11. Reservations are required for the Patriots Day lunch. Those interested in attending can email marketing@ fbgrill.com for details.
The restaurant out of Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in hand-cut aged steaks, fresh seafood, chicken and ribs all cooked over a wood-fired grill.
Firebirds also offers a Durango Burger, Lobster Spinach Queso and Creme Brulee Cheesecake. The bar is home to an extensive selection of wines, craft beers and specialty cocktails. The restaurant also has banquet space, catering services, gift cards and online ordering.
Firebirds will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, closing at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Take a look at the full menu and reservation information online atfirebirdsrestaurants.com.
Othello’s returns
NORMAN — Enough about new stuff, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, 434 Buchanan Ave., has reopened on Campus Corner at long last.
The official ribbon-cutting was Tuesday, but it quietly opened its doors last Thursday — just in time for football season.
The Norman eatery made famous for being a favorite hang-out of legendary University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer and his entourage was struck by lightning and burned to the ground on April 29, 2017.
Owner Jennifer Dennis thought the job would take six months but stretched to 15. No one but the general contractors are happy about that, but in the end, diners will have a brandnew restaurant serving all their old favorites.
Othello’s, which also has a location in Edmond, is open 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and stays open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Kwan’s busting out the dim sum carts
Kwan’s Kitchen, 3031 W Memorial Road, will introduce classic Cantonese dim sum cart service for Saturday and Sunday brunch starting Saturday.
Dim sum service will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant’s current dim sum appetizer will remain on the regular daily menu.
Chef Pak K. Kwan composed the menu of more than 50 savory and sweet dim sum selections, including classic steamed dumplings, Siu Mai, rice noodle rolls and pot stickers.
It will be interesting to find out whether dim sum plays as well outside of the Asian District as it does at places like Grand House Asian Bistro and Fung’s Kitchen.
For more information, follow @KwansOKC on social media, orgo to www.kwans.kitchen.
Happy birthday!
Junior’s Supper Club, 2601 Northwest Expressway, celebrates 45 years in business this year. The dream restaurant of the late Junior Simon, Junior’s is located in basement of The Oil Center. It opened in September 1973 and rose to fame thanks to an oil boom that would spectacularly bust in the early 1980s.
Junior’s Supper Club was in the news for the deals made on its cocktail napkins, but didn’t fail despite the fate of many of its newly monied patrons of the time.
Longtime patron Jim Shumsky bought the restaurant in 2003, and he and his family have carried Junior’s dream forward to Monday, which marks its 45th anniversary.
Can’t think of a better time to drop by to raise a toast to Jim, his family and the late, great Junior Simon.
Junior’s is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and dinner 5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner goes until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sunday.
For more information go online to juniorsokc.com. For reservations, call 848-5597.
Tragedy
On Aug. 21, chef Chadrick Sparks, proprietor of the Sparxx Sliders food truck, passed away.
Sparks worked three decades in the hospitality industry as a chef, including catering for the Oklahoma City Thunder locker room. He opened Sparxx Sliders with his wife, Leisha, back in March. He was 47.
Sparks died after being hospitalized for an infection. To help family pay for the unexpected medical bills and funeral expenses, the local food truck community has organized a fundraising campaign. Make donations online at gofundme. com/chad-sparks-memorialfund.