The Winter 2019 issue of Food & Dining Magazine has hit the streets, so pick up a copy and read my words.

The new issue of Food & Dining Magazine has dropped.

First, allow me to repeat that it has been a pleasure to assume the duties of Digital Editor at Food & Dining, to which I've long been contributing beer columns, then more recently branching out with profiles and features for this fun and informative quarterly publication. It's entirely advertising-driven and totally free to you, the reader.

Thanks to publisher John Carlos White for the opportunity (since July) to pen weekday web site dispatches. It should suffice to say that I'm learning quite a lot by doing so.

Now for the Winter 2019 (Dec/Jan/Feb) edition of Food & Dining, which is out now. Hard copies should be in their usual locations, and my colleague Jon Larmee has links to the articles: HOT OFF THE PRESSES — The Winter 2019 Issue is on the Racks!

Following are my pieces in this issue; like the magazine as a whole, they can be read at issuu. Concurrently, hard copies should have arrived at their usual locations. There's a stack at Pints&union.

The Wallonian Farmhouse Ale Trail, an examination of the wide and varied world of farmhouse and saison ales, focusing on the legendary Saison Dupont.

Pick Three: Mexican Regional Cuisines, two of which I wrote, first New Albany's own Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet, and also Mi Casita in downtown Louisville. Michael L. Jones profiled Chilakiles in the third essay.

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, May 19.

Photo credit: Louisville Magazine.

It's already time for the second coming of Taco Walk, and boy, does Develop New Albany have lots of questions to answer (spoiler alert: they're not bothering to try, and Deaf's down with it).

C'mon, DNA: The time has come. A fact's a fact. Taco Walk belongs to her. Why not give it back?

Going into 2018, Develop New Albany has two huge unresolved issues to address pertaining to the Taco Walk last August.

One of these is DNA's encouragement of cultural appropriation during the event, which refers to sombreros, maracas and the Frito Bandito -- or, Mexican, Latina/o, Chicana/o, "Hispanic," Mexican-American, and Latin American stereotyping.

Tacky acts of cultural appropriation simply were not necessary for the success of the Taco Walk, which was intended to be a celebration of the restaurant community and a showcase for downtown. Needless to say, since August, people around the country have lost their jobs for less. I'm not suggesting a purge, but open public dialogue is needed most of all.

The second issue is DNA's blatant expropriation of intellectual property afterward. Simply stated, the idea for the Taco Walk was brought to DNA by Kelly Ott Winslow, a community-minded volunteer outside the organization, and now, in essence, the idea has been stolen from her -- and this is intolerable.

If you're one of the ticket-holders for the second Frito Bandito Walk on May 19, by now a fully annexed and enveloped "signature event" for Develop New Albany, by all means enjoy yourself.

Seriously. No snark. Go out there and have a good time, and don't forget the sunscreen.

Just do me this one favor: Whenever you see a DNA board member shaking maracas, ask him or her where all the money's going.

If you're not planning on Taco Walking and still need to eat at some point on Saturday, May 19, allow me to suggest that while it isn't located in the epicenter of downtown New Albany, Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet (1515 E. Market Street) would be a great place to have a meal.

Anytime, in fact, but especially on Saturday, May 19.

In 2017, it was explained to me that Taco Walk organizers deemed Chef Israel Landin's eatery to be too far away from the historic core to merit inclusion on the walk. When I asked one of them why Israel wasn't participating, I was told something to the effect of "well, because it's a walk."

Okay, fine. I've walked (and biked) miles for a great beer, but given the event's geographical rationale, that's probably irrefutable.

This year's rationale is summarized in a Facebook exchange, which is the first instance in months of a question I've asked actually being answered. Is there a thaw underway?

To summarize: Last year no one asked Chef Israel; this year, someone did, and yet I'm not surprised he didn't answer affirmatively -- especially after the suburban sombrero follies of 2017. He's a skilled, experienced and highly trained food professional, and a proud man to boot.

It seems a shame, and perhaps even an embarrassment, to stage a Taco Walk without a gifted chef and a civic treasure who, in point of actual fact, taught damn near all of us in New Albany just how wonderful Mexican cuisine can really be.

