This Week in Gluttony

Drink booze and see a Food Network star at this week's best Dallas food events

It would take a mighty serious beer drinker to hit all of the events during North Texas Beer Week, but know it is in full swing. And Meat Fight is this weekend, if you were lucky enough to get tickets.

For the rest of you, highlights include the return of Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival and an appearance at the Majestic Theatre by Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis. Dig in.

Tuesday, November 10

Chappellet Wine Dinner at Knife
Chef John Tesar teams up with the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon producer for a five-course wine dinner. Special hosts Cyril Chappellet and Trey Blankenship lead guests through each pairing and educate them on winemaking techniques and practices. Dinner costs $125, and it starts at 6 pm. For reservations, call 214-443-9339.

Wednesday, November 11

Champagne Taittinger Dinner at SER Steak + Spirits
Join special guest Clovis Taittinger, the eldest child of Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who heads up the operation in Reims. Courses include sea scallops, Jidori chicken, Japanese mero, seared venison, and burrata with fruit chutney; all are paired with Champagne, including the prestigious 2006 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. The reception starts at 6:30 pm; a seated dinner follows at 7. Seats are limited and cost $175 per person. Call 214-761-7479 for reservations.

Franconia Beer Dinner at Hickory
The Hickory team hosts Dennis Whermann of Franconia Brewery for this dinner, which includes courses such as German kielbasa sausage, salt roasted beet salad, hickory-smoked spare ribs, prime brisket, barbecue chicken, and roasted apple-pecan cobbler. The dinner costs $55 and starts at 6:30 pm. For reservations, call 972-712-7077.

Friday, November 13

An Evening with Giada de Laurentiis at Majestic Theatre
The Emmy Award-winning Food Network star — and author of seven New York Times bestselling books — talks about her newest, Happy Cooking. The program is followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets start at $45, and the show starts at 8 pm.

2015 Brewer’s Ball at Renaissance Dallas Hotel
North Texas Beer Week presents this signature event filled with the best in craft beer and bites from some of the area’s top beer-centric restaurants, including BrainDead, Meddlesome Moth, and Rodeo Goat. National and local breweries include Abita, New Belgium, Saint Arnold, Deep Ellum Brewing, Rahr & Sons, Revolver, and more. The Dallas Opera performs traditional opera and drinking songs from around the globe. Tickets are $125, and the fun kicks off at 7 pm.

International Wine Dinner at Cook Hall
Chef Vijay Sadhu crafts a four-course meal paired with wines from around the world. This dinner costs $75 and starts at 7 pm. Call 214-397-4100 for reservations.

Saturday, November 14

Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival at Addison Airport
Dress to impress for this Sin City 1960s themed event. Enjoy lavish libations and delightful bite while relishing the live entertainment, cigar lounge area, and a plethora of casino games to make you feel as if you are right on the strip. Tickets are $75; get $10 off by using promo code CULTUREMAP. Doors open at 6 pm.

Sunday, November 15

Homebrew Throwdown at Panther Island Pavilion - The Shack
A this inaugural event, local home brewers compete against each other, and a panel of celebrity judges crowns a winner. Entry gets you a 12-sample tasting card, and you can expect sips from Collective Brewing Project, Martin House, Panther Island Brewing, Rahr & Sons, Revolver, and Shannon Brewing. Also on tap: a Q&A session with local experts, food trucks, and live music from Shotgun Friday. Tickets start at $10, and the event begins at noon.

Sunday Cinema Series at Knife
This culinary-themed film program rolls on with a patio screening of Sideways. Chef John Tesar is serving up gourmet bites, while Four Corners Brewing Company provides the beverages. Tesar and Lee Papert, president and CEO of the Dallas Film Society, are speaking prior to the film about its impact on the culinary and restaurant industries. Tickets are $35, and $10 of each sale benefits the Dallas Film Society. Call Knife at 214-443-9339 to purchase.

Go to Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival on November 14.

Glasses of whiskey with ice on bar or table

Photo via Taopic.com

Go to Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival on November 14.

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Closure News

Mexican bar and restaurant on Dallas' Ross Ave closes after only 4 months

dallas.culturemap.com

A Mexican hangout from San Diego has departed Dallas: El Chingon, which served Mexican food, cocktails, and a clubby atmosphere near downtown at 3404 Ross Ave., closed on Sunday, September 6, after a mere four months.

The venue, which opened its doors on May 1, blamed the closure on the city of Dallas' code compliance department, citing repeated procedural issues that ultimately persuaded the operators that closing was the only option.

The short lifespan has to be a record, especially given the extensive investment made on the space — an abrupt ending to what was a prolonged birthing by GBOD Hospitality Group, the San Diego owners, who invested more than four years and millions of dollars to get it open.

"Our goal was simple: give Dallas the best, most Chingón experience we possibly could," their statement said. "And Dallas showed up for us…. Unfortunately, almost from the beginning, operating that vision became a constant fight with the City."

"We dealt with repeated Code Compliance visits, citations, and ongoing challenges to our Certificate of Occupancy and restaurant use," their post said. "Over time, it became increasingly clear that El Chingón simply was not what the City wanted us to be. Events, programming, dancing, the way we used our space — nearly every part of the experience became another opportunity to find fault with our identity."

El Chingon operated as a high-energy restaurant, bar, and nightlife destination known for its “Bad Ass Mexican” cuisine. The concept was founded in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter in 2017, where it built a following for its lively programming and street-food menu of tacos, burritos, and shareable bites.

It's part of GBOD Hospitality Group, a San Diego outfit founded by brothers Raymond and Patrick Davoudi, with third partner Joe Santos, who owns San Diego bars such as Havana and Prohibition Lounge. Dallas was the third El Chingon, following San Diego and Fort Worth, where a location opened in 2020 and has not experienced the issues that befell the Dallas outpost.

The company first acquired the Dallas location in 2022, and began what felt like a never-ending period of reconstruction and renovation of the rundown brick structure, first built in 1945, which years ago had been home to a wholesale floral shop.

"We made changes," they said. "We worked with City officials. We worked with the neighborhood. We hired consultants and attorneys. We met with elected officials. We repeatedly tried to find a reasonable path forward while continuing to operate the restaurant we spent millions of dollars building. Instead, the scrutiny intensified."

"Eventually, there comes a point where fighting City Hall becomes a bigger part of running the business than serving the people who came through our doors. So, City Hall wins this round."

They've since put the property up for sale but did hint that they might reopen, stating that "we have not given up on Dallas."

"We still believe in this city. We still believe there is a place here for what El Chingón does. And we hope that in the coming years, we will have the opportunity to invest in Dallas again and once more be part of this community," they said. 'For now, thank you, Dallas. For every taco. Every tequila. Every celebration. Every packed night. Every memory. Stay Chingón. This isn’t goodbye forever."

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