While flanken beef rib tacos have been a popular Rene’s item, Chef Valenzuela will feature whole smoked short ribs at next month’s dinner. Credit: Renesmexicankitchenofficial/Facebook

Although Rene’s Mexican Kitchen mainly operates on a to-go basis, once every few months Chef Rene Valenzuela strays from his normal fare and hosts a themed, sit-down dinner filled picture-perfect entrees.

For his next prix-fixe dinner, the Monterrey native is celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a four-course meal featuring both regional dishes and fan favorites.

Chef Valenzuela’s Mexican Independence Day dinner party is on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at Seminole Heights’ Southern Brewery & Winery at 4500 N Nebraska Ave.—where you can also find Valenzuela’s popular food truck—hosts this multi-course Mexican meal.

Valenzuela is kicking things off with his Yahualica crispy taquitos ensartados, “an obscure regional specialty from a small town of Jalisco” served with shredded carnitas and salsa roja, and continues with a chilled avocado soup with crab meat.

The dinner’s third course features massive, chipotle-rubbed smoked short ribs (that you may need a bib for) served with tortillas and salsa. And for dessert, this Independence Day celebration wraps things up with an arroz con leche cheesecake with a Kahlúa liqueur-infused caramel sauce.

Tickets are $85 and can be purchased via Eventbrite; they include an alcoholic or N/A drink of choice.

In addition to Rene’s Mexican Kitchen’s Seminole Heights food truck, another location dishes out tacos and tortas from a take-out spot in V.M. Ybor, plus a second food truck that’s parked outside of Grand Cathedral Cigars in Tampa Heights.
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