Jason's Jive November 2025

Food!

Dallas is a fascinating place — a true melting pot of food from many different cultures. On a regular day, my go-to lunch spot is Roland’s, a Jamaican restaurant in Irving about fifteen minutes from DFW Airport. After eating there regularly, I eventually decided to switch things up. Lola’s, a Nigerian restaurant just half a mile away, became my next stop — but after a while, I’d eaten there plenty of times too.

For the past three years, I’ve noticed two food trucks parked outside a Valero gas station on Belt Line Road in Irving. Recently, I decided to try one of them, and I’m glad I did. The truck serves Mediterranean-style food — and trust me, if you’re ever in Dallas, you’ve got to try TX NY Famous Halal Gyro (look them up on Google!). Their lamb gyro is excellent, with three different homemade sauces to choose from, and the prices are very reasonable. They’re open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., so even if you’re in town for a late layover, you can find them on Grubhub and other delivery apps.

I love food — like many others — and I’m not too fussy about it. When I lived in Beltsville and worked in West Baltimore, I knew all the good spots to grab a meal. Around the Pimlico Race Track, there were plenty of affordable, hearty meals to be found. But nothing ever compared to my favorite Peruvian spot on Route 1 — Sardi’s. I’ve been searching for something similar here in Dallas for six years, and I’m still looking.

Another favorite in Beltsville was Pollo Campero on Cherry Hill Road near Darcars. Then there was Maurya, the Indian restaurant — is it still there? Every so often, I’d swing by The Jerk Pit on Baltimore Avenue for Caribbean food. My dear reader, where’s your favorite place to eat in Beltsville?

From Food to Fruit

At my job in Dallas, I coordinate milestone events — birthdays, work anniversaries, and other major employee celebrations. For Father’s Day in 2024, I convinced my senior manager to let us plant fruit trees on company property. She agreed, and we had the male managers do the planting.

The apple and peach trees are thriving, and in a few years, they’ll bear fruit. I may or may not still be working there by then, but it feels good knowing I was part of something that will continue to give back. The plan is to sell the fruit to employees, with proceeds supporting an elementary school we’ve partnered with to provide supplies for staff and students.

We all need to plant a little more. Planting teaches patience — and for children, it teaches responsibility, since they have to water and tend to the plants regularly.

I still remember a high school project from 9th grade in 1982. We placed bean seeds on moistened cotton wool and tracked their growth, sketching the changes from seed to plant. It’s a simple exercise that has stayed with me ever since.

As I wrap up, I’m preparing for a trip to Houston this last weekend of October for a film festival.

Have a great month!