THE ART OF GREAT FOOD

Picasso Cafe THE ART OF GREAT FOOD

by James Frazier

With a name like Picasso Cafe in an art-heavy district in the heart of Oklahoma City, you would start to assume a few things. You would be correct. Picasso Cafe opened its doors in 2009, and we have been opening our hearts to it ever since. The unique feel of this gem is from the imagination of owners Kim Dansereau and Shaun Fiacone, which was the beginning of HumanKind Hospitality. If you haven’t been following HumanKind, they have been creating some fantastic plays in the last few years including Frida Southwest, The Daley, and OSO on Paseo and they have a few tricks up their sleeve coming soon, hint think Tiki.

Let’s take a look inside the OG of the group. Picasso Cafe has long since been known for its casual atmosphere that makes you feel at ease. It’s a comfortable space with old-world New Mexico vibes, such as is the Paseo District itself. The walls are adorned with interesting artwork. The bar is stunning with its beautiful woodwork, matched with clean lines of glass shelves and a mirrored back to give the space a feeling of openness and vibrance. The patio is soft and welcoming with its curbside seating and umbrellas, not to mention that I have never been on the patio without there being a puppy or two that needed a good scratch.

The food of Picasso Cafe lives up to its motto, Great Food is Art. Chef Ryan Parrott has been killing it in the kitchen at Picasso Cafe since 2014. That is about the time that I personally fell in love with the food at this restaurant. My introduction to the menu was an Ahi Tuna Indian Taco that I am pretty sure I had at least once a week for several months. Since then, they have moved the Indian Taco to the Vegan Menu, but you can still add Ahi Tuna to it if you so choose. The Vegan Indian Taco however stands on its own with House Fry Bread, and the best Vegan Chili I have ever had. The menu is a great mix of Southern Comfort food, with excellent salad options, fantastic sandwiches including a world-class Cuban and killer burger, and a top-notch Vegetarian & Vegan Menu. It should also be mentioned that the Lobster Bisque is one of my favorite soups in Oklahoma. If Veggies are your thing, The monthly Veggie 5-course meal is the third Tuesday of every month and if you have ever wondered what crazy stuff you can do with Veggies, you are going to learn.

We stopped in for a meal and it was nailed on every front. I had to go for the seasonal menu, and you should too. The Huli Huli Chicken Wings were a revelation of flavor and comfort. The marinated wings with Pineapple-jalapeno sauce and served with a fresh and vibrant yet thoughtprovoking Jamaican Blue Cheese Slaw was a perfect combination of flavors with its zing and savory notes. We also had to test out the Chicken Fried Portabello with Vegan Gravy, Seasoned Fries, and Seasonal Vegetables, which happened to be some amazing fresh sauteed Green Beans. The Portabello was a delightful surprise to the tastebuds with its crispy shell and absolutely put a delicious healthy twist on its meat counterpart. The fries were served with ketchup and their house spicy ketchup which now has me experimenting in the kitchen to try to match the flavor. I couldn’t get enough of it. What’s a meal without a burger? The Picasso Burger has to be a top 10 burger in OKC. Like all great food, it starts with great ingredients and black Angus is definitely a good way to

The food is absolutely amazing but you can’t overlook the bar, and they do it right. The beer selection is impressive with a lot of local beers available in cans, bottles, and on taps as well as some other hard-to-find craft brews from around the world. If wine is your thing, the list is eclectic and vibrant with something for everyone. For me, I’m a Craft Beer and Cocktail guy and they have me covered for sure. This list is also on the eclectic side with some great one-ofa-kind cocktails that you won’t find elsewhere. If it's on the list and you have heard of it, check the ingredients because they don’t do anything stock. I recommend working your way through the signature drinks. Where else can you find Rosemary-infused Dickle Rye? As it’s summertime I recommend going with something like the Jane Valdez with Cuentacuentos HK Mezcal, Grapefruit-peppercorn shrub, and vanilla bean. But, hey Picasso Cafe has something for everyone and you have to find your heart and soul in one of these cocktails and pair it nicely with one of the amazing dishes on the menu.

Now, in case you know Picasso Cafe, I don’t want to worry you. I realize that you can’t talk about Picasso Cafe without at least mentioning The Other Room. For the uninitiated, the Other Room is directly South of Picasso Cafe and has long since been known as a place for great drinks, and an amazing atmosphere and you can order right off the Picasso Cafe menu. They take after-dinner drinks to another level. Sit inside in the low-lit funky atmosphere, or party with a few friends on the best little hidden patio in OKC. Excuse me, I need to refill my drink. I think it will be a Hamm’s and a well shot this time around.

www.picassosonpaseo.com 3009 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Boozy Jerky BOOZE INFUSED BEEF JERKY...PREPARE TO PAIR!