Hence my unsolicited sales pitch on behalf of Chef Israel. If you're on the Taco Walk, wonderful. If not, consider showing Israel some love by dining at Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on May 19. Tell them Roger sent you.  

The Confidentials will be putting their money where my mouth is, circa 6:00 p.m. Please consider doing the same.

LIVE TO EAT: Hull & High Water's lunch hours debut on December 11, and other tidbits from the New Albany food and dining scene.

More on Hull's Monday oyster special here.

Hull & High Water has been playfully hinting at new lunchtime hours, and now it's official ... as of December 11. That's next Monday, folks.

Starting December 11th, we will officially be OPEN FOR LUNCH! As some of you may have guessed it! We are bringing back a convenient style of luncheon to New Albany, Indiana with counter style service.

Counter style service lunch allows you to come up to the counter, place your order, pay, and receive a number. One of our food runners will come out very shortly with your food hot and fresh. Get it to go or stay with us and enjoy the atmosphere. You asked for it and we are bringing it to you! Stay tuned for our lunch menu launch later this week!

Cafe 157 offers this helpful reminder about meals and theater.

TheatreWorks is in production, SO dinner this week Tues-Sat 5-8, 157 E Main. Beef Ramen, Banh Mi, Salmon with maple bourbon glaze, Roasted Chicken with mushroom cream sauce, shrimp n grits and more. Drink specials!

A few weeks ago, a few pieces more of Dragon King's Daughter's prospective shift to new digs came before the Board of Works.

Dragon King's Daughter in New Albany preparing new site, by Chris Morris (N and T)

A New Albany restaurant will be moving to a new home early next year. Dragon King’s Daughter will be leaving its current location at 202 E. Elm St. and move to 129 W. Market St.

Ryan Westphal said Tuesday after the New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety meeting that the move will come “in the first quarter” of 2018.

The board of works approved Dragon King’s Daughter for outdoor seating along the sidewalk facing West Market and First Street, improvements to the building’s facade which will include a canopy to the new restaurant, according to architect Ron Stiller.

Also in the local chain newspaper, some fine (and heartwarming) ink for Israel's.

Israel's Delicias de Mexico owner goes viral after son makes loving post, by Danielle Grady

Son makes loving post

All Christian Landin wanted for Christmas was for his dad to get some recognition. He ended up giving him internet fame — and some real life fans.

Christian’s father, Israel Landin, is the owner of Israel’s Delicias de Mexico restaurant on Market Street in New Albany, which opened in 2014. (Previously, Israel owned La Rosita, which closed in 2012) ...

... Christian decided to make a post about Israel on the website, Imgur, where users share pictures of anything and everything — from humorous memes to snapshots of their daily lives. On Imgur, other people can give the photo “points” or make a comment ...

... Christian made the post and went to bed, thinking it wouldn’t get any attention. When he woke up, he couldn’t open his phone at first because of all the notifications. As of press time, Christian’s post had been viewed 224,473 times and had received 8,211 points.

Three additional recent posts at NAC:

Renovation and restoration: From Love's Cafe to Good Times to ... well, a building both old and new.

THE BEER BEAT: One excellent afternoon spent pub crawling with beer on the periphery of the wine walk.

La Tiendita on Market evolves; more of a restaurant, less of a grocery, and with plans to stay put -- and that's good.

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, August 12.

Photo credit: Louisville Magazine.

If you're one of the 400 or so ticket-holders for Saturday's inaugural Taco Walk, a "signature event" for Develop New Albany, by all means enjoy yourself. Seriously. Go out there and have a good time, and whenever you see a DNA board member, ask him or her where all the money's going.

If you're not planning on Taco Walking and still need to eat at some point on Saturday, allow me to suggest that while it isn't located in the epicenter of downtown New Albany, Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet (1515 E. Market Street) would be a great place to have a meal.

Anytime, but especially on Saturday.

