Friday, March 29, 2024

Mayor John Huffman Tastes Where the Caribbean Meets Texas Cuisine

This week on Minute with the Mayor, Mayor John Huffman takes a trip to the Delta Hotel at Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar to taste the creations of award-winning chef, Jose Soto.

When it comes to Southlake eats, Chef Soto knows that everything is bigger in Texas, including the flavors. Each day at Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar, Chef Soto uses his culinary background and Puerto Rican heritage to shape how he sees classic Texan cuisine.

“I grew up in Puerto Rico, cooking around my family and the holidays. It was amazing to see our culture, to be surrounded by food and family, and seeing the joy and the happiness of the family around the table, it really made me do this as my career,” said Chef Soto.

Working at the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, Chef Soto began his award-winning career at BLT restaurant and continued his path to success by learning from the Grandfather of Texas Cuisine, Chef Dean Fearing. All the training and mentorship led him to Southlake, where he is currently the Executive Chef of Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar.

Chef Soto offered the Mayor one of his signature dishes – the Flan de Coco, which is an island-inspired take on flan. Topped with Texas ruby red grapefruit, fresh mango, caramelized pineapple, Malibu rum, and a passionfruit mango-colada sauce, Chef Soto says this dish is what Sky Creek is all about. “For me, it’s one of my best sellers and also one of my dishes that I really put my heart and my passion into, everything about myself,” said Chef Soto.

Mayor Huffman got a taste and urged viewers to try it out themselves at one of the most unique fine-dining experiences in Southlake. You can also view their full menu on their website.

To watch the full episode of Minute with the Mayor, click below.

Delta Hotel Southlake to Open Mid-November

Delta Hotels by Marriott announced this week that they have scheduled their opening for mid-November of this year. 

The six-story hotel will include 240 guestrooms, conference and meeting facilities, a premium full-service fitness center, outdoor pool and a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. 

“Our focus at this world-class hotel is on doing the simple things perfectly, featuring a clean aesthetic and a modern take on comfort,” Hotel Manager John Emmett said. “Every touchpoint is masterfully designed and prioritized to meticulously and seamlessly deliver the key essentials guests need and eliminate everything they don’t.” 

Celebrity chef and restauranteur Dean Fearing consulted on plans for the hotel’s Sky Creek Kitchen and Bar, which will feature Southwestern cuisine and craft beverages. 

The Delta Hotels by Marriott Southlake will anchor a 16-acre mixed-use, office and retail development, located at the intersections of SH 114 and White Chapel Boulevard. 

For more information go to VisitSouthlakeTexas.com/Delta or to book reservations, visit The Delta Hotels by Marriott Southlake’s website. 

Exterior of Delta Hotel Southlake

New Delta Development Will Bring Hotel, Office and Retail Spaces to Southlake

On January 17, Southlake City Council approved the site plan for Delta Southlake Center, a 16 acre development that will be located at the southeast corner of North White Chapel and SH 114. With plans for construction to take place in two phases, the RREAF Southlake Hospitality LLC development will result in a hotel, office spaces, retail spaces, and a parking garage.

The first phase will include Delta Marriott, a six story hotel with 240 rooms, a restaurant with lounge and dining spaces, a bar, business center, fitness center, conference centers, and a 6,000 square foot ballroom.

“We hope to break ground for the hotel this summer. Once construction for the hotel is underway, we’ll immediately turn and look to bring phase II online,” stated Carl Schwab, the Delta Southlake Center project manager at RREAF Holdings. “Hopefully we’ll start construction on phase II during the second half of 2017 or in early 2018.”

Depending on market demand, conceptual plans for the second phase will include 250,000 square feet of office space in two or three multi-level office buildings, which will also have retail space and a separate three-story parking garage.

“Southlake City Council is looking forward to welcoming Delta Southlake Center along SH 114. This is the type of development that has been a part of the City’s Master Plan for years. The additional increases in hotel sales tax revenue will further fund tourism efforts and bring visitors to our city,” stated City of Southlake Mayor Laura Hill.

 

This article was provided by Tracy Southers with WordPlay, LLC.