B Y L A C O N I A B U T L E R Jerky has always been a long consistent companion for travelers and those desperately trying to find a snack that’s both healthy and delicious. Jerky is one of the most satisfying snacks, it's filling, flavorful, and portable. But in recent years, jerky has transcended its status as a quick-fix gas station snack. A new era of craft jerky is among us, and the leader of the pack (pun intended) is Oklahoma's own Boozy Jerky.

As a kid growing up in the wine country of California, Shaun Grey lived off of jerky of all kinds, from his local deli counter in his small hometown. In fact, his family had their own recipe and would make their own. From a young age, Shaun knew that there was a market for his family 's treats and wanted to get them in the local wine stores and tasting rooms. Something different to pair with the local wines. In a market that is already over-saturated with craft snacks, he knew he needed to try something different, which sparked the idea of marinating his jerky in wine. After a while, he noticed that something was missing. While the wine jerky was selling, he wanted to broaden his market. Enter craft beer. At first, there were 4 separate flavors, 2 wine options, and 2 beer options. Time after time the beer options would sell out much faster than the wine option. Shaun knew he was onto something new and exciting- Boozy Jerky.

With Boozy Jerky growing it was time to shift focus on craft beer flavors and pairings. The 2 original beer-flavored jerkies were Spicy Citrus IPA and Peppered Stout, both you can find today. But Boozy Jerky needed more. Shaun met up with his old wine mentor here in Oklahoma and the two worked hard to grow the company with new flavors and a new audience. They knew they would need reinforcements, local craft beer specialists.

Shaun reached out to the Oklahoma Craft Beer Club and soon met local craft beer enthusiast John Campe. John had been active in the Oklahoma craft beer scene for years; he was the perfect fit in the Boozy Jerky family. Together they created new flavors to pair with various beer types. Besides just the IPA and Stout, they made a pairing for Pilsner with garlic rosemary (this writer's personal favorite), Ale with mango habanero, and Lager with spicy maple syrup. Each flavor was created not to just go with that certain beer style but with wine, cider, bourbon, or anything else your heart desires. It really is more of a pick your perfect ending and pair what tastes good to you.

As boozy Jerky was growing, they wanted their fans to be able to grab their favorite jerky at their favorite local stores. Soon they landed their first big partnership with On Cue. From there the Oklahoma market welcomed them in Homeland, Grocery Saver, local liquor stores, and local taprooms. With its exponential growth in Oklahoma, it was only natural that Boozy Jerky spread its wings and reach out to other states. As of now, you can find Boozy Jerky in national grocery stores and breweries in 21 states!

With such great success in Oklahoma and the love and support of the craft beer drinker, Boozy Jerky wanted to create something special and only for Oklahomans. Their goal was to partner with a local brewery for a special collaboration limited edition partner pairing. Boozy reached out to local craft brewery Roughtail. Roughtail is known all over Oklahoma for their ERWO, Everything Rhymes with Orange IPA. It was the perfect pairing, and Everything Rhymes with Jerky was created. The Roughtail collab recipe is designed to be the perfect complement to the beer and bring out all the absolute deliciousness of both the jerky and the ERWO as well. Try dipping the jerky in your next pint at the brewery for an extra special treat.... you’re welcome.

While Boozy Jerky is infused with beer, it won’t get you drunk. It will however change your mind and taste for jerky forever. Each bag is filled with the most tender and flavorful pieces of jerky. It has lower sugar and sodium than most other jerky products on the market. Allowing you to enjoy your jerky without all the guilt. A healthy, tasty, and local snack- what else could you want? The future is bright and unlimited for Boozy Jerky. Boozy is constantly growing in different state markets with their own local brewery partnered pairings and stores. They also just released their first liquor pairing with awardwinning Bourbon from Breckenridge Distillery. They even just released a larger size offering 8 oz of jerky compared to the regular 4 oz. But don’t take just my word, or really the words of countless hundreds of fans, try Boozy Jerky yourself. Check out their website, BoozyJerky.com, or follow them on social media @BoozyJerky for news, updates, and giveaways. You can also use the checkout code TheBrew for a special discount at BoozyJerky.com.

So next time you get the hunger, whether it be at the local taproom or store, or you want to create the perfect pairing for whatever you are drinking, go ahead a grab a bag or two of Boozy Jerky. Your wallet, stomach, and local businesses will thank you.