There’s a Pancake-Dedicated Food Truck in West Campus

Pancake-Dedicated West Campus Truck
John Paul Udenenwu loves pancakes so much that he opened a food truck dedicated to the breakfast food item, JP Pancake Company, as he spoke to the Chronicle. The Nigerian chef is from Missouri City, Texas and came to Austin to attend Concordia University Texas. It was during a shift at Taco Cabana that he tried making pancakes. Thus, Udenenwu started the business in 2018 cooking for events, and opened the food truck in 2020 in the West Campus area. On deck are stacked four-inch pancakes, made with either white chocolate chip to milk chocolate chip, and then topped with various ingredients, fruits, and condiments, all served in portable cups. His favorite, as he shared with the publication, is the Bacon Boy, chocolate chip pancakes topped with bacon, bananas, peanut butter, Nutella, maple syrup, and caramel sauce. The West Campus truck is parked at 2512 Rio Grande Street.

New Rosedale Restaurant
A new restaurant opened in Rosedale: Oakmont Food Company took over the former Doc’s Motorworks address at 1106 West 38th Street as of Saturday, July 18. Chef Adam Muehling (previously of catering company Crave) is overseeing the menu, which is full of what it deems as healthier American and Texan dishes, with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, as well as grab-and-go dishes and a kids menu. For drinks, there are cocktails and cold-pressed juices. The restaurant is open for dine-in and patio service as well as curbside pickups. Doc’s closed in November 2019.

Update on Paul Qui
Texas Monthly took up chef Paul Qui on his offer to talk to the media about his current efforts to make tangible amends for his previous actions (He was charged with assault in March 2016 for allegedly beating and bloodying his girlfriend in front of her child; the charges were dismissed in 2018). Qui, who is now based in Colorado, shared that he wanted to make a public statement so that he is held accountable for his intentions, but also admitted that “‘talk is cheap.’” Qui is also still financially involved with East Side King and Thai Kun, but told the publication that “‘it’s complicated,’” and also shared that the restaurants “haven’t made money since 2016.”

Family in Need Initiative
For Tso Chinese Delivery’s current charitable campaign this month, the company will give $500 in food credits to a single family in need. Nominations are being accepted online, and the family will be chosen at the end of the month. Those who aren’t selected will be able to potentially receive future $500 credits during upcoming similar campaigns.

Hot Sauce Delivery
Indian-Texas food delivery service 33 Tigers is selling its own new hot sauce with a one-time delivery benefitting the Black Student Alliance at The University of Texas at Austin. Each sale comes with a bottle of hot sauce made with fermented tomatoes and chili oil/basil-cooked garlic, a 33 Tigers shirt, and three recipes, for $35. It takes place on Saturday, August 1 from noon to 4 p.m. 20 percent of each sale will go towards the ground, meant to help fund fall projects and attending conferences in the state.

Sausage and Beer Anniversary Box
For downtown beer garden and sausage restaurant Banger’s eighth birthday, it’s selling an anniversary box full of food, goods, and optional drinks. The $50 box comes with sausages (people can choose their flavors), hot dog buns, sauerkraut, grain mustard, pickles, a themed bandana, and optional eight-pack local beer add on for $25. Then there’s the $150 box that comes with four themed glasses too. Preorders are being accepted right now, with pickups from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Currently, the restaurant is closed to the public.