From Jam on a mission to bone marrow luges: What's new in Oklahoma food and dining
The Oklahoma State Fair has come and gone, which means fall is officially here.
As the leaves change, so do things in the Oklahoma food and dining world. Restaurant expansions seem to be a major part of happenings across the state and make up a lot of the roundup, but other news includes changes to local menus, business launches and beyond.
Pivot Preserves brings job resources, skills to youth
Pivot, a local nonprofit that helps empower youth, is launching a new in-house, trauma-informed job training program for youth facing workforce barriers in Oklahoma City. The program, Pivot Preserves, will teach youth to produce and package jams and jellies that will be available online for purchase beginning Oct. 5.
Once the brand is established online, Pivot plans to expand to farmers markets, retail spaces, co-packing partnerships and more.
The organization will celebrate its official launch with a party at Roughtail Brewing Company, 320 W Memorial Road, on Oct. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. Jams will be available for purchase, Roughtail will be open serving dinner and trivia will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m.
Drive through coffee stands land in metro-area
7 Brew, a drive-through coffee concept offering more than 20,000 drink combinations will open it's first location in Yukon at 1617 Garth Brooks Blvd. this week and just dropped a second stand at 3655 NW 39th St. in Oklahoma City, that will open later this year.
The stands are expected to bring 100 new jobs to the area.
Metro gets murder mystery cafe
Turns out spooky season is year-round and not just for Halloween. A3 Murder Mystery Cafe, 13316 S Western Ave., Suite P, a newer spot in South OKC, calls itself the place "where coffee, clues and mystery collide."
A haven for fans of true crime, murder and more, the café serves up crepes and pastries alongside a full coffee bar.
Additionally, tickets can be purchased for the restaurant's weekend murder mystery dinner theater, a night of immersive and interactive theater complete with a seven-course themed meal.
Pickleman's debuts major menu addition
Pickleman's has been focused on expanding and has done so with recent locations added in Oklahoma City and Edmond in addition to their Stillwater and Norman spots.
Pickleman's has also been working to keep its menu fresh with changes and additions, the latest of which comes just in time for cooler weather. Mac and cheese bowls have launched at the chain's stores, offering a comfort food option to those stopping in.
You'll find five different options on the menu when you visit, BBQ Pulled Pork, Spicy Pork, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Bacon Ranch and Chipotle Chicken. The meat in all bowls is "no antibiotics ever" pork and chicken, and the mac and cheese base is made with real cream, butter and white cheddar cheese, all part of Pickleman's continued efforts to source the highest quality ingredients.
The Social Order adds a Fuzzy's Taco Shop, two Sparks
A new Fuzzy's Taco Shop is officially open at 7401 N. May Avenue, the ninth from ownership group The Social Order. The shop adds to the portfolio of the group which also includes The Jones Assembly.
Another of the brand's restaurants, Spark, also announced plans for two additional locations. The new restaurants will be within the Chisholm Creek development and off 63rd & Western Avenue and are slated to open in spring 2024.
Tulsa to host Vegan Chef Challenge
Chefs throughout Tulsa will compete in the city's inaugural Vegan Chef Challenge, an event sponsored by Vegan Outreach, which kicked off on Oct. 1.
Diners can visit restaurants through Oct. 31 and try plant-based dishes created by local chefs. They can then vote on their favorites at https://veganchefchallenge.org/Tulsa/.
To date, there are 56 distinct restaurants signed up to participate in the challenge, with several locations of some restaurants participating. Winning dishes will be announced in early November.
Whiskey Cake launches $7 Social Hour
Whiskey Cake, 1845 Northwest Expressway, is launching a new social hour featuring an array of food and drink options. The star of the show is the new Bone Marrow Booze Luge – roasted bone marrow with smoked date syrup and gremolata followed by a shot of Bulleit Rye Whiskey, channeled through the hollow bone.
The social hour is 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and will also feature hand-crafted cocktails and an array of classic cocktails alongside house wines for $7 and beers for $5. Featured social hour bar bites will include Wagyu Corn Dogs, BBQ Spiced Pork Rinds, and Blue Cheese Kettle Chips.
Quick bites
What else is happening around Oklahoma in food and dining? As always, the answer to that is a lot. Here's a rundown on even more food news from across the state.
Through Nov. 5, Mazzio's fans can try the Tulsa-based chains newest menu addition, Street Pizzas. Specialty options include five new flavor combinations: Street Combo, Boss Hog, Chicken Q, Mamma Mia and Street Taco.
Florida-based Tex-Mex chain Capital Tacos has announced a location coming to Tulsa in the near future. No opening date or address has been released.
Louisiana-based breakfast and brunch chain Another Broken Egg Cafe, has announced preliminary plans to move into Oklahoma and appears to be seeking franchisees. No possible locations have been announced at this time.
Travis Clark, pitmaster and owner of Clark Crew BBQ in Oklahoma City is expanding, with plans to open a second location, 10825 E 71 Street in Tulsa later this year.
Dallas-based Velvet Taco opened its first non-traditional restaurant located inside Choctaw Casino in Durant.
The Oklahoma City metro has a new Crumbl Cookies location at 6315 N May Ave., Suite B that opened Sept. 22. It marks the ninth Oklahoma location, joining stores in Moore, Norman, Edmond and Chisholm Creek, along with stores near the Tulsa metro.
Shawnee's The Surf Bar announced upgrades to their coffee offerings that will include lattes, frappes, cold brew, and hot coffee plus coffee smoothies. Coffee drinks are customizable with various flavors, and this week, they are half off to allow customers to try new items.
This story has been updated to reflect a change in the date to the Pivot Preserves launch.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC restaurant news: See the latest openings, closings, events
