This week in gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

It's chili cook-off time.

Courtesy photo

Chili season is in full swing, as there are not one but two big chili cook-offs this week. One is for the home cook and the other features more than 20 area breweries. There are also two tasty events at interactive outdoor venues — the Dallas Arboretum and the Dallas Heritage Village. End the week in a sweet way with a mini pie and craft beer pairing.

Tuesday, February 15

Chef Isabel Cooking Demo at the Dallas Arboretum
A Tasteful Place is the Arboretum’s 3.5-acre potager garden, where on Tuesdays, Arboretum chef Isabel Snetsinger presents a cooking demo that includes tasty samples for the public. The demo is free with Arboretum admission and begins at 1 pm. (Find the recipes here.) Also, on Mondays, Dallas College’s culinary institute presents complimentary cooking demos at 11 am. This month features baked chicken meatballs with sundried tomatoes and roasted chickpeas with herbed yogurt.

Thursday, February 17

Frontier Food Night at Dallas Heritage Village
The immersive museum, with its preserved historic buildings, transports visitors to Victorian period pioneer days. This month, guests and get a taste of the time period during Frontier Food Night, where cooking demos will take place throughout the park. Admission includes one beverage and samples from each food station. The event is $20 per person and will run from 6-9 pm.

Saturday, February 19

Sweet J’s Mini Pie & Beer Pairing at On Rotation
The Dallas brewery and kitchen has partnered with Sweet J’s Bakes for a sweet combo – mini pies and craft brews. The lineup includes chocolate chess pie with Dark Runway Imperial Brown Sugar Stout, cranberry almond pie with Begian Holiday Fruitcake Belgian Dubbel, blueberry pie with Lemmon Avenue Lemon Sour Ale, and pecan pie with Prancer Cinnamon Brown Ale. Each pairing is $8.50 and comes with an 8-ounce pour of beer. Pre-order in advance to ensure availability and drop by to enjoy any time Saturday or Sunday.

10th Annual Chili Cook-Off at Stan’s Blue Note
Anyone can enter this amateur chef competition at the longtime Greenville Avenue bar, where there are two categories to compete in — Texas chili and “anything goes.” The former means straight chili — no beans, pasta, rice, or similar additions. The latter can range from simply adding beans to going full-on vegetarian. Entries are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Or pay $5 to be a “judge” to sample all chili entries and vote for the best. Judging will begin at 4 pm and winners are to be announced by 7 pm.

North Texas Food Bank presents Harvest
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the North Texas Food Bank has re-envisioned Harvest as a seated dinner and celebration at the Omni Dallas Hotel. The black-tie fundraiser, chaired by Kathryn and Craig Hall, will be designed to offer an engaging guest experience while celebrating the rich history and impact of the Food Bank on North Texas. Browse and bid on auction items and reserve tickets for the event, 5:30-10 pm, here.

Eat your Art Out at Arlington Museum of Art
Now this is one sweet fundraiser. The evening event will feature samples of more than a dozen confectionery masterpieces provided by local bakeries. It will also include charcuterie from Inspirations Catering & Gourmet Shop, a sushi bar featuring two chefs from Piranha Killer Sushi, wine, coffee, and champagne. Live music will be provided by a harpist. Tickets are $100 and the event runs 7-9 pm.

Sunday, February 20

8th Annual North Texas Craft Beer Chili Challenge
More than 20 area breweries will participate in this chili cook-off, and each must use one of its own beers as an anchoring ingredient. The brewery lineup includes Dallas’ Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Fort Worth’s Martin House Brewing Company, Grapevine’s Hop & Sting Brewing Company, and many more. A $10 donation — which will benefit Metrocrest Services — will get guests 10 tasting cups, a spoon, and chance to vote for the winning chili. The event will take place at the new Cedar Creek Brewhouse & Eatery in Farmers Branch and will run from 12-3 pm.

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Fiesta time

Build-your-own tacos restaurant Barrio makes Texas debut in McKinney

Barrio

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An Ohio-based taco chain is ready to debut its first restaurant in Texas: Barrio, known for build-your-own tacos, along with signature margaritas and a tequila selections, will open a highly anticipated location in McKinney on Thursday, March 5.

According to the owners, the restaurant, at 9401 W. University Dr. #150, McKinney, will open to the public at 3 pm. The first 50 people in line will receive free queso for a year to celebrate the grand opening.

Barrio is a casual, table-service restaurant with a bar and to-go options. Diners can build their own taco from tortilla to protein to sauces and toppings, or choose from a selection of specials and seasonal options.

“Barrio means neighborhood, and [the brand] truly believes in that,” says franchisee Wissam Saliba.

Each location is intricately decorated with custom metal work, vibrant murals, skeletal figures, sugars skulls and other common symbols from The Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday in which families celebrate the souls of their deceased relatives. Muralist Mike Kotlarek handpainted the artwork at the McKinney location, which incorporates Texas symbols including the longhorn.

Barrio Tacos McKinney A mural on the outside of the building includes Texas symbolism, like a longhorn.Photo by Rhema Joy Bell

McKinney franchisee Saliba is a first-time restaurateur based in Cleveland who’s been a fan of Barrio since the first location opened in 2012, he says. Saliba has partnered with Brian Kegley, who previously worked at Melting Pot Restaurants Inc., The Cheesecake Factory, and Restaurants Unlimited and will serve as Barrio’s local operator.

Based on a preview, diners in McKinney can expect warm, salted house chips and taco options like chicken bacon ranch, loaded with spice-rubbed chicken, Monterey jack, lettuce, pico de gallo and avocado ranch.

Guests can build-their-own taco, nachos, or bowl, choosing from more than a dozen protein offerings such as barbacoa beef, chorizo, chicken, pulled pork, cola-marinated steak, spicy blackened cod, jalapeno lime shrimp, chili tofu, beer-braised black beans, and vegan Impossible chorizo; then add ingredients like Napa slaw, caramelized onions & poblanos, cheese, guacamole, salsa, sauces, and pickled jalapenos.

Notably, the restaurant is accommodating to vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, and vegan diets.

Prices range from $5 to $15.

Barrio McKinney’s patio, which boasts a view of a colorful, Instagrammable mural, is dog friendly. (Dog owners can ask their servers about complimentary “taco” dog treats, which are hand made by local small business Pea’s Peanut Butter Dog Treats.)

Barrio, which has 23 locations across the United States, will be open in McKinney for dinner service only, from 3-11 pm weekdays and 3 pm-12 midnight Friday-Saturday. Plans to expand for brunch are in the works, the owners say.

openings mckinney tex-mex tacos