This Week in Gluttony

Tastemaker Awards headline the best food and drink events in Dallas

There are plenty of food events happening around town this week, and they are more interesting than your average beer or wine dinner. For example, you could swing by our Tastemaker Awards on Tuesday, as we honor the top talent in the local restaurant community.

So go ahead. Pick your poison:

Monday, May 5

The following restaurants are beckoning you with Cinco de Mayo specials:

Abuelo’s. Dos Equis draft beers for $2.50 and Mexican flag margaritas for $5.95.
Campuzano Mexican Food. Complimentary appetizer with drinks.
Cubiertos. Puebla margarita for $5 with melon, lime and pomegranate, plus menu specials such as $5 shrimp and pineapple salad and $23 chiles en Nogada.
On the Border. Special Cinco de Mayo drinks, including Angry Orchard Hard Cider blended with sweet and sour, topped with a shot of cinnamon whiskey on the rocks, plus frozen margaritas in mango, strawberry or wild berry.
Blue Goose. All-day happy hour includes $1 off liquors, $2.25 domestics, $3.25 premium beers, $3 top shelf frozen margaritas.
Mattito's Tex-Mex. Festivities include live band, Bob Armstrong queso-eating contest, mechanical bull rides, tequila tastings, games and prizes, and drinks specials.
Chuy's. Happy hour all day includes margaritas served in a commemorative cup, plus free fully loaded Nacho Car from 4-7 pm.

Tuesday, May 6

CultureMap Tastemaker Awards
We are proud to launch the Tastemaker Awards in Dallas, our annual tribute to the talent in the local restaurant community, with a kickass party in the Design District. From 6-9 pm, foodies can indulge in fine food and killer cocktails while toasting the winners in 10 categories, from Best Rising Star Chef to Best New Restaurant. You can also expect the famous CultureMap swag and other party tricks. Proceeds benefit Carry The Load and North Texas Food Bank. Tickets are $45 and include food, three premium drinks and valet. There are limited tickets at the door, so secure your spot online.

Herman Marshall Whiskey Dinner at Bone Daddy's Grapevine
Killer barbecue and Texas whiskey will come together for the Herman Marshall Whiskey four course dinner including bacon wrapped chicken jalapeno, chopped salad, 12 oz. bone-in pork chop topped with a Herman Marshal Bourbon Gravy with granny smith baked cinnamon apples and garlic mashed potatoes and housemade bread pudding with Herman Marshall Whiskey sauce. Seats are $50 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 817-251-0835.

Wednesday, May 7

Larry McMurtry Texas-themed dinner at the Dallas Museum of Art
Author Larry McMurtry discusses The Last Kind Words Saloon, his first novel in five years, with author/collaborator Diana Ossana. During the event, the DMA cafe is serving a Texas-themed three course dinner inspired by Texas settings in McMurtry's fiction. Dishes include Green Valley Farm’s snow pea shoot salad or roasted corn and poblano chowder, jalapeno and bacon stuffed free range chicken breast or spiced and braised beef brisket, and Dude Sweet Chocolate semi-sweet chocolate tart or pecan pie with soured cream. Dinner is $22, and you can purchase live simulcast tickets online.

Thursday, May 8

Taco Talk with José R. Ralat at Four Corners Brewing Company
From 6-9 pm, Slow Food Dallas presents a talk and taco fest with José R. Ralat, who starts with the taco's humble Mexican beginnings and ends with its place in Dallas food culture today. Admission includes the talk plus two tacos: one al pastor and one fried potato. Beer is available for sale before, during and after the presentation. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.

Humane Hearts Hoedown at The Southwestern
The Humane League honors Rip Esselstyn, author of the bestselling book The Engine 2 Diet, with its first Humane Hero award. Join the nonprofit for a vegan buffet, including "chickn" and waffles. VIP cocktail hour starts at 6:30 pm; party follows at 7:30. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online.

Saturday, May 10

5th Annual Boil for the Brave Crawfish Boil at The Foundry
Hosted by the Rosedale Group, the annual Boil for the Brave Crawfish Boil raises funds for the construction and renovation of veterans' homes in the Dallas community. Guests can indulge in unlimited crawfish, potatoes and corn, as well as beer provided by Andrews Distributing. Tickets are free to U.S. military veterans and $25 to all other attendees and can be purchased online. Fun starts at 1 pm.

