Designer Tacos: Chefs Make Them for Charity

Edited by Madelyn Miller

Some of Dallas’ and Fort Worth’s most acclaimed chefs will lend their talents to help support the children and families served by Vogel Alcove and Lena Pope Home by creating signature, gourmet tacos for the Blue Mesa restaurants.  Each month, the Chef Tacos of the Month program will feature a different chef’s unique taco and a portion of the proceeds will benefit these charities. All five Blue Mesa locations, including the four Blue Mesa Grills and the new Blue Mesa Café, will offer the Chef Taco of the Month program.

The menu for the next few months will feature:

July - BBQ Pork Tacos with Jicama Slaw by Kevin Ascolese of Ferre

August - Grilled Salmon Tacos by Ivan Vazquez of Blue Mesa

September - Surf and Turf Tacos by Kenny Bowers of Rockfish

October - Citrus Habanero Short Rib Tacos with Ranch Slaw by Michael Thomson of Michael's Restaurant

November - Roasted Duck with Salsa Verde Tacos by James Neel of Bistro Latino

The Blue Mesas have already featured Latin Chicken and Goat Cheese Tacos created by Sharon Hage of York Street, and Thai Spiced Grouper with Mandarin and Macadamia Nut Pico de Gallo by Dan Barash of  Roy's.

“We are thrilled to have commitments from such talented area chefs. All were excited about the cause and the concept,” says Jim Baron, Blue Mesa’s owner.  “They have developed some great tasting tacos that benefit some wonderful charities.” 

Taco plates will sell for $8.75 at dinner and $7.95 at lunch.  Each plate includes two of the monthly featured tacos, smoky black beans, rice, and corn cake. One dollar of each taco plate sold the Dallas area Blue Mesas will be donated to the Vogel Alcove; one dollar of each plate sold at the Fort Worth  Blue Mesa will be donated to Lena Pope Home. 

The Vogel Alcove, a project of the Dallas Jewish Coalition, provides free childcare for homeless families regardless of race, creed or ethnicity.  Approximately 114 children from local emergency and battered women’s shelters are served daily at the Vogel Alcove.  The organization is a nationally recognized model agency that fosters healthy emotional growth for children and facilitates economic recovery for their families through programs such as counseling, crisis intervention and parenting education.  By providing free childcare for their children, the center allows parents to actively seek employment and job training, thus breaking the cycle of homelessness.

Lena Pope Home, established in 1930, provides preventative and rehabilitative to services to children and families through four program areas: Family Matters Counseling, therapeutic foster care, school-based programs and an array of family preservation services. Last year more than 15,000 individuals received help. Since launching the new Family Matters Counseling program this year, Tarrant County residents now have affordable, quality counseling available to them in Keller, Bedford, Arlington, and Fort Worth.

Blue Mesa Grill is the American Grill for adventuresome diners that delivers the bold, colorful tastes of the Southwest.  Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, take out and catering are available. 

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