BBQ
Beer
The pristine new aisles of H-E-B in Plano opened to the public Wednesday morning.
By Jack Moraglia
November 2, 2022
H-E-B opened Nov. 2 to a line of customers.Jack Moraglia
Local News is Vital to Our Community
When you support our community-rooted newsroom, you enable all of us to be better informed, connected,and empowered during this important election year. Give now and help us raise$4,000 by June 7.
Support local journalism
$0
$4,000
$390
`,`
Related
- 6th Annual 'Grill For Gaza' Event Will Serve Up Great Barbecue for a Noble Cause
`,`
Related
- Eat This: The Brisket Philly Sandwich (and Pork Belly Burnt Ends) at Loop 9 BBQ
`,`
Related
- Dallas-based Low and Slow Snacks Makes Better Barbecue Chips in Frito Lay's Backyard
`,`
Related
- The Barbecue Easy Button: Zavala's Barbecue Adds Affordable Meat Plates
`,`
Related
- Brix Barbecue In Fort Worth Has A New Permanent Location, With Barbecue Hits We Still Adore
`,`
Related
- David Beckham Eats at Blu's Barbeque While in Dallas; the Beckham Platter To Go on Sale Soon
`,`
Related
- Ten50 BBQ To Open Second Location in Former Sonny Bryan's Spot on Lovers Lane
`,`
Related
- Dayne's Craft Barbecue Plans a New Brick and Mortar Home in Aledo
`,`
Related
- From Bonanza to Barbecue: A First Look at Strouderosa BBQ in Lake Highlands
` ];
The pristine new aisles of H-E-B in Plano opened to the public Wednesday morning.
The San Antonio-based grocery chain started in 1905 and has remained south of the DFW area — with the closest locations being in Burleson and Waxahachie —until recently. A store opened in Frisco in September to excited crowds, and McKinney and Allen stores are set to open in 2023.
click to enlarge
The carts are ready to go, as is the smoked brisket.
Jack Moraglia
The celebration kicked off at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning as Plano residents explored their newest grocery option. The Plano West High School band performed, and a DJ kept the crowd pumped. Coffee and beignets were passed out from food trucks.
At the Frisco location's opening in September, the line had wrapped around the building by the time doors opened. Some people even started camping out 12 hours before the event began. And while there was a line when the Plano store opened, it was gone by mid-morning.
We got to explore the store ahead of its grand opening, and the food options were extensive.
click to enlarge
The long winding aisles of the produce section were stocked Tuesday afternoon.
Jack Moraglia
“We’re here to make it easier to feed your family,” said Mabrie Jackson, senior director of public affairs for H-E-B. The Meal Simple section has many oven-ready meals to take home. “Meal Simple is the easiest way for people on the go to feed their families,” says Jackson.
click to enlarge
Why she's holding the pimento cheese like a dirty sock is beyond us. It should be coddled.
Jack Moraglia
The store prepares sushi, seafood, pimento cheese, baked goods and meats every day for shoppers. Many sushi options are unique to the Dallas community, with names like the DFW Roll, the Red Pegasus Roll and the Highway 75 Roll.
“This is not grocery store sushi,” Jackson brags, mentioning that the store's seafood is flown in daily. “We can trace it back to the boat and the captain.”
Home chefs can gain inspiration at the Cooking Connection station, where daily demonstrations teach simple recipes anyone can execute at home.
click to enlarge
Shoppers at other grocery stores may be devastated to hear they no longer have to wait in the slow-as-a-snail deli for sliced lunch meat.
Jack Moraglia
With the viral popularity of charcuterie boards (and butter boards), H-E-B has cheese enthusiasts covered. Over 250 cheeses are sold at the cheese counter, and custom and pre-made charcuterie boards are available. The cheese trays are served on wooden boards, so you don’t have to feel embarrassed bringing a clunky plastic tray over to someone’s house.
The beverage aisles make it easy to get lost in the options, especially if you’ve had a couple of the $2 drafts on Tuesdays at the True Texas BBQ in-store restaurant. H-E-B sells over 850 styles of craft beer, making it the No. 1 retailer for Texas beer.
click to enlarge
H-E-B carries more than 850 styles of craft beer.
Jack Moraglia
Merchandising manager for beer and wine, Chris Hurst, says H-E-B regularly acquires rare wines from auctions all the time to sell in its stores. In addition to buying wine, you can also try samples at daily wine tastings. “Whenever you can buy alcohol, you can sample wine,” Hurst says. That includes the grand opening, when staffed popped Champagne bottles.
click to enlarge
H-E-B offers a bevy of store-brand products.
Jack Moraglia
H-E-B also carries its own brands of non-alcoholic beverages, like sparkling 1877 Mineral Water. H-E-B brand Cafe Olé coffee has a roast called Taste of DFW that is medium-bodied and heavy on chocolate flavor. Jackson stresses that these are not just any old store-brand products.
“Never be afraid to try an H-E-B brand,” she says. Some of her favorites are the Meal Simple jalapeño pimento cheese and Creamy Creations Eggnog Joy ice cream.
click to enlarge
True Texas BBQ is a quick-service barbecue restaurant with craft beer on tap inside H-E-B. Bonus: $2 draft Tuesdays.
Jack Moraglia
Along with the expansive options on shelves, H-E-B houses True Texas BBQ: a restaurant that serves slow-smoked meats. The turkey was peppery and juicy, and the brisket was tender. Mac and cheese, brisket loaded beans and potato salad rounded out the meal. Other menu items include pulled pork, ribs, chicken, creamed corn, cobblers and more. And barbecue sauce to smother over all of it, of course.
