This Week In Gluttony

Barbecue and blues fest tops best food and drink events in Dallas-Fort Worth

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, and there are plenty of food and drink events to get you in the holiday spirit. From a fantasy football draft at Rahr & Sons Brewing Company to a weekend-long blues and BBQ festival, you won’t even need to fire up your own grill.

Tuesday, August 26

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company presents Fantasy Football Draft
Rahr & Sons is gearing up for football season with a fantasy football draft party. Throughout football season, the brewery hosts several special tour and tasting events, featuring tailgate fare from a variety of local food trucks, including TX Ballpark Express, 360 Catering, Tail Feathers Wing Wagon, Gepetto’s Pizza Truck and Wayne’s Flame. Teams can register for $25 per person, and that includes snacks, drinks and Wi-Fi access. Fun starts at 6:30 pm.

August Wine Dinner at Sevy’s Grill
Kevin Henry from Palm Bay International joins Sevy’s for a dinner featuring Argentinean wines. Courses include charred tomato, ricotta and olives on grilled bread; griddled sea bass; lamb with summer vegetables; whole roasted rib-eye with chimichurri; and dulce de leche panqueque. Reception starts at 6:30 pm. Price is $75 per person. Call 214-265-7389 for reservations.

Buns, Balls and Wieners at Samson’s Gourmet Hot Dogs
Celebrate Samson’s one-year anniversary with $5 dogs, $4 tapioca boba balls from Bobaddiction, and a billboard-viewing party in honor of the billboard outside the restaurant (just because). The first 50 guests receive a free teenie weenie. A portion of proceeds benefits Texas Scottish Rite Hospital For Children. The fun lasts from 7 to 10 pm.

Thursday, August 28

Rahr & Sons Beer Dinner at Del Frisco’s Grille in Fort Worth
In its second appearance on This Week in Gluttony, Rahr & Sons teams up with Del Frisco’s Grille for a dinner featuring ale, IPA, Doppelbock and lager. Dishes include pan-seared bay scallops, beer-battered grouper tacos, lollipop lamb chops, and Nutella and peanut butter bread pudding. Price is $69 a person, and dinner starts at 6:30 pm. Call 817-887-9900 for reservations.

Friday, August 29

Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
Enjoy three days of barbecue competitions at this popular annual festival. Blues music is as important as the ’cue, and performers include Petty Theft, Old Gray Mule and Cookie McGee. General admissions tickets start at $7; you can buy them online. The event takes place on the the grounds across the street from City Hall. Festivities run 6-10 pm on Friday and 2-10 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday, August 31

Labor Day Lobster Boil at Driftwood
Enjoy whole Maine lobster and sides of New England-style corn and potatoes for just $28 a person, as well as shucked oysters at a custom raw bar inside the restaurant. There are also special prices on cocktails, wine and beer. A DJ provides the soundtrack. Call 214-942-2530 for reservations. Fun starts at 2 pm.

First 50 people at Samson's Gourmet Hot Dogs' one-year anniversary get free teeny weenies.

Samson's Gourmet Hog Dogs

First 50 people at Samson's Gourmet Hot Dogs' one-year anniversary get free teeny weenies.

unspecified

Coffee News

New coffee concept from Florida to open 3 locations in the Dallas area

Qargo

Qargo coffee and pastry

An Italian-inspired coffee shop is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth: Called Qargo Coffee, it's a chain from Florida that will open three DFW locations in summer 2025.

The cafes will be at the following addresses:

Grand Prairie: 7501 Lake Ridge Pkwy. at Lake Ridge Center
Irving: 3990 N. Belt Line Rd. in a former Wendy's
Fort Worth: NWQ of I-35 and Basswood Blvd. #100

Qargo Coffee was founded in Miami by Sam Shenouda and Bernadette Bastorous, along with development manager Mark Bastorous, who opened their first store — a kiosk in Tampa International Plaza — in 2022. There are currently more than a dozen locations in Florida, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Washington D.C., as well as one in Edinburg, Texas. (The company is also the subject of a complaint by the Federal Tarde Commission for failing to disclose information required by the Franchise Rule, a case that is still pending.)

Their menu features coffee and desserts with an Italian theme including a partnership with Lavazza, the iconic Italian coffee roaster, for all of its coffee products.

Menu items include cold brew, boba tea, seasonal drinks, plant-based Lotus Energy drinks, and drinks crafted for pets such as sweet potato puree topped with whipped cream.

They also serve all-day breakfast items such as breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries, tiramisu, chocolate ganache cheesecake, French macarons, and mini Dutch pancakes topped with chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream.

Each location also customizes offerings with regionally inspired beverages and food items.

Introducing the concept to DFW is franchisee Kushal Bastakoti, an art gallery owner who has owned and operated cafes in Dallas and Fort Worth, such as boba tea and specialty drinks shop Feng Cha, for 10 years.

Bastakoti says he found the brand appealing because of how it uses art as a way to connect the community and also to share some of the art found at his gallery, Kush Art Gallery and Lounge in Fort Worth.

"Each location will be feature an open show art gallery and activations inside in addition to drive-thru ordering," Bastakoti says.

coffee openings