The Chef Behind The Chef

The chef behind the chef has died of COVID19. Luis Dominguez, a career chef who lived in Dallas the past two decades, died from COVID19 last week after spending nearly three weeks in the hospital and almost a week on a ventilator. He is the latest victim of Dallas COVID19 casualties.

He was from Veracruz, Mexico and is a sad example of both the disproportionate effects of COVID9 on the Hispanic community and the foundational nature of immigrant labor and entrepreneurship on our local economy.

The chef, described as hard-working and reliable in his roles at more than a half-dozen kitchens in Dallas, had been working most recently as executive sous chef at HG Sply Co. in Dallas. Dominguez was 38.

The Chef Behind The Chef

The Chef Behind The Chef…At Smoke, HG Sply Co., More…

Luis Dominguez came to Dallas with his cousin Eric Dominguez. They started as dishwashers at the Wyndham Hotel. He went on to work at Cosmo Rouge, Hattie’s, as a line cook at Tillman’s Bishop Arts.

He was also recruited into the kitchen at the NYLO, and from there, Smoke, and HG Sply Co.

Dominguez is survived by his wife; his parents, Jesus Dominguez Mata and Josefa Garrido Andrade; and siblings Jesus Dominguez and Jessica Dominguez.

Dallas ISD Free Food Benefit

Dallas ISD Free Food Benefit

Dallas ISD families can receive a free food benefit. Dallas ISD offers free meals to all its students making all families eligible to receive the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), a one-time benefit provided by the State of Texas for eligible families to buy food.

The P-EBT of $285 per child is available for families that may have temporarily lost access to free and reduced-price meals because of school closures due to COVID-19. The amount is based on the average number of days schools are closed for the remainder of the school year.

Dallas ISD Free Food Benefit

More On Dallas ISD Free Food Benefit

Families who received benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in March of 2020 will have the benefit deposited into their account. Those families who are not receiving SNAP benefits but whose children attend Dallas ISD schools will have to fill out an application to receive the funds. You can apply for this benefit by visiting https://yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/PEBT.

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer programauthorized through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provides states a critical opportunity to provide support, efficiently and comprehensively, to families that rely on free or reduced-price school meals when school is open. Through P-EBT, states can issue eligible households an EBT card with the value of the free school breakfast and lunch reimbursement rates for the number of weekdays that schools are closed due to COVID-19 (estimated to be around $5.70 per day).

Eligible households include those with children certified to receive free or reduced-price school meals and children who attend schools that offer free school meals to all students. Schools must be closed for five or more consecutive days for families to participate.

Per the Townview Magnet Foundation website Dallas ISD is in need of volunteers for food distribution also. This is a positive step being taken beyond just Dallas ISD and we hope it continues in a transparent way.

Generous Crêpes That Captivate

Enjoy crêpes sure to captivate your taste buds for FREE. That’s right – lunch at no cost to you.

Whisk Crêpes Cafe in Dallas offers free Nutella crêpes every Thursday for everyone and they are divine if you are dealing with the stressed of COVID19, the George Floyd protests, or just Dallas area traffic. These are a great way to get you one step closer to the weekend.

Additionally, Julien Eelsen offers free crêpes every day to displaced service industry workers and those on the frontlines of COVID19.

They have a great menu supplemented by a great wine selection available for purchase and pick up. The dining room is still closed, but the kitchen is certainly open.

Whisk Crêpes
Nutella crêpes for free on Thursday
Free nutella crêpes on Thursday.

In 2019 the Dallas Observer noted “there’s something great about an establishment that dives into what it knows and loves” and we agree. Too many establishments try to be everything for everyone. Whisk brings the best of France and these very thin ‘pancakes’. As would be suspected they serve both sweet and savoury versions and can meet almost any eater’s hopes for a great meal.

More crêpes

Pop Up crêpes

Additionally Julien Eelsen and Whisk will be supporting the “I Have A Dream” Foundation on Friday, June 12 with a pop up crêpery at 2422 Victory Park Lane from 11AM to 2PM. This is a great chance to enjoy great food and support a great cause.

The Other Side Dallas team plans to continue to post about both local community, political, and entertainment information.