This Week in Gluttony

Big-deal beer and wine to-dos top this week's best Dallas food events

It's the week before Thanksgiving — how did that happen already? — and many of you are searching for food to take to Friendsgiving celebrations, or some way to give back during this season of gratitude.

And then there's the other half, who are simply in search of some quality food and drink before the main event. Regardless of what camp you find yourself in, we've got you covered.

Tuesday, November 17

Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner at Stephan Pyles
Join Stephan Pyles and Alex Sokol Blosser for a four-course dinner with Sokol Blosser Wine pairings. Alex is the son of the winery's founders and is currently the operation's winemaker. The event starts with a 6:30 pm reception followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. This event costs $125 a person and reservations can be made by calling 214-580-7000.

Village Burger Bar 10th Anniversary
All four locations are celebrating the brand's 10th anniversary by donating 100 percent of their sales to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. As if you needed a reason to enjoy a delicious burger.

Power of Pie
This is the last day to get your orders in for this VNA fundraiser that supports vital programs including Meals on Wheels and Hospice Care. Order a $25 pumpkin or pecan pie made by Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Empire Baking Company, Remedy, HG Supply, Cafe Momentum, Knife, Oak, the Lakewood Country Club, Normas, and many more. You can also order a "zero calorie" pie — aka, make a donation.

Thursday, November 19

Steel Restaurant and Lounge 15th Anniversary
From 5-7:30 pm, this beloved Dallas restaurant is serving up free sushi in honor of its anniversary. The restaurant is offering $15 sake flights, $3 off cocktails, $12 Veuve Clicquot, and $9 Rombauer. Diners can also score giveaways including sake, sushi, and wine packages.

Deep Ellum Wine Walk
Just in time for holiday cheers, this monthly event rolls out the Thankful Edition. The walk also features five new shops including City Surf Deep Ellum, Deep Ellum Hair Studio, and Heather Michaels Make Up. The fun starts at 6 pm and tickets are $10.

Hearts on the Trinity at 3015 Trinity Groves
Food meets philanthropy as chefs, breweries, and wineries showcase their food for a good cause. Vendors include Scardello Cheese, LUCK, PopStar Handcrafted Popsicles, Oak Highlands Brewery, Lost Oak Winery, and more. Proceeds benefit VolunteerNow and help expand volunteerism in North Texas. Tickets are $35 and the event kicks off at 6 pm.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Beer Dinner at Stampede 66
Join Stephan Pyles and head brewer Nate Swan from Rahr & Sons Brewery for a three-course fall beer dinner. And although the menu is TBD, beers featured include the Pumpkin Brown Ale with Spice, the English Dark Ale, and a Russian Imperial Stout. The meal costs $60 and you can reserve your spot by calling 214-550-6966. The fun starts at 6:30 pm.

Friday, November 20

Beaujolais & Beyond Wine and Food Festival at Irving Convention Center
Revolving around the renowned French movie festival taking place in the south of France, the theme of this year is Sip, Savor, and Shine in Cannes. Throughout the evening, guests sample signature delicacies offered by some of the area’s top chefs, savor a large selection of French wines (from multiple regions) and American wines (from multiple regions), as well as a selection of craft beers and spirits. Tickets start at $65 and the event begins at 7 pm.

Saturday, November 21

BrainDead Festicle at BrainDead Brewing
Big Texas Beer Fest and BrainDead Brewing are teaming up for this inaugural event, featuring 30 of their closest brewery friends. Happening in the parking lot west of the building, this outdoor festival gives you direct access to all of your favorite brews. There is also food for purchase. Tickets start at $35 and general admission can enter beginning at 2 pm.

Fall Harvest Dinner at Asador
Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine in a beautiful setting at this fall-focused dinner. Courses include grilled calamari, braised antelope, cast iron eggplant lasagna, mini cannolis, and more. Dinner is $90 and starts at 7:00 pm. To make reservations, call 214-267-4815.

Oak Highlands Brewery is just one of many vendors participating in the Hearts on the Trinity event on November 19.

Photo courtesy of OHB

Oak Highlands Brewery is just one of many vendors participating in the Hearts on the Trinity event on November 19.

deep-ellum craft-beer burgers wine event-planner

Hummus News

Revered family-owned Mediterranean restaurant debuts in North Dallas

Samantha Marie Photography

Zon Zon food spread

An upscale Mediterranean restaurant is coming to North Dallas from a trusted name: Called Zon Zon, it'll open at 5455 Belt Line Rd. #130, in the Work/Shop center, and it's from hospitality group Yela Concepts, led by Yaser Khalaf (Darna, Baboush), together with his son Mak Khalef in their first collaboration.

According to a release, it'll open on December 22.

Named for Mak's sister Zaina (“Zon Zon”), the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with a refined take on Mediterranean dining, rooted in tradition but with modern influences.

"We tried to merge what embodies Mediterranean cuisine with dishes that people in Dallas love," Mak says. "A lot of the dishes we have on menu are Mediterranean but have American and Texan influences."

Mezze favorites include hummus topped with green shatta and extra-virgin olive oil; baba ghanoush with charred eggplant, tahini, dukka, and pomegranate; crispy cauliflower with saffron labneh; tuna neya with tahini, mixed pickles, and Aleppo pepper; and kibbeh with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts, and dill labneh.

Salads include seared tuna salad with freekeh and golden beets; Tahini Caesar with tahini–Caesar dressing and za’atar croutons; and roasted beets with burrata, oranges, and pistachios.

Entrées include roasted chicken with garlic-batata and pomegranate jus; chicken shish kebab over saffron rice with almonds and raisins; hanger steak shawarma frites — a clever twist on steak frites with hand-cut fries; ZZ’s Wagyu cheeseburger with smoked provolone and house pickles; Prime ribeye with za’atar chimichurri and heirloom carrots; and apricot lamb couscous.

The beverage program complements the menu with a Mediterranean-focused wine list and creative cocktails such as the coffee-kissed Midnight Istanbul and ZZ’s Margarita, with burnt pineapple and ras el hanout.

Designed in collaboration with Dallas-based Coeval Studios, the restaurant features a 2,130-square-foot interior with an expansive 735-square-foot patio that seats 76, for a total occupancy near 100.

The restaurant boasts an open kitchen, while decorative finishes include modern woodwork, rich textures, and Middle Eastern-inspired details — stylish yet inviting, with a setting that feels like home.

“The inspiration behind Zon Zon came from wanting to create the kind of place we’ve always wished existed — a neighborhood Mediterranean spot that feels both familiar and exciting," says Yaser in a statement. "We wanted to create a comfortable space where guests can meet up with friends or neighbors on a regular basis."

Mak went to college to study biomedical engineering, but says he couldn't resist the lure of the restaurant world in which he grew up.

"Zon Zon is a reflection of everything we love about food," Mak says. "What makes this especially meaningful is building it with my dad — bringing our family’s story and passion to the table."

openings