There was a time when Bill & Bob's virtually cornered Waco's burger-joint market.
There was a time when, wherever you found yourself in Waco, a Bill & Bob's could be found close by. There was a time, even as recently as this summer, when this writer sat down with a cheeseburger at Bill & Bob's and grew nostalgic for those bygone times.
But now Bill & Bob's, as a restaurant at least, is closed.
Waco Tribune-Herald business reporter Mike Copeland originally reported this story in his column that runs on Sundays. In case you're unaware, Copeland's column is a good thing to read every week if you want to know what's happening on the local business landscape. He scoops a bunch of news on all fronts, but of particular interest to us, he has his finger on the pulse of what's coming and going in the restaurant scene.
According to Copeland's column, Bill & Bob's owner Bob Waller will continue his catering business, but Bill & Bob's doors at 3600 N. 19th Street have been closed.
While there are still plenty of places in town to scarf down a tasty burger, we're sad that Bill & Bob's is gone. It's been a Waco tradition for more than 35 years. But things change and it serves to show just how remarkable it is that places like Tony Demaria's, Jasper's and Poppa Rollo's press on, decade after decade.
All hail the Taco Shark
A few weeks ago, in attempt to eat some of the spiciest food in town all in one night, a group of WacoFork adventurers ran across a unique food challenge — Taqueria Mexican Taco's 666.
So last week, some of those same WacoFork friends and a few others went back to take on the devil in the form of El Diablo tacos. They were faced with eating 6 habanero soaked tacos in 6 minutes without consuming a beverage and then, to KO the devil, they were forced to wait 6 more minutes after they finished eating before liquid refreshment could finally be taken.
Three began the journey, but only one finished. Congratulations, Mark The Shark, who became one of just three people to ever complete the challenge and therefore have his picture posted on the wall at Taqueria Mexican Taco.
The two unsuccseful challengers from last week shall not be named.
When I caught up with The Shark on Saturday afternoon, he was recovered from the worst of the side affects of the exorcism. He still seemed a little wobbly and, of course, he turned down a hot link from the tailgate grill.
That's not to overshadow The Shark's heroism of the night before. I was absent. I was actually out of state. But word on the street is that just before his 6 minutes were up, The Shark stood at the table, glared down at the final bite of hellishly hot taco, and triumphantly threw it down.
Amen.
One more bite: The picture with this blog is of tiramisu. It isn't really connected to anything within the blog. But it looks good, huh?
