This Week in Gluttony

Grace goes vegetarian and more top food events in Dallas-Fort Worth

If you were too slow to score tickets to DFW Restaurant Week's kick-off party, your week is not a total wash. There are plenty of legit food and drink events, ranging from a boozy oyster-eating opportunity to an exciting vegetarian wine dinner in Fort Worth to a porky pop-up in Oak Cliff.

Tuesday, August 5

National Oyster Day at Driftwood
Guests can enjoy four oysters paired with absinthe, mezcal, scotch, sherry or sake for just $15. Sit at the bar, eat your oysters and a bartender fills each empty shell with your drink of choice, giving your taste buds a one-of-a-kind experience. In addition, à la carte oysters are $1 each, including Kusshi, Duxbury, Barnstable and Misty Points. The specials last from 5-7 pm. Call 214-942-2530 for reservations.

Thursday, August 7

Vegetarian Wine Dinner at Grace
Using the freshest locally harvested produce, Grace chef Blaine Staniford prepares an eight-course vegetarian dinner highlighting the flavors of the Texas summer; five are paired with wines. Courses include frozen white gazpacho, Texas baby summer squash carpaccio, blistered heirloom tomatoes, Texas corn bisque and cauliflower steak. Cost is $65 per person for dinner only or $115 per person with wine pairings. All dishes can also be prepared vegan. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm. Call 817-877-3388 for reservations.

Porchetta Pop-Up at Oak Cliff Social Club
Lucia Dallas is on vacation this week, so Justin Holt and Michael Gibson are hosting a one-night pop-up at Oak Cliff Social Club. Holt is a pop-up veteran; he used to do ramen pop-ups at Oak Cliff venues such as Ten Bells Tavern. He and Gibson serve red wattle porchetta with salsa verde and pickles for $10 a plate. Dinner starts at 8 pm; Barefoot Hippies play at 8:30. No reservations are needed. Call 214-941-0298 for more info.

Friday, August 8

German Riesling Tasting with Kuby's Sausage at Wine Poste
Wine Poste is celebrating all things German in honor of Germany's World Cup victory. Tickets are $20 and include four Riesling tastings, sausage from Kuby's and music by Kraftwerk. The fun starts at 6 pm, and you can buy tickets online.

Monday, August 11

Seasonal Heirloom Summer Supper at Canary by Gorji
Heirloom tomatoes set the scene for presenting sustainable wild Pacific salmon and Texas wild boar tenderloin in a three-course dinner for $49. Produce experts from Whole Foods are available for discussion and questions about the delicious tomatoes they are providing. There is limited seating; reservations and pre-payment are required by calling 972-503-7080.

Slices for Supplies at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company
Customers who bring at least one school supply item receive one free slice of cheese pizza with one additional topping at this second annual event. The supplies go directly to the teachers at DISD's Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary. In addition to supplies, Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is collecting money to purchase supplies that teachers and students need at the beginning of the second semester of school. The event lasts from 5-8 pm.

Grace's Blaine Staniford is embracing all of Texas' fresh produce with his first vegetarian wine dinner on August 7.

grace, chef blaine Staniford, vegetarian

Photo courtesy of Grace

Grace's Blaine Staniford is embracing all of Texas' fresh produce with his first vegetarian wine dinner on August 7.

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LOADS OF FUN

Chicks member Emily Strayer opens laundromat coffee cafe in Texas

Photo courtesy of\u00a0SOAP Laundry Lounge

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The Chicks' Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Emily Strayer is opening an unusual coffee bar concept: Called SOAP Laundry Lounge, it'll be a swanky laundromat and coffee bar opening in San Antonio.

According to a release, it'll open on December 4.

Strayer grew up in Dallas. She and her husband, musician Martin Strayer, are often on the road, but they purchased the building as a long-term investment in their adopted hometown. She envisioned the spot as both a neighborhood amenity and a community hub.

“SOAP was born from the idea that everyday tasks can be enjoyable,” Emily says in a statement. “I wanted to create a space that’s not just functional but inspiring, a place that brings people together and helps elevate how we live, even in the simplest moments, like laundry.”

The laundromat portion of the 5,500-square-foot building will feature 64 slow water, energy-saving machines — 28 washers and 36 dryers — outfitted with the Aquawing Ozone Laundry System, a hospital-grade sanitization technology that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to self-service, SOAP offers a wash-and-fold option starting at $4 per wash. The laundromat uses a card-based payment system, which allows customers to load funds via cash, card, or EBT. The cards can be used throughout the concept, including the coffee bar.

The menu includes espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and pastries alongside a few seasonal favorites like a Mexican mocha and a peppermint cold brew. With the complimentary WiFi, the concept almost functions like a coworking space.

Dallas is no stranger to laundromat-combination businesses: In the 90s, it was home to a beloved lounge in Exposition Park called Bar of Soap, which was a combination laundromat and punk rock bar, hosting both local and national name-brand touring bands.

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