As it was explained to me, the Taco Walk organizers deemed Chef Israel Landin's eatery to be too far away from the historic core to merit inclusion on the walk. When I asked one of them why Israel wasn't participating, I was told something to the effect of "well, because it's a walk."

Okay, fine. I've walked (and biked) miles for a great beer, but given the event's geographical rationale, that's probably irrefutable.

At the same time, it seems a shame, and perhaps even an embarrassment, to stage a Taco Walk and not include the gifted chef who, in point of actual fact, taught damn near all of us in New Albany just how wonderful Mexican food could really be.

Hence my unsolicited sales pitch on behalf of Chef Israel. If you're on the Taco Walk, wonderful. If not, consider showing Israel some love tomorrow. If DNA can't "send" you there, then NAC will.  

The Confidentials will be putting their money where my mouth is, circa 6:00 p.m.

Please consider doing the same.

---

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 1: Local food culture presupposes local culture. Popeyes, anyone?

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 2: Let's come together over meat loaf.

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 3: A brief postscript to yesterday's Taco, Broccoli and Lutefisk Walk reference.

NA dining scene set for a great leap forward, as with Chef Israel's Delicias de Mexico.

Boom.

As the same old politicians caterwaul, things are happening.

New Albany's food and dining scene is about to hit "relaunch," with Israel's comeback, new digs for Habana Blues, the advent of Big Four Burgers and Earth Friends at Bank Street Brewhouse, all occurring between now and Derby.

And: Donum Dei Brewery's ribbon cutting is Tuesday, March 17 ... construction has resumed on the Floyd County Brewing location at the corner of Main and W. 1st ... we've heard about the possibility of Coqui's Cafe in the old Little Chef space ... and once Habana Blues leaves its current site, there'll be remodeling for a future tenant on the ground floor of the former New Albany Inn.

Too bad we can't get those walkable streets to tie these together -- you know, like in places where crane operators don't call the shots.

La Rosita owner under the microscope with new concept, by Caitlin Bowling (Louisville Business First)

Israel Landin, owner of the former La Rosita Mexican Grill, is taking his time in opening his new Mexican concept in New Albany.

After the swift decline of La Rosita, Landin said, he knows he is under the microscope, and former customers will be analyzing everything about the food and service at his new concept, Israel's Delicias de Mexico. He hasn't set an open date — though he said he had hoped to open last week — and said it will be at least three weeks.

"We are going to do our best," he said. "This is a new beginning for me after I lost everything."

Insider Louisville: Israel Landin hoping to open Delicias de Mexico in March.

Waistline alert: Kevin Gibson's got the scoop, and it appears that Israel's new place is coming to fruition more quickly than we thought.

Diet, schmiet.

Former La Rosita owner to open in ex-New Albany location as Israel’s Delicias de Mexico Gourmet, by Kevin Gibson (Insider Louisville)

... And now he’s back, and he’s come full circle. He expects to soft-open as Israel’s Delicias de Mexico Gourmet in early March at 1515 E. Market St. in New Albany, the site of the space where La Rosita first garnered attention from around the area and became a dining destination with its reasonable prices, delicious food and quaint space.

While back in Mexico City, where he grew up and lived until he was a teenager, Landin went to school to learn how to make desserts and pastries, adding yet another weapon to his arsenal of traditional Mexican fare, from tortas to quesadillas to tacos. And he returns with some added humility, quite a bit of experience — the original La Rosita opened in 2005 as a taco stand that was part of a produce store — and the determination to do what he intended to do all along, which is provide good food and service.

Chef Israel's Delicias de Mexico is coming along on Market Street.

Google Translate informs us that "Delicias de Mexico" translates as Mexican Delights (literally, I think it is Delights of Mexico).

Those of us who experienced Israel Landin's cooking during the high points of his original La Rosita's restaurant concept know that "delight" is by no means an exaggeration. The new place will be in the same Uptown building (1515 East Market) as Israel's previous and best known incarnation. The glassed-in porch on the west side appears to be destined for service as an open-air porch. That's a nice touch.

I wish Israel all the best as the build-out progresses, and recommend that you do, too.