Est. 1986 More than 1,500 columns served!
Like Bud Kennedys Eats Beat on Facebook or Twitter @eatsbeat
For restaurants, starring on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives is like winning American Idol.
But when the Food Network wanted to publish the Longoria's BBQ secret recipe, David Longoria knew the answer had to be no.
"That recipe means 60 years to my family," said Longoria, between slicing lunch orders of his family's homemade smoked-brisket sausage at the tiny barbecue restaurant on a south Tarrant County back road.
"My dad was shining shoes for a living before he got this recipe figured out. I'm really flattered -- but I can't just give it away."
One Food Network report can double a restaurant's business forever and create a short-term windfall.
It helped lift dives such as Fred's Texas Cafe in Fort Worth, Prince Lebanese Grill in Arlington and Chef Point Cafe in Watauga to stardom.
But Longoria said he'd rather keep the sausage seasonings a family secret.
"I'd love to be on," he said. "But I can't give away our life's work."
The Longorias moved from Gonzales, in a part of Texas famous for sausage and barbecue, and opened Longoria's in 1995.
Its following has grown since Texas Monthly listed it among the 50 best barbecue joints and D Magazine listed it among the region's 10 best.
Longoria's also serves smoked-brisket burgers and house-made beef jerky, along with homemade tamales and chorizo.
It's open for lunch and early dinner weekdays until 6 p.m., and for lunch Saturdays until 4 p.m. The restaurant is two miles south of Interstate 20 near Wichita Street, or two miles east of Interstate 35W near Everman Parkway; 100 S. Christopher Drive, Everman, 817-568-9494, longoriasbbq.com.
Patty Shack Burgers is growing.
The laid-back burger grill on Texas 360, known for its 23 mix-ins wrapped into hand-packed burgers, will add a second dining room with five TVs and also will expand its beer selection.
Patty Shack opened in an obscure strip shopping center at Brown Boulevard (Avenue K East) and quickly made a name for its "Build Your Own Dang Burgers" filled or topped with everything from green chiles to sauces to seven kinds of cheese.
The menu also offers favorites such as the "Jethro" (Cajun bacon and blue cheese), the "Tooter" (chili and jalapeños) and the "Tex-A-Wowie" (ham, pineapple, red pepper and provolone). Any burger costs $6, or $7 as a half-pounder.
Patty Shack is open for lunch and dinner daily at 510 E. Avenue K, Grand Prairie, 972-606-6700; www.pattyshackburgers.com.
Bud Kennedy's Eats Beat appears Wednesdays in Life & Arts and Fridays in DFW.com Weekend. 817-390-7538
Facebook: "Bud Kennedy's Eats Beat"
Twitter: @eatsbeat
