What do gumbo, Asian cuisine and wine have in common? They’re all being highlighted in this week’s roundup of the best food and drink events in Dallas. Learn Asian cuisine from two masters just in time for the Chinese New Year, or get a head start on Valentine’s Day with your choice of chocolate tastings (one with beer, the other with wine).
Then, to wrap up the week, we’ve got a Mardi Gras gumbo party that’ll put you in a New Orleans state of mind. You really can’t go wrong.
Tuesday, February 5
Asian Cooking With Chef Patton Robertson of Five Sixty
Chef Robertson leads a class in how to create modern Asian flavors with good technique and ingredients at Central Market cooking school. Dishes include Chinese chicken salad, Five Sixty’s signature crab cakes and tandoori arctic char. The class begins at 6:30 pm and costs $60 per person.
Chef Robertson also leads a dumpling class on Saturday, February 9, 11 am-noon, at Five Sixty. You learn to make dumplings as well as enjoy a family-style dumpling feast and “Year of the Snake” punch for $75 per person. For reservations, call 214-741-5560.
Thursday, February 7
“All You Need Is Love” Dinner benefiting the Promise of Peace Garden
For $85 you can enjoy a five-course dinner put together by Central 214’s Graham Dodds and Chad Houser, executive director of Cafe Momentum. Proceeds from the dinner support kids’ camps for the Promise of Peace Community Garden in East Dallas and a new garden at CC Young Retirement Center.
Chocolate and Wine Tasting at Cadillac Wines
Enjoy a tasting at Cadillac Wines from 7 to 8 pm for $15 per person. Wines are paired with chocolates from Schakolad Chocolate Factory, and guests take home a complimentary Riedel glass. For reservations, email natashia@cadillacwines.com or call 817-989-4435.
Friday, February 8
Ring in the Chinese New Year With Fuchsia Dunlop
Fuchsia Dunlop has written for the Financial Times and the New Yorker, and she is the author of four books on Chinese cooking. She knows Asian cuisine, so check out her demonstration at Central Market cooking school, where she shows students how to make dishes like smacked cucumber in garlic sauce, sea bream in fish-fragrant sauce and choy sum with sizzling oil. The class begins at 6:30 pm and costs $75 per person.
Saturday, February 9
Scardello Fondue Night
Enjoy a three-mountain cheese fondue complete with salami, bread and fruit. You also receive a glass of sparkling wine, salad and a chocolate truffle for dessert. But we’re pretty sure we had you at cheese. The feast starts at 8 pm and costs $40 per person.
Beer and Chocolate Tasting at the Ginger Man
The Ginger Man was recently named the best beer joint in town by Foursquare, and the place is putting its rep on display with a tasting that features 10 beers in five rounds of head-to-head competition with chocolate selected for each beer. It’s a few days before Valentine’s Day, but chocolate and beer is just romantic any time. The tasting begins at 2:30 pm and is $35 in advance or $40 the day of.
Sunday, February 10
12th Annual KNON Mardi Gras Gumbo Party at Poor David’s Pub
Not everyone can make it down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. From 5 to 9 pm at Poor David’s Pub, revelers can enjoy authentic gumbo from restaurants such as Alligator Cafe, Crawdad’s of Dallas and David’s Seafood Grill before dancing off the roux to Papa LeBeaux’s Jazz Gumbo Band. Tickets are $15 and can be bought at knon.org, Bill’s Records in Dallas or Forever Young Records in Grand Prairie.
You can try gumbo from six Cajun restaurants at KNON's Mardi Gras gumbo party at Poor David's Pub February 10.
The new Walk-On's is at 906 FM 544, Wylie.Photo courtesy of Walk-On's