Newton's Saddlerack: 3 nights, 3 chefs, 1 unforgettable experience. Tickets on sale.
- May 9, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: May 22, 2025
Special to Beneath the Surface News
Newton’s Saddlerack in downtown Stephenville is hosting a deliciously exciting event May 21–23 when three chefs from three very different worlds come together in a Texas kitchen.
Cowboy Chef Newton (MasterChef USA), Chef Anthony Bar and Chef Dominic DeAngelis (both of Hulu’s Vanderpump Villa and co-creators of The French Italian Table) will converge at Newton’s for three bold, flavorful, personality-packed nights.
Expect two extraordinary, reservation-only dinners, each with a menu designed to celebrate the collision of French finesse, Italian soul and Texas attitude.
Then wrap up the experience with a Friday night meet-and-greet happy hour.
Here are the details:
Wednesday, May 21 – “Lone Star Elegance” - $120 per person
A refined tribute to Texas roots — bold, balanced, and beautifully executed.
• Jalapeño Ricotta Gougère with Honey-Smoked Tomato Jam
• Beef Carpaccio on French Baguette with Truffle Aioli
• Texas-Braised Short Rib with Ancho-Chili Red Wine Glaze or Pan-Seared Snapper with Saffron-Chili Risotto (by pre-reservation)
• Smoked Salt & Caramel Mille-Feuille with Bourbon Pecans & Espresso Mascarpone
Thursday, May 22 – “Hill Country Riviera” - $120 per person
Where rustic charm and European elegance meet on one very lucky plate.
• Duck Prosciutto Texas Toast with Fig Jam & Burrata Crème
• Heirloom Tomato & Peach Caprese with Serrano Dust
• Barbecue Ragu Pasta or Pan-Seared Snapper with Leek Pistou and Saffron Risotto (by pre-reservation)
• Cinnamon Sugar Beignets with Chili-Chocolate Sauce
Friday, May 23 – Meet & Greet Happy Hour from 5–7 p.m.
Come say hello, snap a photo and raise a glass with the chefs in a casual, social setting.
No ticket required.
I’m glad they’re doing two actual dinner menus instead of just repeating the same “special” three nights in a row. Also, the whole “three personalities in one kitchen” thing can either be magic or a mess — kind of like trying to mix styles from https://stylelooklab.com — so I’m curious who’s driving the final plating decisions.
That jalapeño ricotta gougère with honey-smoked tomato jam combo sounds like it could steal the whole night, honestly. And the dessert descriptions feel very “big finish” — which is probably the point — kind of the same vibe as ghibli ai where the last touch is what people remember.
The happy hour meet-and-greet on Friday is a smart capstone — it gives people a way to show up without committing to the full dinner price. I’m wondering if they’ll post the remaining seat counts anywhere, because tracking availability can get weird fast — sort of like this site keeping a list organized — and I’d rather not call three times.
I like that they’re offering a fish option by pre-reservation — more places should do that instead of making you awkwardly ask at the table. Also, the “French finesse + Italian soul + Texas attitude” line reads like a cipher you’re supposed to decode, which made me laugh and think of https://caesarcipher.org/ciphers/vigenere for a second, but the menus sound legit.
The menus read like they’re really leaning into that French/Italian/Texas mashup without getting gimmicky, which is harder than it sounds. I know it’s random, but the “three nights” format made me think of a simple block puzzle where the fun is figuring out the best sequence — and I’m hoping the pacing of courses feels like that.