This Week in Gluttony

These are the 5 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Learn to make a variety of French desserts at the Sur la Table Preston Royal cooking class on February 17.

It's Valentine's Day week, which means a lot to some and not a whole lot to others. If you fall in the first camp and have yet to make a reservation, here is a master list of places to take your sweetheart. And if you could care less about the Hallmark holiday, there are plenty of events this week that have nothing to do with it.

Friday, February 15

Grand Opening Events at Daphne's Mediterranean
The fresh and wholesome Greek fast-casual restaurant that acquired Noon Mediterranean late last year makes its official Texas debut with a grand opening celebration at its Walnut Lane location. The celebration includes free gyro fries samplers for all guests. Stop by any time after the restaurant opens at 11 am.

Saturday, February 16

Mardi Gras and Crawfish Boil at Oak Highlands Brewery
This festive event features music, beer, crawfish, and other Cajun food provided separately by Tucker Town. There will also be games and activities to laissez le bon temps rouler. Admission is free and the fun starts at 12 pm.

Painted in Love at Perle on Maple
This cultural evening begins with a Kir Royale cocktail and an amuse bouche by executive chef Wade Burch. Guests then partake in an interactive, guided painting class while live music plays. Happy hour pricing on additional food and drink items is also available. Tickets are $45, and the event begins at 7 pm.

Dallas' Best Tacos & Margaritas Tour
This tour features unique gourmet tacos and authentic street tacos, including one named “Best in America” by Bon Appetit Magazine. Top it off with some of the best margaritas on the planet, Dallas-style. Tickets are $64 and include award-winning margaritas and tacos, motorcoach transportation, soft drinks, and water on the bus (you can also BYOB). Meet at Desperados Mexican Restaurant on Greenville Avenue at 12:30 pm.

Sunday, February 17

French Desserts Cooking Class at Sur la Table Preston Royal
Treat yourself to a sweet experience and become an expert in French desserts. In this class you'll learn how to bake the ultimate French cookie and dip them in chocolate. You'll also create chocolate pots de créme garnished with a nutty praline crunch. Plus, break out your flambé skills for crepes with Brandy sauce. Tickets are $75, and the class begins at 10 am.

dinner news-you-can-eat

Coming soon

Big Tex Choice winner cooks up new restaurant in Dallas' Victory Park

Flavorful Southern comfort classics with a twist to be served at Bluebonnet and Thyme.

Photo courtesy of Bluebonnet and Thyme.

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A chef who won over last year's State Fair judges with one of the fair's most inventive foods is bringing a new restaurant to Victory Park. Bluebonnet and Thyme, from 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards "Most Creative" winner Kendall Williams, will open in August at 2610 N. Houston St., in the former Dirty Bones space across from American Airlines Center.

Williams earned the coveted State Fair honor for her Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders and plans to feature the award-winning dish on the restaurant's menu. In her decade-long culinary career, she previously operated Pretty Tasty Pasta in Plaza of the Americas and also owns the catering company Pretty Tasty Foods.

Named after the Texas state flower and a staple Southern herb, Bluebonnet and Thyme will blend Williams' Texas roots with her Louisiana heritage in what she describes as a "Cajun and Texas culinary explosion."

The restaurant will debut with a soft opening on August 7, she says.

The dinner menu features elevated classics with entrees priced around $35, including:

Deep-fried Cornish hen served with dirty rice
Catfish and lasagna, a play on classic soul food catfish and spaghetti
Fried pork ribs
Tender veal short ribs

For dessert, Williams offers a warm twist on classics, such as the banana pudding, served hot as a rich custard.

Crispy, seasoned chicken wings plated over a red velvet waffle with sweet cream glaze and syrup.Photo courtesy of Bluebonnet and Thyme

"As a true foodie myself, I want to deliver the best quality food — the kind that makes you feel like you’re at home," Williams says.

Dinner service will begin early at 3:30 pm and run through 11 pm Sunday through Thursday, extending to 1 am on Friday and Saturday. Weekend brunch will showcase dishes such as:

Catfish, shrimp, and grits
Whole fried Cornish hen
Red velvet waffles
Stuffed French toast loaded with cheesecake filling and fresh berries

Brunch guests will receive a complimentary mimosa or espresso martini and access to a charcuterie grazing table included with their order.

Angela Williams, a longtime collaborator from Kendall Williams' catering business, will oversee the beverage program. It will mirror the kitchen’s spirit, utilizing fresh, local ingredients to craft "balanced and memorable drinks inspired by Texas," as she describes it.

"Great drinks should feel welcoming, like sitting on your porch," Kendall Williams says.

Williams describes the aesthetic of the newly designed, 3,300-square-foot space as "your grandma’s home — if your grandma was Dolly Parton."

The interior blends warm, neutral tones with distinct Texas flourishes, including alligator-skin seats, floral cast-aluminum bistro chairs, exposed stone walls, textured wallpaper, and a Texas longhorn skull. An outdoor patio and lounge area offer additional seating.

Happy hour will run daily from 3:30-6:30 pm (and all day on Mondays) featuring half-off appetizers and specialty drinks, alongside "Whiskey Wednesday" deals with half-off all whiskeys.

Bluebonnet and Thyme will kick off a soft opening on August 7, offering discounted entrees.

"I am excited to welcome everybody very soon," Williams says.

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