Hotel Swexan to Open a Midcentury Steakhouse in the Harwood District

Harwood Hospitality strikes again with news that feels very clickable. It opens Hotel Swexan, a family-owned 134-room boutique hotel, on June 15. Never heard of a Swexan? It’s a fusion of Swiss and Texas hospitality. The midcentury-inspired spot will feature a menu with those classic steakhouse dishes, from steak tartare to New York strips and massive bone-in tomahawks, as well as more whimsical Texas dishes, including a lobster corn dog with mustard creme fraiche and jumbo onion rings with green goddess dressing. Visitors may also experience its steakhouse, Stillwell’s, featuring beef from the Harwood Premium Beef, the group’s exclusive locally raised and ranched Akaushi cattle available only at its properties.

Hotel Swexan will also feature a lobby-level restaurant called Isabelle’s, where breakfast, lunch, and light bites are served. In the evening, it will transform into a martini bar. Guests can also visit Babou’s and Library at Babou’s. The former is an eclectic underground bar space with hidden nooks and “expertly curated, one-of-a-kind restrooms,” according to a press release and crannies, while the latter is more mysteriously described as “a floor dedicated to entertainment, connection, and curiosity.” Color us intrigued.

Maiden Announces June 1 Opening

Spiral Diner fans rejoice: Maiden Fine Plants and Spirits, the vegan tasting menu venture in Fort Worth from the owners of that vaunted vegan paradise, has announced it will open on June 1, and reservations are available. It offers two- to three-hour seasonal tasting menus at $150 per person, with seating for 50 guests. Additionally, diners can add a drink pairing package, including a wine pairing; a mixed-drink pairing that includes sake, cocktails, beer, zero-proof cocktails, and teas; or a zero-proof drink pairing.

Catch Chefs Tiffany Derry and Troy Gardner on TV

Tiffany Derry of Roots Southern Table will join MasterChef Season 13 on its Wednesday, June 14 episode, airing at 7 p.m. CT on Fox. The season’s theme is United Tastes of America, and it will pit home cooks from across the country in regionally-based competitions. Derry will judge the Southern region episode.

And Troy Gardner of TLC Vegan Cafe will face off on Beat Bobby Flay on Thursday, May 25 at 8 p.m. CT on Food Network. See if Gardner wins the vegan head-to-head to compete against Flay. And join him for a watch party at his restaurant that evening — reservations are required and limited.

May 19, 2023, 10:37 a.m.: Correction: This article was updated to reflect the air date of MasterChef that Tiffany Derry will appear on.