Pop-ups are becoming more and more popular, not just here in Dallas but around the country. These limited-time events allow up-and-coming culinary artists to showcase their skills and build a following, even if they don’t have a brick-and-mortar location of their own. Now local pop-up sensation Mo’s Plancha is taking the next step.
After some slight delays, the owner of Mo’s Plancha, Modesto Rodriguez, and his crew will be opening the doors on their new restaurant Modest Rogers. The new eatery is tucked into a cozy space at 3811 Fairmount St., right off Oak Lawn Avenue. They are currently accepting reservations, and it would be wise to call ahead as their pop-ups have been known to sell out quickly.
Modest Rogers will feature the combination of Venezuelan, Spanish, and Mexican food that has earned Rodriguez a following among food enthusiasts of Dallas.
There will be popular menu staples such as tequenos, the Venezuelan equivalent of a mozzarella stick, but with fresh-made dough and avocado aioli for dipping, as well as Rodriguez’s homemade flour tortillas. Some menu items will come and go with the seasons since Modest Rogers will be sourcing many of their ingredients from local spots like Walnut Creek Farms.
Rodriguez spent his early years in Venezuela before coming to the states. These similar, yet different styles have influenced his cooking and he aims to honor them all with his menu.
“It’s probably corny to say that what I’m doing is from the heart,” he said. “It’s from Venezuelan culture, but also with European influences such as Spanish cuisine. And I grew up in West Texas, so I also wanted to incorporate some of what I experienced there. I try to do things that represent all of those elements, including Tex-Mex and the northern Mexican foods that changed with time and with the influence of migrants and evolving palates, resulting in what I think is some amazing food.”
