This Week In Gluttony

Barbecue and beer rule best food events in Dallas-Fort Worth this week

Time to fire up the grill and put some beer on ice, because Labor Day weekend 2015 is upon us. Although many people choose to hang out by the pool, brew and burger in hand, there are other options.

Here are some food and drink events for those of you who prefer to think outside the backyard box.

Tuesday, September 1

Ballast Point Beer Dinner at Whole Foods Lakewood
This dinner includes five chef-prepared courses with the best of Ballast Point, with their staff on hand to answer questions and speak about each of the beers. Courses include Mediterranean shrimp cocktail, spicy crab cakes, hoki fish tacos, grilled halibut with angel hair pasta, and Meyer lemon tart. Tickets are $30, and dinner starts at 6 pm.

Thursday, September 3

Whiskey Business at Bird Cafe
Every Thursday in September beginning at 5 pm, Amador Whiskey Company is the star of the Bird Cafe bar. The bar menu pairs one beer and two whiskeys with three small plates crafted by chef David McMillan. The cost is $25. Reservations are not required, but you can make them by calling 817-332-2473.

Craft Beer & Artisan Cheese Pairing at Community Beer Company
The event features four unique craft brews, each paired with a complimentary and contrasting cheese. The discussion includes informative back stories of the styles, descriptions of taste profiles, and talk of the artisanal goods with brewers and industry experts. You get four beers and eight cheeses for a $30 ticket, and the event starts at 6 pm.

Friday, September 4

Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
This festival runs throughout Labor Day weekend, with headliners Delbert McClinton and Buddy Guy leading an all-star lineup playing on two stages at the outdoor venue across from the Bedford City Hall Complex. The other star, of course, is the barbecue. Cooks square off using their skills and mass market grills in the Friday contest. Participants compete in two classes, chicken and ribs, using a modified version of the Kansas City Barbeque Society rules. Gates open at 6 pm on Friday and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Buy your tickets online. Prices start at $7.

Labor Day Party at Capitol Pub
Your favorite Henderson Avenue hot spot celebrates Labor Day during the entire long weekend. From September 4-7, guests can enjoy barbeque brisket sandwiches for $8 and $1 off Texas drafts. The Gary Lee Cox Band kicks off the festivities on Friday from 8 pm-midnight, and DJ Mike D takes the stage Sunday from 10 pm-2 am. There is a $2 Lone Star beer special going on all day Sunday and Monday.

Monday, September 7

GardenFest at Garden Cafe
This event brings together the best of local food, drink, artistry, and entertainment, and it benefits the organization Music Is Our Weapon. You can expect hometown heroes like the House Party Theatre, Common Company, Josh Kumler, and Bar Politics. Tickets are $10 and include two beer tokens along with access to tons of other food and drink for purchase from vendors such as LoveCup Coffee Co., Jessica's Bake Shop, Cross Pecans, and more. The event lasts from 3-9 pm.

The Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival is happening September 4-6.

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Things to Eat

Celeb chef fest leads 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Malai Kitchen/Facebook

Bia Hoi Vietnamese pop-up at Malai Kitchen

This week's food events around Dallas includes a food and wine festival from a celebrity chef, a book discussion by an Italian cookbook author, a plant-based dinner and social, and a spooky soiree leading up to Halloween.

Tuesday, October 21

Arts & Letters Live with Lidia Bastianich
Chef, TV personality, and seasoned cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will visit the Dallas Museum of Art to discuss her latest book, Lidia’s The Art of Pasta, featuring more than 100 authentic Italian recipes. Chad Houser, founder of Café Momentum, will serve as moderator. Tickets are $56.50 and include a copy of the hardcover book. (There are discounts for educators, students, and Dallas Museum of Art members.) The event will begin at 7:30 pm.

Thursday, October 23

Dia de los Muertos at The Mexican
Upscale Design District destination will host an immersive week-long pop-up to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition that honors deceased loved ones. The restaurant will be filled with more than 4,200 marigolds, photo installations, and roaming catrinas. Menu specials will include lobster poblano bisque, short rib in recado negro, and a Sugar Skull dessert with tres leches mix, red berries, and a touch of tortilla ashes. The pop-up will run through November 2.

Friday, October 24

Shef F+W Festival
MasterChef judge Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of Dallas-based hospitality group T2D Concepts will host their second annual multi-day festival featuring top chefs from across the country. Taking place at multiple venues across Grand Prairie’s EpicCentral entertainment district, the festival will feature James Beard Award Winners Kwame Onwuachi and Erick Williams, chef and TV star Duff Goldman, and Top Chef competitors Silvia Barban and Tristan Epps-Long. Nearly a dozen events range from wine and cocktail experiences to industry panel discussions to grand tastings. Ticket prices range from $15 to $250, and the festival runs Friday to Sunday.

Saturday, October 25

Bia Hoi Pop-Up at Malai Kitchen
Uptown outlet of the Dallas-based Asian cuisine concept will host its annual bia hoi pop-up, a tribute to the daily ritual in Northern Vietnam that involves gathering around small tables to enjoy light beer and shareable snacks. Enjoy $1 Bia Hoi Rice Lager brewed by Malai, along with a menu of Vietnamese-inspired snacks like fried egg tofu salad ($8), banh mi Lao-style meatball ($11), coconut sea snail ($13), and fried sticky rice cake ($8). The event will take place on the patio from 12-10 pm or sell-out.

The Dinner Party: A Plant-Based Dining Social at Tru Plant-Based Kitchen
Carrollton vegan eatery will host a four-course plant-based dinner and social gathering. Menu highlights include sweet potato and lentil soup, farfalle alfredo and teriyaki portobella strips, and chocolate covered strawberries. Tickets are $80 or $130 for two, and the dinner begins at 5:30 pm.

Oktoberfest at Windmills Craftworks
Windmills Craftworks in The Colony is channeling Bavaria with its Oktoberfest celebration, serving up bratwurst and other German-inspired food, beers, and live music from Sarah Johnson, Amari Amore, and Cash Byers. Enjoy seasonal beers from Windmills and guest breweries Vector, Voodoo, Celestial, Odd Muse, Turning Point, and False Idol, plus enjoy an afternoon full of Oktoberfest games and activities. Tickets are $10 and every eligible guest receives a branded Windmills 6-oz mini glass plus 6 tokens for beer sampling (including one Windmills brew). The event runs from 12-8 pm.

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