This Week In Gluttony

You are bound to learn something at this week's top Dallas food events

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away, and if you are tasked with planning a date, the pressure is on. Sure, you could take your special someone out for a romantic dinner for two or spoil her with gifts. But if you really want to impress, you will cook the meal yourself.

This week, there are plenty of opportunities to sharpen your kitchen skills — whether you want to prepare health-conscious meals or decadent desserts. If you say to hell with Valentine’s Day, there are wine events and a hot chocolate-fueled run to satisfy your independent, food-driven spirit.

Tuesday, February 3

Easy But Impressive Chocolate Desserts at Central Market Lovers
James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Alice Medrich teaches you how to make three chocolate desserts that rely on simple techniques to produce sensational flavors: chocolate budini sundae, chocolate tweed torte and chocolate fudge layer cake. In this class you’ll gain confidence as a baker, discover new techniques and sample your delicious creations. Tickets are $65, and the class starts at 6:30 pm. Reserve your seats online.

Wednesday, February 4

Sommelier for a Day at III Forks
Have you ever wanted to be a sommelier at a fine-dining restaurant with a world-class wine cellar? Now is your chance. III Forks offers a Sommelier for a Day opportunity on the first Wednesday of each month from 5-7 pm, during which guests can help select featured wines for the coming month. For $20 per person, attendees sample six wines selected by the steakhouse’s wine director and enjoy hand-passed paired hors d’oeuvre created by executive chef Chris Vogeli. February’s theme is Merlot. Call 972-267-1776 for reservations.

Chef’s Table Wine Dinner With Joel Harloff at Bridge Bistro
Don’t miss this delicious winter wine dinner featuring cuisine by chef Joel Harloff and wine by Oak Cliff Cellars. Dishes includes butter-poached shrimp with pearl cous cous salad, panko fried braised pork shoulder, herb-roasted salmon, and a grape- and wine-poached pear with spiced ricotta. Cost is $65 per person; reserve a spot online. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, February 7

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k at Fair Park
Run through Fair Park with more than 14,000 expected participants and then celebrate crossing the finish line with indulgent, chocolaty treats. All participants receive an official swag bag, including a luxurious, fleece-lined hoodie and drawstring bag. New for the season, all 15k finishers receive the official Hot Chocolate Finisher Medal. Runners can also sign up for the “Go the Extra Mile” program to raise money for charities. Registration costs range from $44-$74. The race begins at 7:30 pm.

Cooking Class With Samir Dhurandhar and Wil Larsen of Nick & Sam’s at Dallas Farmers Market
The American Institute of Wine & Food and the Dallas Farmers Market Friends present a series of cooking classes with renowned local chefs demonstrating their favorite dishes inspired by fresh produce from the market. This one features Wil Larsen and Samir Dhurandhar of Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse. Cost is $25 per person in advance (by Thursday before class to be attended), $30 at the door or $110 for the entire series. For reservations, call 214-653-8088 or secure your spot online. Class starts at 11:30 am.

Sunday, February 8

Cooking Demonstrations at Modmarket Preston Hollow
Join Chef Nate this weekend for free farm-fresh cooking demonstrations at the new Preston Hollow Village restaurant. He shows you how to whip up some of Modmarket’s most popular breakfast, lunch and dinner items; you get to sample them all. Each attendee may bring one guest. Space is limited, and you must register. There are two classes, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, both at 9 am.

Bridge Bistro is hosting a wine dinner with Joel Harloff on February 4.

Bridge Bistro Facebook

Bridge Bistro is hosting a wine dinner with Joel Harloff on February 4.

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Irish Pub News

Beloved downtown Dallas Crafty Irishman pub expands to Victory Park

Kennedy's Irish Pub

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A favorite Irish pub in downtown Dallas is expanding: The Crafty Irishman, which opened in downtown a decade ago, will open a spinoff location in nearby Victory Park at 2401 Victory Park Ln. #190, in the former Dibs on Victory space.

According to a release, it'll open in the next few months.

“Victory Park has been on our radar for many years,” says The Crafty Irishman founder Alan Kearney. “It’s a community in itself, with a great mix of residential, retail, and office. We will absolutely be geared for the games at Victory Park. Sports play a huge role in any pub back in Dublin, and that same energy will be part of what we do here.”

The new location will be larger than the downtown original and will feature a second-floor patio deck. It has been designed with the same characteristics and atmosphere as a great metropolitan city-center pub, the kind you would find in the heart of Dublin.

The menu will feature The Crafty Irishman’s staples such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and Scotch eggs, along with hundreds of whiskeys and a wide selection of European and local beers.

While the food may be the same, the vibe will not, Kearney says.

“This isn’t a copy and paste version of our downtown pub,” he say. “Every community is different and has its own personality. But one thing that never changes is our commitment to genuine hospitality, great food, and that warm, authentic Irish feel.”

Kearney is a native of Ireland who has emerged as a leading figure in Dallas' Irish pub scene, particularly in highly urban areas such as downtown and Bishop Arts-adjacent, with concepts that include Patrick Kennedy's Irish Pub, also in downtown Dallas and The Playwright Irish Pub located in Dallas' Arts District. He was the first to open an Irish pub in North Oak Cliff with Cannon's Irish Pub, which he opened in the cool Cannon's Village building in 2019.

He's shown a knack for being able to find an audience in locations that prior operators were not, such as the One Arts Plaza space where The Playwright is located — a space that saw a number businesses come and go before he came along.

The Victory Park location will offer lunch, dinner, happy hour, and late-night food, providing guests with a full-day dining and social experience. Validated parking and valet service will be available directly beside the pub.

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