H-E-B is many things, including a car wash, gas station and pharmacy. But mostly, it’s a playground for food lovers.
6001 Preston Road, Plano
') let lineHeight = jQuery('[line-height-check]').get(0).clientHeight; jQuery('[line-height-check]').remove() if (jQuery(element).prop('tagName').match(/HIDDEN/i) !== null) { jQuery(element).children('div').last().css({ marginBottom: `${lineHeight*2}px` }); } else { jQuery(element).css({ marginTop: `${lineHeight*2}px`, marginBottom: `${lineHeight}px` }); } // const insertionBlockClass = `fdn-paragraph-insertion-block`; const styleElementHook = `fdn-paragraph-insertion-styles`; jQuery(element).addClass(insertionBlockClass); if (jQuery(`[${styleElementHook}]`).length === 0) { jQuery('div.fdn-content-body, div #storyBody').append('
') const paragraphLineHeight = jQuery('[line-height-check]').get(0).clientHeight; jQuery('[line-height-check]').remove() const styleElement = jQuery(`
`); const styleText = ` div.fdn-content-body br+.${insertionBlockClass}:not([hidden]), div #storyBody br+.${insertionBlockClass}:not([hidden]) { margin-top: ${paragraphLineHeight*2}px; margin-bottom: ${paragraphLineHeight}px; } div.fdn-content-body br+.${insertionBlockClass}[hidden] > div:last-of-type, div #storyBody br+.${insertionBlockClass}[hidden] > div:last-of-type { margin-bottom: ${paragraphLineHeight*2}px; } ` styleElement.text(styleText); jQuery('head').append(styleElement); } // } } jQuery(element).insertBefore(this.paragraphEndNodes[index]); } else { console.warn('Foundation.ParagraphTool.insertElemenAt: invalid insertion index', index); } } this.insertElemenAtEnd = function (element) { if (this.paragraphEndNodes.length) { let lastNode = this.getNodeAtIndex(this.paragraphEndNodes.length -1); if (this.isDoubleBrParagraphBreak(lastNode) || this.isBrParagraphBreakBeforeBlockElement(lastNode)) { if (jQuery(element).get(0).tagName.match(/SCRIPT/i) !== null) { jQuery('
').insertAfter(this.paragraphEndNodes[index]); jQuery('
').insertAfter(this.paragraphEndNodes[index]); } else { jQuery('div.fdn-content-body, div #storyBody').append('
') let lineHeight = jQuery('[line-height-check]').get(0).clientHeight; jQuery('[line-height-check]').remove() if (jQuery(element).prop('tagName').match(/HIDDEN/i) !== null) { jQuery(element).children('div').last().css({ marginBottom: `${lineHeight*2}px` }); } else { jQuery(element).css({ marginTop: `${lineHeight*2}px`, marginBottom: `${lineHeight}px` }); } } } } this.bodyContainer.append(element); } this.getNodeAtIndex = function (index) { return this.paragraphEndNodes[index]; } }
`); } var paragraphCount = myParagraphTool.getParagraphEndNodeCount(); // No need to insert if there aren't enough paragaphs if (paragraphCount >= parseInt(item.requiredCountToDisplay)) { // Matches specific paragraph insertion indexes if (item.insertPoint.match(/^\d+$/) !== null) { var insertIndex = parseInt(item.insertPoint) - 1; // Insert within content if (insertIndex < paragraphCount) { myParagraphTool.insertElemenAtIndex(componentElement, insertIndex); } // Append to the end if the insert point is beyond the paragraph count else { myParagraphTool.insertElemenAtEnd(componentElement) } } // Matches for 1/2, 1/4, 2/3, 5/6, etc else if (item.insertPoint.match(/^[1223456]\/[23456]$/) !== null) { var fractionMatch = new RegExp(/^([123456])(?:\/)([23456]$)/); var fractionPart = parseInt(item.insertPoint.match(fractionMatch)[1]); var fractionWhole = parseInt(item.insertPoint.match(fractionMatch)[2]); var fractionValue = fractionPart / fractionWhole; var fractionIndex = Math.floor(myParagraphTool.paragraphEndNodes.length * fractionValue) - 1; myParagraphTool.insertElemenAtIndex(componentElement, fractionIndex); } // Matches for every Nth insertion point else if (item.insertPoint.match(/^\d*th$/i) !== null) { var intervalIndex = parseInt(item.insertPoint.match(/^(\d*)th$/i)[1]); var startingIndex = parseInt(item.startingPoint) - 1; var insertionMax = parseInt(item.maxInsertions) || 100; var insertionCount = 0; for (var i = startingIndex; i < myParagraphTool.paragraphEndNodes.length && insertionCount < insertionMax; i++) { if ((i - startingIndex) % intervalIndex === 0) { let currentNode = myParagraphTool.getNodeAtIndex(i); const clonedComponent = componentElement.clone(); myParagraphTool.insertElemenAtIndex(clonedComponent, i); insertionCount++; } } } } }); Foundation.Content['15176466'].setupInlineComponents = function () { return true; }; if (typeof callback === 'function') { callback(); } }, 200); } Foundation.Content['15176466'].previewInsertionPoints = function () { var myParagraphTool = Foundation.Content['15176466'].paragraphTool myParagraphTool.paragraphEndNodes.each((index, item) => { const insertionPointPlaceholder = jQuery(`
`) myParagraphTool.insertElemenAtIndex(insertionPointPlaceholder, index); }); return 'Paragraph insertion placeholders applied.'; }
