Wine News

Texas Rangers find tipsy new use for Arlington ballpark

Paso Robles Wine Country presents Grand Tasting Tour of Paso Robles Wines

Best use of Globe Life Park ever. Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the Best use of Best use of the

Photo courtesy of Paso Robles Wine Country

At long last, the Texas Rangers have found the ideal use for their ballpark. The club is hosting a series of wine tasting classes in the coming months, with the first offering, Wine 101, slated for February 14 at 7 pm.

For too long, the ballpark has been monopolized by actual baseball games when it could be dedicating itself to wine.

According to a spokesperson, the facility management has been brainstorming on alternate activities to make better use of the space.

Offered with everyone from the wine rookie to the veteran connoisseur in mind, the classes will highlight the fundamentals of wine origin, selection, and tasting.

Complimentary cheese boards will be provided by Delaware North.

The classes will be led by Tom Dobson, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, who has traveled to wine regions all over France, Italy, Spain, and the United States.

The wine tasting classes join a series of painting classes, which kicked off in January.

These are the first offerings in a series of new experiences being hosted at Globe Life Park. Fans will have the opportunity to experience the ballpark in unique ways through various creative, active, and culinary classes. Each class will be hosted by local instructors with specialized skillsets and the ability to deliver world-class, hands-on experiences to guests.

The upcoming wine and painting class schedule is as follows:

Wine 101 – February 14, 7-9 pm
Painting – February 14, 7-9 pm
Painting – February 24, 10 am-12 pm
Wine 101 – February 24, 7-9 pm
Painting – March 9, 7-9 pm
French vs. American Wines – March 9, 7-9 pm
Painting – March 24, 10 am-12 pm

Tickets for the Wine 101 class are $30 and can be purchased at texasrangers.com/experiences or by stopping by the tours box office at the Grand Slam Gift Shop at Globe Life Park. Alcohol purchases are independent of the class ticket. Attendees will purchase their wine samples at the bar upon arrival for $10. The wine classes are only available to those 21 and older.

The February 14 class will be held in the Hyundai Club. Guests should park in Lot B and use the South Centerfield Gate Entrance.

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Hummus News

Revered family-owned Mediterranean restaurant debuts in North Dallas

Samantha Marie Photography

Zon Zon food spread

An upscale Mediterranean restaurant is coming to North Dallas from a trusted name: Called Zon Zon, it'll open at 5455 Belt Line Rd. #130, in the Work/Shop center, and it's hospitality group Yela Concepts led by Yaser Khalaf (Darna, Baboush), together with his son Mak Khalef in their first collaboration.

According to a release, it'll open on December 22.

Named for Mak's sister Zaina (“Zon Zon”), the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with a refined take on Mediterranean dining, rooted in tradition but with modern influences.

"We tried to merge what embodies Mediterranean cuisine with dishes that people in Dallas love," Mak says. "A lot of the dishes we have on menu are Mediterranean but have American and Texan influences."

Mezze favorites include hummus topped with green shatta and extra-virgin olive oil; baba ghanoush with charred eggplant, tahini, dukka, and pomegranate; crispy cauliflower with saffron labneh; tuna neya with tahini, mixed pickles, and Aleppo pepper; and kibbeh with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts, and dill labneh.

Salads include seared tuna salad with freekeh and golden beets; Tahini Caesar with tahini–Caesar dressing and za’atar croutons; and roasted beets with burrata, oranges, and pistachios.

Entrées include roasted chicken with garlic-batata and pomegranate jus; chicken shish kebab over saffron rice with almonds and raisins; hanger steak shawarma frites — a clever twist on steak frites with hand-cut fries; ZZ’s Wagyu cheeseburger with smoked provolone and house pickles; Prime ribeye with za’atar chimichurri and heirloom carrots; and apricot lamb couscous.

The beverage program complements the menu with a Mediterranean-focused wine list and creative cocktails such as the coffee-kissed Midnight Istanbul and ZZ’s Margarita, with burnt pineapple and ras el hanout.

Designed in collaboration with Dallas-based Coeval Studios, the restaurant features a 2,130-square-foot interior with an expansive 735-square-foot patio that seats 76, for a total occupancy near 100.

The restaurant boasts an open kitchen, while decorative finishes include modern woodwork, rich textures, and Middle Eastern-inspired details — stylish yet inviting, with a setting that feels like home.

“The inspiration behind Zon Zon came from wanting to create the kind of place we’ve always wished existed — a neighborhood Mediterranean spot that feels both familiar and exciting - we wanted to create a comfortable space where guests can meet up with friends or neighbors on a regular basis,” says Yaser in a statement.

Mak went to college to sudy biomedical engineering, but says he couldn't resist the lure of the restaurant world in which he grew up.

"Zon Zon is a reflection of everything we love about food," Mak says. "What makes this especially meaningful is building it with my dad — bringing our family’s story and passion to the table."

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