This Week in Gluttony

Chefs for Farmers Big Oyster Bash tops best food events in Dallas

Oh, so you thought because the State Fair is over you get a breather from the food fests? Not so much. This week is jam packed with wine dinners, culinary competitions, Farmers Market fun and much more. Unlike last week, when the majority of the events were free, you will have to cough up some cash to eat your way through this week’s lineup.

Wednesday, October 22

Family-style Beer Dinner at Victor Tangos
Join Victor Tangos for a five-course Belgian beer dinner with Duchesse De Bourgogne and St. Bernardus. Dinner starts at 7:30 pm, and courses include black bass with celery root broth and oxtail stew. Cost is $65 per person, and you can make reservations by calling 214-252-8595.

Thursday, October 23

Come As You Are Wine Dinner at The Grape
In honor of the restaurant’s 42nd birthday, chef Sarah Snow creates a three-course dinner to complement wines from the Old World (think France, Italy, Spain and Portugal). The dinner costs $64 per person, and reservations are available from 5:30-9:30 pm. Reserve your spot online.

A Celebration of Louisiana in Texas at The Foundry
Join Garden & Gun and the Louisiana Office of Tourism for a Louisiana culinary and musical throwdown of Texas proportions. This unforgettable evening features Louisiana chef Cory Bahr of Cotton and Dallas chef Tim Byres of Smoke, as well as live music by The Deslondes and Feufollet. The event runs from 7-10 pm. Tickets are $125, and you can buy them online.

Friday, October 24

42nd Anniversary Celebration at The Grape
Chef Sarah Snow prepares a special anniversary menu for $42 per person with an optional wine pairing upgrade. Courses include oxtail ravioli with celery root puree, roasted mirepoix and beurre rouge; pork Milanese with onion risotto, cassava, watercress and lemon-caper beurre blanc; and caramel pot de crème with bourbon sabayon, charred fig and bacon candy. The à la carte menu is also available nightly, and reservations are recommended. Call 214-828-1981 or visit the website.

Saturday, October 25

The Dinner Detective Dallas at Crowne Plaza
Make your weekend one to remember with the Dinner Detective, an interactive murder mystery dinner show. Actors are hidden among the customers, making everyone a suspect. Admission is $59.95 per person and includes a four-course meal and dinner show. Reserve your spot online.

Sunday, October 26

Chefs for Farmers Big Oyster Bash at Dallas Farmers Market
Join Chefs for Farmers at the Dallas Farmers Market from 2-6 pm for oysters from Texas and the coasts shucked onsite, an oyster-slurping contest, wine and cocktails, tarot card reader, tunes from DJ Souljah, and more. Participating chefs include Jon Alexis of TJ’s Seafood Market, Matt McCallister of FT33, Kyle McClelland of Proof + Pantry, Jack Perkins of Slow Bone, Stephen Rogers of Gemma, Jon Stevens of Stock & Barrel, John Tesar of Knife, and Randy Rucker of Briar and Bramble. The event is BYOG (bring your own glass) and costs $85. A portion of proceeds benefits Chefs for Farmers and Foodways Texas. Buy tickets online.

XXII Annual Caesar Salad Competition at Westin Galleria
Nine chefs serve their renditions of Caesar salad accompanied by an amuse-bouche while you, the judges, assess the creativity, presentation and taste. Participants include Thomas Holt of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Chad Kelley of Cafe Pacific, Andrea Maricich of Second Floor, Antonio Marquez of Lazaranda Modern Kitchen, Mark McDaniel of ReMARKable Affairs Catering, Kenny Mills of Chop House Burger, Brandon Moore of Ocean Prime, Stan Rodrigues of Whiskey Cake, and Julio Peraza of Komali. The fun starts at 2 pm, and tickets are $70 each or $600 for a table of 10. Buy them online.

Monday, October 27

Poderi Aldo Conterno Wine Dinner at Knife
Starting at 6:30 pm, chef John Tesar and special guest winemaker Franco Conterno take guests through five courses such as beef cheek ravioli and skate piccata paired with six wines from the Poderi Aldo Conterno collection. The Conterno family has been making wine since the 19th century on a small farm in Italy’s Piedmont region. The dinner is $225 per person, and reservations are required. Call 214-443-9339.

