Die Mas: Newport Bar to Host Halloween 'Taco Hell' Pop-Up

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Photo: Provided by Jerry's Jug House

Taco Hell at Jerry's Jug House

Newport bar Jerry’s Jug House is celebrating Halloween with a special pop-up paying homage to the hellish nature of Taco Bell’s menu (items of which are also known to “pop up” again after you eat them, if you know what we mean).

“We've all been there. You're trying to Live Mas and the Taco Bell Drive-Thru feels like you're in taco purgatory. When you get your food, you feel like you're in taco hell,” Jerry’s said in a press release.

But why “live mas” when you could “die mas?” Suckers for Taco Bell pain will get to relive their late-night suffering at Jerry’s “Taco Hell” pop-up Sunday-Monday, Oct. 29-30. The bar’s chef, Peter Ward, promises to resurrect and reinvent some of the taco chain’s classics — true culinary stylings crafted in microwaves by stoned teenagers — that Taco Bell’s corporate ghouls killed off. (May these menu items and the bowels they destroyed RIP).

On Sunday, Ward will be cooking up "Grande Loaded Potato Thrillers" (vegetarian tacos made with seasoned potatoes, queso and chipotle crema in a large flour tortilla) and “Double Decker Tacos,” a flour tortilla spread with refried beans and wrapped around a hard shell taco with ground beef, shredded red cabbage and cheese. You can get these at Jerry’s outdoor walk-up window from 10 p.m. until sell-out (or until they get tired, Jerry’s said). There will also be Bajas blasted with tequila or vodka, and all purchases come with a Taco Hell “DIE MAS” sticker and/or napkins.

And on Monday, Jerry’s will host the Taco Hell Dine-In Fiesta with a full-on DIE MAS party from 7 p.m. to midnight. The menu will feature nods to more killed-off classics: the “Carnitas Grande Soft Tacos” (two flour tortillas with queso filled in between and topped with carnitas, chipotle crema, pickled red onions, cilantro and jalapenos) and the vegetarian “7 Layers of Hell Burrito” (a large flour tortilla, Mexican rice, refried beans, queso, pickled red onion, jalapeños, red cabbage and fried chickpeas). There will also be chips and queso, tarot card readings, Pumpkin Pain Killers and the Bajas will still be blasting (just like your ass after this is all over).

“This is your one chance to try these banished items as re-imagined by [Ward], who is making them with slow-cooking, classic techniques, and. of course, hate,” Jerry’s said.

Jerry’s Jug House, 414 E. Seventh St., Newport. More info: jerrysjughouse.com.