Sammy Fox, also known as the “singing chef,” has become the talk of the town in every location he has served his mix of “soul and cowboy food.” Now Fox is expanding his brand and his act across Tarrant County.
Originally, Fox wanted to take his talent to a bigger restaurant, but those who frequent The Singing Chef near Everman and Forest Hill refused to let him leave.
“The community went nuts and said, ‘You’ve got to stay here!'” Fox told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. On top of cooking during the day at The Singing Chef Cafe at 8000 Wichita St., Fox performs as “the Singing Chef” at different locations throughout Fort Worth and Arlington.
Fox performed as a young star drummer in Drum Corps International and later led the Temple band, Binge. Lately, he has led a band called Sammy Fox and the Intervention, but he mainly moonlights as “the Singing Chef.”
Fox will honor the community’s call to remain in the neighborhood. Instead, he will branch out to downtown Fort Worth, taking over the kitchen at the Red Goose Saloon at 306 Houston St. near Sundance Square.
“It seems like a good way to branch out,” Fox said. In an effort to keep it simple, the namesake for Fox’s new concept, Big Mo’s Macaroni & Slice, will also be its signature dish, which consists of gourmet macaroni and cheese with a slice of pizza, served during the Red Goose musical performances.
Fox started The Singing Chef in Temple, Texas, where he ran a food truck. Unfortunately, the truck burned during a kitchen fire in 2017. Before relocating to Fort Worth, Fox helped open bar-and-grill restaurants in San Antonio, Temple, and Burleson before settling on his own spot in a shopping strip in the Everman area.
Fox quickly found a following for his “Donut Burger,” a half-pound burger between two doughnuts with candied bacon and honey-Tabasco. Other soul and cowboy food concoctions include Cap’n Crunch fried chicken baskets, cheesesteaks, and Cajun seafood and pasta plates, including fried alligator.
On weekdays and Saturdays, The Singing Chef is open for lunch and an early dinner, closing in time for Fox’s band to make it to a club performance.