Author Larry McMurtry discusses The Last Kind Words Saloon at the DMA on May 7.

NorrisPatrick.com

Author Larry McMurtry discusses The Last Kind Words Saloon at the DMA on May 7.

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Southlake Sizzle

Dallas' Hudson House totes its oysters and martinis to new DFW city

Photo courtesy of\u00a0Hudson House

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Southlake diners have been eager to get their hands on the Hudson House burgers and an icy martinis that Dallasites know and love - and the wait is almost over. The highly anticipated East Coast-inspired restaurant will debut on Friday, September 11.

First announced in fall 2025, the Southlake location will open at 1131 E. Southlake Blvd., taking over the former RA Sushi space next to Gloria’s.

The 5,000(ish)-square-foot restaurant will be the 12th Hudson House location from Dallas-based Vandelay Companies, according to a release. It's the second Tarrant County outpost, after a location that opened in west Fort Worth in 2023.

Founded in 2017 by restaurateur Hunter Pond, Hudson House is known for its neighborhood-restaurant vibe, seafood-driven menu, raw bar, sushi, burgers, and signature cocktails — particularly its claim of serving the “World’s Coldest Martini.”

“Southlake has the combination of energy, growth and appreciation for hospitality that we look for when entering a new neighborhood," says Pond, chairman of Vandelay Companies, in the release. "Our goal is never simply to add another location. We want every Hudson House to feel rooted in its community from the moment it opens and to become the kind of restaurant guests return to week after week.”

The large wraparound bar at Hudson House Southlake.Photo courtesy of Hudson House

The Southlake restaurant will feature warm leather booths, a large wraparound bar, a full sit-down raw bar, and an outdoor patio. The design is intended to evoke a traditional New England dining institution while incorporating Hudson House's polished, energetic style.

The menu will include Hudson House staples such as the Hudson’s Avocado Dip with ranch chips; The Cheeseburger with thin patties, American cheese, pickles, and house sauce; Chicken Parm with creamy tomato pasta and Reggiano; and the Hudson Salad with popcorn chicken, avocado, cherry tomato, bacon, sharp cheddar, and green goddess dressing.

Seafood remains a major focus, with East Coast oysters flown in daily, a dedicated raw bar, and sushi options including the Sunset Roll, Signature Roll, Pressed Ahi Tuna Roll, and Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice.

East Coast oysters and shrimp cocktail at Hudson House. Photo courtesy of Hudson House

Pro tip: Don't skip the Key Lime Pie for dessert.

Then there are the martinis. The restaurant's signature “World’s Coldest Martini” is made with Grey Goose vodka served on tap and chilled to 10 degrees.

Other martinis include The Classic, Bleu & Gold, The Lemon Drop, and The Espresso, while the cocktail list also includes the Frozen Bellini, Strawberry Spritz, Spicy Mexican, and Manhattan.

The restaurant offers a popular happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3-6 pm at the bar only, with half-price martinis, Bellinis, and wine by the glass, plus $3 East Coast oysters and $10 cheeseburgers.

The Hudson House's Fort Worth location, on "the bricks" of Camp Bowie Boulevard, earned a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. The nomination read, "The East Coast-inspired restaurant ... has remained nonstop busy for its polished design, raw bar, cheeseburgers, lobster rolls, and ice-cold martinis served in frozen glassware. Just blocks from Rivercrest Country Club, the chic spot draws regulars from the nearby Crestline and Arlington Heights neighborhoods, as well moms who lunch, golf buddies, and couples from all over Fort Worth who return again and again for top-notch service and reliable, upscale American fare."

Given the Southlake restaurant's proximity to other local shopping and leisure spots, including Central Market, Southlake Town Square, and Timarron Country Club, it should be a perfect fit.

Hudson House will be open 11 am-9 pm Monday-Wednesday, 11 am-10 pm Thursday-Friday, 10 am-10 pm Saturday, and 10 am-9 pm Sunday.

southlake openings hudson house