Researchers have determined that January 6 is the most depressing day of the year as people return to their jobs after the end of the holiday season and try to envision a month devoid of any actual celebration.
And while that’s a dark, dark way to look at it, we know that This Week in Gluttony has just what you need to turn that frown upside down. It mostly involves wine, as several restaurants are teaming up with some wine experts for dinners, while Pappas Bros. is eschewing food in favor of just more wine.
Of course, if that doesn’t sound like your glass of wine, there’s a vegan beer dinner, at the Libertine and Driftwood and TJ’s Seafood are joining forces for Dallas’ first lionfish dinner. If you make only one resolution this year, it should be to eat more lionfish.
Wednesday, January 8
Libertine Vegan Beer Dinner
The Libertine hosts its first vegan beer dinner of 2014 with a five-course meal beginning at 7 pm. Pairings include fried frisée salad with sage vinaigrette, grilled eggplant and cranberry compote paired with Revolver Mullet Cutter IPA, and jackfruit subzi with roasted squash and chickpea croquette paired with Community Trinity Tripel. Reservations are $60 and can be made at 214-824-7900.
Chef’s Table Wine Dinner at Bridge Bistro
Bridge Bistro teams up with Oak Cliff Cellars for a five-course wine dinner beginning at 6:30 pm. Pairings include juniper and porcini braised beef with Parmesan polenta, caponata and natural veal sauce with Oak Cliff Cellars 2011 Wild Diamond Mourvedre, as well as a duo of seared duck breast and duck confit with wild mushroom, olive and cavatelli pasta with Oak Cliff Cellars 2009 Firebrick Zinfandel. Reservations are $65 and can be made at 214-740-1985.
Thursday, January 9
Second Floor Wine Dinner With World Wine Discoveries
Second Floor Bistro welcomes World Wine Discoveries for a four-course, five-wine dinner beginning at 6 pm with a reception. Pairings include goat cheese gnocchi with pancetta, wild mushrooms and basil with Giacomo Vico Langhe Chardonnay, and charred beef with cambozola cream, grilled vegetables and gremolata with Giacomo Vico Barolo. Reservations are $65 and can be made at 972-450-2978.
Friday, January 10
Pappas Bros. Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse breaks out the bottles for a Cabernet Sauvignon tasting beginning at 6 pm. Try out varieties from all over the world, including South Africa, Mexico, California and Australia. Seasonal hors d’oeuvre are served alongside. Reservations are $55 and can be made at 214-366-2000.
Monday, January 13
Driftwood Lionfish Dinner with TJ's Seafood Market
Driftwood and TJ’s Seafood Market are joining forces for Dallas’ first lionfish dinner prepared by chef Omar Flores beginning at 7 pm. Flores prepares lionfish four ways during the five-course meal, while Traditional Fisheries founder Dave Johnson discusses the negative impact of the lionfish on Atlantic and Caribbean ecosystems. Plates include salt baked with soft herbs, arbequina olive oil, crushed white grapefruit and cold smoked with aji amarillo, crispy capers, pine nuts, pickled mustard and Pedro Ximenez vinegar. Reservations are $80 with an optional $20 wine pairing and can be made at 214-942-2530.
The Libertine offers a five-course vegan beer dinner on January 8.
Loro's smoked hot sauce and chicken are a perfect match.Photo courtesy of Hai Hospitality
Sauce-lovers can bundle all three sauces for variety.Photo courtesy of Hai Hospitality