This Week In Gluttony

You are bound to learn something at this week's top Dallas food events

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away, and if you are tasked with planning a date, the pressure is on. Sure, you could take your special someone out for a romantic dinner for two or spoil her with gifts. But if you really want to impress, you will cook the meal yourself.

This week, there are plenty of opportunities to sharpen your kitchen skills — whether you want to prepare health-conscious meals or decadent desserts. If you say to hell with Valentine’s Day, there are wine events and a hot chocolate-fueled run to satisfy your independent, food-driven spirit.

Tuesday, February 3

Easy But Impressive Chocolate Desserts at Central Market Lovers
James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Alice Medrich teaches you how to make three chocolate desserts that rely on simple techniques to produce sensational flavors: chocolate budini sundae, chocolate tweed torte and chocolate fudge layer cake. In this class you’ll gain confidence as a baker, discover new techniques and sample your delicious creations. Tickets are $65, and the class starts at 6:30 pm. Reserve your seats online.

Wednesday, February 4

Sommelier for a Day at III Forks
Have you ever wanted to be a sommelier at a fine-dining restaurant with a world-class wine cellar? Now is your chance. III Forks offers a Sommelier for a Day opportunity on the first Wednesday of each month from 5-7 pm, during which guests can help select featured wines for the coming month. For $20 per person, attendees sample six wines selected by the steakhouse’s wine director and enjoy hand-passed paired hors d’oeuvre created by executive chef Chris Vogeli. February’s theme is Merlot. Call 972-267-1776 for reservations.

Chef’s Table Wine Dinner With Joel Harloff at Bridge Bistro
Don’t miss this delicious winter wine dinner featuring cuisine by chef Joel Harloff and wine by Oak Cliff Cellars. Dishes includes butter-poached shrimp with pearl cous cous salad, panko fried braised pork shoulder, herb-roasted salmon, and a grape- and wine-poached pear with spiced ricotta. Cost is $65 per person; reserve a spot online. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, February 7

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k at Fair Park
Run through Fair Park with more than 14,000 expected participants and then celebrate crossing the finish line with indulgent, chocolaty treats. All participants receive an official swag bag, including a luxurious, fleece-lined hoodie and drawstring bag. New for the season, all 15k finishers receive the official Hot Chocolate Finisher Medal. Runners can also sign up for the “Go the Extra Mile” program to raise money for charities. Registration costs range from $44-$74. The race begins at 7:30 pm.

Cooking Class With Samir Dhurandhar and Wil Larsen of Nick & Sam’s at Dallas Farmers Market
The American Institute of Wine & Food and the Dallas Farmers Market Friends present a series of cooking classes with renowned local chefs demonstrating their favorite dishes inspired by fresh produce from the market. This one features Wil Larsen and Samir Dhurandhar of Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse. Cost is $25 per person in advance (by Thursday before class to be attended), $30 at the door or $110 for the entire series. For reservations, call 214-653-8088 or secure your spot online. Class starts at 11:30 am.

Sunday, February 8

Cooking Demonstrations at Modmarket Preston Hollow
Join Chef Nate this weekend for free farm-fresh cooking demonstrations at the new Preston Hollow Village restaurant. He shows you how to whip up some of Modmarket’s most popular breakfast, lunch and dinner items; you get to sample them all. Each attendee may bring one guest. Space is limited, and you must register. There are two classes, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, both at 9 am.

Samir Dhurandhar of Nick & Sam's leads a cooking class with colleague Wil Larsen at Dallas Farmers Market on February 7.

Photo courtesy of Nick & Sam's

Samir Dhurandhar of Nick & Sam's leads a cooking class with colleague Wil Larsen at Dallas Farmers Market on February 7.

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Sushi News

Frisco sushi restaurant Hinoki does a slimmed-down twist on omakase

Thanin Viriyaki

Hinoki

A new sushi restaurant has debuted in Frisco with a mini version of omakase: Called Hinoki, it's open for lunch and dinner at 8050 Preston Rd. #106, in a space previously occupied by another short-lived Asian restaurant called Imura, and is serving seafood both raw and cooked.

Hinoki is from chef Leo Kekoa, who previously worked for the acclaimed Nobu chain and who also owns the well-regarded Kinzo Sushi in north Frisco, which he opened in 2022 to bring the omakase experience to Frisco and save them a drive to Dallas.

Omakase is the dining experience in which the chef prepares a multi-course tasting menu of small bites made to order, often at a premium price. While omakase has no set number of dishes, it usually ranges from 10 to 20 courses depending on how excessive the chef/restaurant is.

Hinoki offers a concise version on the omakase experience with a more manageable six courses for $75, as well as an a la carte menu featuring sushi, hot items, and composed bentos boxes for lunch.

Hinoki sushi HinokiThanin Viriyaki

"Kinzo is my fine-dining omakase restaurant," Kekoa says. "Hinoki is designed as its more casual counterpart — still rooted in discipline and detail, but more accessible."

Kekoa created the menu but he says it’s a team effort, with two veteran chefs: Chikau "Harry" Kikuchi, who brings 25-plus years of experience to the sushi counter (he and Kekoa worked together at Nobu); and chef Sachiko Hashimoto presiding over the hot line and overseeing the preparation of Hinoki's home-style and regional Japanese dishes.

No sushi restaurant can ignore basics like the spicy tuna roll, California roll, dragon roll, and shrimp tempura roll, but Hinoki also has a few of distinctive rolls such as the Kumo roll with crab, avocado, and chipotle aioli, wrapped in soy paper, which has a pleasing texture that's a little more toothsome than the standard crisp seaweed wrapper.

There are creative bowls as the Sake Dashi, featuring sushi-grade raw salmon, Asian pear, crushed marcona almonds, yuzu shirodashi, and truffle oil; and hot dishes such as miso black cod, teriyaki salmon, and Kushiyaki: grilled chicken thigh, kurobuta sausage, and shishito pepper on skewers. Most items average about $20.

Kekoa calls his lunch offering "honest and efficient."

"We’re bringing back the Japanese bento [referring to the cute boxed lunch with compartments for courses], such as our chirashi bento with fish, sushi rolls, and seaweed salad," he says.

Hinoki also has a full bar with sake, wine, beer, and cocktails.

Kekoa lives in Frisco and is bullish on his hometown.

"With Universal Studios on the way and PGA nearby, I believe this city deserves a neighborhood sushi spot done right," he says. "I want Hinoki to bring fine-dining service at a price more people can enjoy."

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