Kitchen LTO, the permanent pop-up restaurant that was born in Trinity Groves and died in Deep Ellum, is getting a new name. Junction Craft Kitchen will open in the former LTO space on Thursday. The co-owners of the venture are both Kitchen LTO veterans. Casie Caldwell is the creator and Josh Harmon is one of the restaurant’s pop-up chefs. Caldwell has done this before. She owns Oak Cliff’s Pink Magnolia. The chef is Blythe Beck, another Kitchen LTO success story. Harmon and Caldwell have decided not to rotate the chefs four times a year, they are digging in for the long haul. I think it is only fitting they put popovers on the menu, but it is not my restaurant.
Speaking of the menu, it will feature a smashup of southern and Asian cooking. Not southern Asian. Southern United States and Asia. Expect a Captain Crunch parfait printed on the same pages as Korean-braised beef, Boudin Po Bao, and family-style miso pork belly served with steamed buns. And Texas sheet cake.
Press release quote:
“My style of cooking is globally-influenced, ingredient-driven fare,” says Harmon. “I rely on my southern roots, but I love to inject techniques from all the great chefs I’ve worked for and apply those techniques to dishes I grew up with as well. Our food is a lot of fun and great for sharing and has a sense of humor. Potato sticks, Funyuns and corn nuts make their way onto my plates because they play the same role that crispy onion or fried potato would play on a dish. It’s a great way to invoke memories, make someone feel nostalgic and provides a gateway garnish to eat something you’ve never eaten before.”
It girl Leann Berry is doing the bar program. On Saturday nights, Junction Craft Kitchen will offer the Cart #10, a 10-course chef tasting menu offered only by reservation. The menu changes weekly. Guests will dine at Junction’s big community table reserved for 10 in the private dining room.
