This Week in Gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This week is all about transporting yourself somewhere else through food and wine. Whether that's a culinary tour of Tuscany or a Kentucky bourbon adventure is up to you.

Tuesday, June 14

A Taste of Tuscany Wine Dinner at Bistro 31
Regarded as one of Italy's most esteemed winemakers, the Folonari family is making its way to Dallas for this special one-night-only wine event. Indulge in a decadent four-course dinner, along with wine pairings in the Champagne Room. Dinner is $125, and the event kicks off at 6:30 pm. Reservations are required by calling 214-420-3900.

A Community Cooks at We Over Me Farms at Paul Quinn College
Leading culinary talents and food lovers come together for this sixth annual event to celebrate and support the We Over Me Farm — a student-run, 2-acre, organic farm located on the school’s former football field. Along with a deliciously unique culinary experience, attendees enjoy live music, wine, beer, garden-inspired cocktails, and an opportunity to learn more about the farm. Chefs participating include Blythe Beck, Pink Magnolia; Nicholas Ocando, Hibiscus; Jon Stevens, Stock & Barrel; and many more. Tickets are $75, and the event starts at 6 pm.

Thursday, June 16

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Addison's beloved bar is celebrating Sierra Nevada’s 2016 Beer Camp Across America with the release of six new Sierra Nevada Beer Camp collaborations. Flights are available for a limited time for these collaborations, including Sweet Sunny South, Moxee-Moron, Family Values, West Latitude, Pay-Rye-Ot, and Stout of the Union. Learn more about each beer here.

Booker’s Bakers & Maker’s Dinner at III Forks
The history of bourbon in America is one with deep roots, and that history will be celebrated when the legendary steakhouse hosts this dinner with country music star Andy Velo. The evening starts with a meet and mingle at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7 pm. Courses include seared lamb lollipop, pork belly, Jim Beam-braised short rib, and Maker's Mark pear crush. Dinner is $90, and you can make reservations by calling 972-267-1776.

Dallas Blind Cafe at Atlantis Business Center
Enjoy dinner, discussion, and a musical performance all in the dark with no blindfolds. Through this experience, the audience builds community, makes new friends, and advocates for a better life for the blind and visually impaired. Tickets start at $75, and there are two different show times on Thursday — 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. There are also events on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, June 18

Best Little Brew Fest in Texas at Old Town Lewisville
More than 90 breweries (many from Texas) offering more than 300 craft brews take over Old Town Lewisville. Texas wines and distilled spirits are also making an appearance for your sampling pleasure. Food trucks will be onsite, and music from local bands will keep your head bobbing. Through Cloud 9 Charities, this event supports the Alzheimer’s Association and Teen Suicide Prevention, with all the profits going to these organizations. Tickets start at $35, and gates open at 3 pm.

Monday, June 20

Guest Chef Series at FT33
FT33’s guest chef dinner series continues when Tony Maws of Cambridge, Massachusetts' Craigie on Main drops by for a night dedicated to innovation and collaboration. The eight-course dinner costs $95 per person, plus $55 for optional wine pairings. The dinner starts at 6 pm; call 214-741-2629 for reservations.

Transport yourself to Italy at the Taste of Tuscany Wine Dinner at Bistro 31 on Tuesday, June 14.

Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village in Dallas

Bistro 31/Facebook

Transport yourself to Italy at the Taste of Tuscany Wine Dinner at Bistro 31 on Tuesday, June 14.

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Farm News

Dallas farm-to-table champion Profound Farms closes produce operation

Profound

Profound Microfarms

A Dallas farm-to-table champion is pulling the plug: Profound Microfarms, the small farm in Lucas that provided locally-grown produce to chefs and the general public for nearly a decade, is shutting down its growing operation and discontinuing deliveries. Their final delivery and pickup day will be May 23.

According to cofounder Jeff Bednar, they were simply unable to keep the business afloat.

"It's always been tough for small farmers, and it's only getting harder," Bednar says. "I'd hate to count how many farmers and ranchers we've known in the last 10 years that have gone out of business. Honestly, I know very few farmers that could make it with out having off-farm income from a spouse or other sources."

Jeff and Lee Bednar first bought their 2.6-acre plot in Lucas in 2014, then spent three years learning hydroponic methods and building industry relationships. In May 2017, they began selling produce to Dallas-area chefs, helping to support DFW’s burgeoning farm-to-table restaurant scene, delivering to restaurants multiple times per week.

In 2018, Profound Foods received a USDA grant to create a local "food hub" — a business that helps small farmers grow by offering a combination of production, distribution, and marketing services. At their peak, by the end of 2019, they were serving 130 restaurants.

And then the pandemic arrived. They pivoted, expanding into retail sales in March 2020, offering weekly home delivery and pickup outpost options for home consumers.

Profound Microfarms lettuce Beautiful lettuces at Profound MicrofarmsProfound Microfarms

"Unfortunately, running a year-round food hub became tougher than we can sustain right now," he says. "It's disheartening we were not able to make it work after trying for 11 years. But we were able to raise our daughters the way we wanted to and we really had a great run. Profound impacted hundreds of Dallas chefs and thousands of families in our community and we'll continue to do that, just differently."

Over the years, Profound grew from harvesting greens to aggregating and delivering for other producers, then into community gathering spaces, commercial kitchens, and hands-on education.

"Profound has never been just a farm — it’s our commitment to connecting North Texans with local food, and that commitment will keep evolving even as the farm operations wind down," Bednar says.

So while the growing part has gone away, Profound will continue hosting cooking classes and other foodie events. In the interim, they'll also be listing their plants, hydroponic supplies, and greenhouses for sale.

Some of their stats:

Moved more than $4.5 million of truly local food into North Texas kitchens.
Sent 75 cents on every dollar to 185 farmers, ranchers, and producers in North Texas.
Delivered 34,000+ restaurant and home orders.
Donated over 90,000 lbs of fresh food to area charities and food banks.
Hosted dozens of interns and hundreds of volunteers for hands-on learning on our farm.
Helped over 22 companies launch food-based business in our incubator kitchen and hub.
Hosted tours for more than 15,000 people, schoolchildren, and aspiring farmers.

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