Seventh Annual Pumpkin-carving Contest at Libertine Bar
At Libertine’s annual pumpkin-carving contest, winners get cash: $100 gift certificate for first place, $50 for second place and a $25 gift certificate for third. Sign-up is $10 at the bar for one pumpkin and one draft beer. Carving starts at 6 pm; the judging begins at 9. All proceeds go to Lindsley Park Community Schools.

Join Victor Tangos for a beer dinner on October 23.

Victor Tangos Facebook

Join Victor Tangos for a beer dinner on October 23.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 fun cocktail spots for October

dallas.culturemap.com

The October edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column offering advice on the best cocktails to try around Dallas, has a slightly spooky theme. It includes the popular happy hours that are a common theme of Where to Drink, but also some special menus that celebrate fall.

Here's where to drink in Dallas for October 2026:

Beau Nash
In-house restaurant at Hotel Crescent Court joins the property's celebration of fall with "Boos and Brews," an autumn-themed menu of seasonal cocktails. For example, the Campfire Martini has Oak and Eden bourbon, espresso, chocolate liqueur, and a toasted marshmallow. Blood Orange Paloma has G4 tequila, Solerno blood orange liqueur, blood orange juice, lime, and a black cherry float garnished with a dehydrated blood orange. The Night Shade contains Appleton spiced rum, black currant syrup, Chambord, grapefruit juice, basil, and a dehydrated lemon. Lastly, the ultra-decadent Affogato, which combines Monkey Shoulder scotch, espresso, vanilla ice cream, and chopped pistachios on top.

Fortune House
Restaurant acclaimed for its dumplings has an excellent happy hour with 50 percent off all house cocktails, wines by the glass, draft beer, and hot sake. Notable drinks include the 5-spice espresso martini with Weber Ranch vodka, Patron XO Coffee Liqueur, five-spice oleo, and Cultivar cold brew, for $7.50; and the Forbidden Ube Daiquiri with rum, ube coconut syrup, and lime for $6.50 instead of the standard $13. HH snacks include pork xiao long bao, four for $6; pan-fried pork buns, three for $7; beef potstickers, three for $6; and veggie eggrolls for $1 each. What a deal. The happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm at both locations: 8150 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving, and 2010 Greenville Ave. in Dallas.

The Reserve at The Highland
In-house restaurant at the Highland Dallas hotel has launched Golden Hour, offering 50 percent off select signature cocktails daily from 4-7 pm, with a rotating lineup of drinks changing seasonally. The menu boasts a mischievous Texas-inspired theme, named for some of Dallas' poshest neighborhoods: for example, the Preston Hollow Gimlet has Hendrick’s Gin, Orange Curaçao, lime, and bitters. The sparkly Highland Park Blush combines Bluecoat American Dry Gin with lemon juice, cranberry juice, and La Marca Prosecco. The Bluebonnet Bubbles is another sparkler with Ketel One Vodka, Caravella Limoncello, Reàl Blueberry, lemon juice, and La Marca Prosecco. Regularly priced from $16 to $18, they're 50 percent off during happy hour.

Sor Juana
New botanería at the Dallas Farmers Market is inspired by traditional Mexican establishments where drinks are served alongside complimentary snacks and bar bites. The bar program is managed by Saúl Hernández (previously of Midnight Rambler, La Viuda Negra, and Las Almas Rotas), with creative cocktails such as the signature La Nueva Sangre — an orange blossom gin cocktail with beet juice, lemon, passion fruit, and lavender bitters. Happy hour runs Wednesday-Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm, featuring $6 beers, $8 wines, and $8 cocktails infused with house-made Mexican chili oil macha sauce.

III Forks
In 2025, this classy steakhouse chain reopened its Addison location in a glorious new setting at 5100 Belt Line Rd. #800 at the Village on the Parkway. Now, they've introduced a brand-new happy hour, Monday-Saturday from 3-6 pm. It features half-priced wines by the glass, $1 oysters, and half-price Tito's Martinis, with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 1888 Hand-Pressed Olive Juice, and garnished with bacon and bleu cheese-stuffed olives. The promotion is a celebration of this flagship location in Addison, and is the only location that has a happy hour offering.

cocktails nightlife happy-hours where to drink