This week in gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Irish nachos, if you please.

Photo courtesy of J. Gilligan's

St. Patrick’s Day events dominate this week’s list, including one that’s been running for more than 40 years in downtown Arlington. Don’t forget to wear green. Also on the list is an exclusive wine tasting at a gourmet Italian wine and cheese destination, and an anime event featuring an Asian food festival. For a longer list of St. Patrick's Day events and specials all week, go here.

Tuesday, March 15

Terra Wine Around at Eataly
Taste more than a dozen hard-to-find wines (not even available on store shelves or restaurant wine lists) during this tasting experience at Eataly in NorthPark Center. Participants will meet wine experts and producers to learn the stories behind the bottles. The $125 per-person tasting comes with chef-paired bites and starts at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, March 17

43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Block Party at J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill
The Metroplex’s biggest day-of St. Patrick’s Day party happens at this time-honored downtown Arlington bar and grill. Hundreds will visit throughout the day for the 43rd edition of this annual tradition. Arrive as early at 11 am for lunch or later at 4 pm when the fun begins outside under tents. There’ll be live music, green beer, and those famous Irish nachos that have featured on Food Network. Note that a cover charge of $6 begins after 6 pm.

St. Patty’s Day Party at TK’s
This Addison comedy club will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with lots of festivities, including live music, specials on Irish food and drinks, and a scavenger hunt to search for shamrocks and a pot of gold. Menu items will include fish and chips, corned beef sliders, and loaded potato skins. Green beer and Irish car bombs will chase it all down. Arrive as early as 3 pm when the party begins and stay late for comedy acts beginning at 8 pm. (Tickets for the show are $25 or $40 to reserve a table.)

Dublin Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Party at The Statler
The downtown hotel will go green with green beer, green margaritas, and specials on Jameson Irish whiskey at all hotel restaurants and bars, including Scout and Primo’s MX Kitchen & Lounge. But the big party will be in the Statler ballroom, where Emerald City will rock the crowd starting at 8 pm. Tickets start at $19 for general admission, or go VIP with a $59 ticket that comes with a hosted bar of well cocktails, canned brews and house wines. Overnight hotel packages are available for those who wish to stay the night.

Saturday, March 19

Nishi Fest
The anime and Asian pop culture festival will take place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, the largest dedicated esports stadium in North America. Part of the event is an Asian food festival, featuring more than a dozen diverse vendors. Admission starts at $35, and children under 10 are free. Doors open at 10 am the event runs until 9 pm, although there is a separate ticket available for an after-party until 1:30 am.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans at Texas Live!
The Arlington entertainment complex will host a St. Patrick’s Day theme party with live music, drink ticket packages, and gold coin giveaways. Drink ticket packages start at $10 for two drink tokens and go up to $20 for five drink tokens, but expect prices to go up closer to the event. The party starts at 4 pm.

holidays news-you-can-eat

Wine News

New Vinifera Wine Lounge and Bistro debuts on Flower Mound’s Riverwalk

Vinifera

Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro

A new wine bar and bistro has opened in Flower Mound. Called Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro, it's at 4120 River Walk Dr., in a space formerly occupied by a short-lived pizzeria, joining a string of bars overlooking the Riverwalk.

Vinifera is from Jamie Creevy, a British native who moved to Dallas in 2007, and who has worked at concepts such as Henderson Tap House and Peppersmash Concepts. At Vinifera, he's partnered with Chris Kummer, a former US Marine with experience in nightclubs and restaurants, including Chill in Grapevine.

Running the kitchen is executive chef Justin Samsill, who has worked at a wide range of high-end places including Knife, Town Hearth, The Mitchell, Smoke, and Hide. The menu has a big selection of seafood such as mussels, shrimp cocktail, squid pasta, and scallops, as well as steak au poivre, pasta bolognese, and trendy items such as steak frites and a smash burger, with entrees ranging from $19 to $35.

Vegetarian options include an unusual rendition of ratatouille, in which vegetables such as eggplant and tomato are cut into slices and arranged like a pinwheel. There are also salads and harissa carrots with Greek yogurt.

They describe the wine list as being "from all over the world", with 38 offerings by the glass. There are also cocktails.

Between the indoor dining room and outdoor space, the restaurant seats about 130 people. It shares a private event room with next door neighbor Whiskey & Smoke.

Riverwalk is the 158-acre mixed used development developed in 2017 and designed as a destination resembling the Riverwalk in San Antonio, with live music, events, and a range of eatery options including Whiskey & Smoke, Pennywise Pub, and Underdogs Burgers & Brews.

“We are looking to be creative and pivot to keep the area fresh," Creevy says. “People are looking for live music, value, free events, we want to entertain the residents and the community at an inexpensive rate."

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