This Week In Gluttony

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Fuzzy's in Denton is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a whole week's worth of deals and specials.

Photo courtesy of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

This week features lots of wine, chili, and tacos. It's a busy one, so you'd better prioritize. For example, wine over water. Always.

Tuesday, January 23

Fuzzy's Taco Shop — Denton Celebrates 10 Years All Week
Enjoy deals all week leading up to the anniversary fiesta on Friday, January 26. Deals include $1 Fuzzy Baja Tacos on Tuesday and $1 Miller and Coors pints on Thursday. On Wednesday, a portion of proceeds benefit small businesses affected by the Downtown Mini Mall fire in December 2017. On the day of the anniversary fiesta, the first 100 guests in line will get a free shirt. There is live Mariachi from 6-7 pm.

Thursday, January 25

Long Meadow Ranch Wine Dinner at Abacus
Chef Chris Patrick is planning an Asian-inspired menu, featuring veal osso bucco as the main course, to complement the Long Meadow Ranch wine collection. The evening includes passed appetizers, three courses, and some of California's best artisan wines. Tickets are $122 and reservations can be made by calling 214-520-0151. The evening kicks off at 6:30 pm.

Friday, January 26

Duckhorn Vineyards Wine Dinner at Truluck's
Join Truluck's and Duckhorn Vineyards for a wine dinner featuring some of the most exquisite wines from the Napa Valley region. Courses include scallop, lobster, and shrimp aquachile; mini-heirloom tomato salad, filet au poivre with au gratin potatoes; and chocolate malt cake. Tickets are $150 and reservations can be made by calling 214-220-2401. Dinner starts at 7 pm and seating is limited.

ZestFest at Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
This is the ultimate fiery foods festival and features some of the spiciest food exhibitors from around the country. There is also a celebrity cooking demo station that allows guests to ask questions and get tips from the region's most renowned chefs like Fort Worth's Jon Bonnell. Tickets start at $11, and the event kicks of at 1 pm and runs through the weekend.

Saturday, January 27

Heart of Gold Chili Cook-Off at Stan's Blue Note
This 7th annual chili cook-off benefits Children's Medical Center and Scottish Rite Hospital through the Heart of Gold Foundation. Tickets can be purchased for $5, which scores you a spoon and ballot. People's Choice judging begins at 4 pm with a winner being announced at 7 pm. If you wish to enter your chili in the cook-off, entry forms are available at the bar.

Wine and Magic at Checkered Past Winery
Magician Trigg Watson hosts two intimate magic shows with signature wines, pizza, charcuterie, desserts, and more for purchase. Show times are at 7 pm and 9:30 pm and tickets are $20.

Harder Concepts Pub Crawl starting at Ringo's Pub Plano
Join this inaugural pub crawl with stops at Ringo's Pub, The Mucky Duck, Saintsbury Tavern, and Scruff Duffies. Tickets are $60 and include a shirt, gift bag, free admission to The Brixton Shops at Legacy, drink specials, and a seat on the bus. Registration begins at 6:40 pm, and the crawl begins at 8 pm at Ringo's Pub. Email kirstentye@harderconcepts.com to reserve your spot.

Sunday, January 28

Hypnotic Donuts Polar Plunge at Fraternal Order of Eagles #3108
Jump into the pool and then warm up in the FOE’s heated Tiki Bar. New this year is the four-person relay race. All donations benefit the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Tickets are $10, and the event starts at 3 pm.

Monday, January 29

Stewpot Alliance Soup's On Luncheon and Art Sale at The Statler
Enjoy 10 of Dallas' finest chefs serving up signatures soups for a great cause. Think Brian C. Luscher, Graham Dodds, Omar Flores, Danyele McPherson, and more. Tickets are $200 and benefit The Stewpot's mission of providing meals to the Dallas homeless population.

wine fundraisers craft-beer dinner

Chef News

Beloved Dallas chef debuts farmers market restaurant Bucket & Rope

Bucket & Rope

Chef Victor Hugo is back.

A historical building near the Dallas Farmers Market has a stellar new tenant: Called Bucket & Rope, it's a new restaurant from acclaimed chef Victor Hugo, who previously owned the beloved Victor Hugo’s Dining and Bar in Oak Cliff, which closed in 2021.

Bucket & Rope is located at 600 S. Harwood St., in the space previously occupied by Green Door Public House, and is a partnership between Hugo and Mike Ruibal, owner of the famed Ruibal's Plants, who owns this space adjacent to his garden shop.

Dallas history buffs will remember that this structure, built over a century ago, was once home to Liberty Bank on Cesar Chavez Boulevard. It was relocated to the current location and rebuilt brick by brick to recreate the original structure. Green Door Public House was in the building for 10 years until it closed in August.

Ruibal was a regular at VH in Oak Cliff. He told Victor Hugo the first time they met that one day they would have a restaurant together.

“I decided to build a restaurant I would love, a neighborhood restaurant, and I wanted to do this with Victor," Ruibal says.

Bucket & Rope veggie plate Beautiful vegetable plate at Bucket & RopeInstagram

Hugo is an accredited chef who moved to Dallas from California and worked primarily for the Lombardi's group at Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village, before founding his own place in Oak Cliff.

After it closed, he launched a new VH location in Round Top at Oak Bones cabins, which he opens twice a year for the Spring and Fall antique shows in the area and for special events. He had a catering business as well — but was ready for more.

“Mike and I wanted to do something for the community, a place with great comfort food where neighbors can come two or three times a week, as an extension of their home," Hugo says.

The menu is New American, with steak, seafood, pasta, sandwiches and salads. Highlights include:

Rope In A Bucket: Crispy calamari strips, lemon caper aioli, Sriracha romesco
Steak Frites: 10oz New York Strip, green peppercorn sauce, skinny fries, spicy broccolini
Blackened Texas Redfish: Creamy parmesan risotto, green beans, mango habanero salsa
Duck & Rope Pasta: Duck confit, maitake mushroom, spinach tagliatelle, peppercorn cream, parmesan
Mike’s Burger: 8oz grilled Wagyu, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, bucket & rope sauce, grilled onions, pickles on brioche bun with skinny fries

Prices are reasonable, with salads and sandwiches at lunch for $12 to $18, and dinner entrees ranging from $18 for pasta to $28 for a Wagyu beef roast with cheddar grits.

An anecdote on the website explains that the name came from Ruibal's son, and that the team felt like it was a perfect fit for the building's history and aesthetic.

The restaurant represents a welcome return to Dallas' culinary scene for Hugo and his wife Brianna Ruelas, whose hospitality and great food at VH in Oak Cliff were much beloved.

“We are really excited to be part of this community, we have already met many customers who are happy to have us here," Hugo says.

downtown openings