This Week in Gluttony

These are the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas-Fort Worth this week

Seemingly endless food and beverages await at the 2016 Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival, running March 31-April 3.

Photo by Tracy Autem

This week truly caters to all tastes, with informal wine dinners, a charitable lunch, a cheese tasting, and some solid food festival fun. Dig in:

Wednesday, March 30

Duckhorn Wine Dinner at Nosh Bistro & Bar
The North Dallas bistro is hosting an intimate wine dinner with Napa's Duckhorn Vineyards. Courses include seared diver scallops, rabbit confit, herb-crusted beef medallion, roasted rack of lamb, and dark chocolate ganache with raspberry coulis. Dinner is $99 a person and starts at 6:30 pm. For reservations call 972-701-0277.

Thursday, March 31

Come-As-You-Are Wine Dinner at The Grape
This month's dinner, hosted by Audrey Getman from Bottled Poetry, features a sampling of wines from Spain and Argentina. Chef Sarah Chastain creates a three-course dinner to complement the wines chosen for the evening. Dine anytime between 5:30-9:30 pm for $52 per person. Call 214-828-1981 for reservations.

Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival's Barbecue Showdown at W.R. Watt Arena
This beloved food and wine festival kicks off with the cuisine that lies closest to the hearts of most Texans: barbecue. Pit masters from across the state come together to share their smoked treasures with guests. Confirmed participants include 18th and Vine, Lockhart Smokehouse, Heim BBQ, Blacks Barbecue, and many more. Look for lots of great barbecue-worthy beverages too. Tickets are $60, and the event lasts from 6-9 pm.

Sammons Lunch Jam @ Sammons Park
Want to see the next Erykah Badu? Then head to this free event supported by Neiman Marcus, which features performers from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Spice up your lunch hour with Dallas' best food trucks, or bring your own picnic. Big Band is also set to perform, and the fun starts at noon.

Friday, April 1

April Fool's Cheese Class at Scardello Artisan Cheese
Scardello is comparing handmade cheeses with its factory-made counterparts so that you can taste the difference. Of course, there also will be some delicious libations. This once-a-year class is not to be missed. Tickets are $40, and class starts at 8 pm. If it's sold out, you can call 214-219-1300 to get on the waiting list.

Big Texas Beer Fest at Fair Park
This two-day festival, taking place in the Fair Park Automobile Building, features more than 120 breweries pouring 500-plus beers. The festival is well-known for its rare beers and one-offs and focuses heavily on the emerging North Texas craft beer scene. Plenty of food is available from food trucks or local artisanal food vendors when you get hungry. Also expect performances from a variety of local and national music acts on the outdoor stage. Doors open at 6:30 pm on Friday, April 1, and 2 pm on Saturday, August 2. Tickets start at $39.

Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival's Main Event at Pier 1 Imports Building
Themed "Taste the New Texas," this year's main event features more than 100 wines, craft beers, and spirits from near and far, as well as bites created by North Texas chefs. Tickets are $125, and the event lasts from 6-9 pm. Can't make it? There are plenty of other events to check out, including Desserts After Dark; Rise + Dine brunch tasting; Burgers, Blues, and Brews; and more. Check out the complete list of event participants.

Saturday, April 2

Taco & Margaritas Tour by Dallas Bites Food Tours
Sample both gourmet and street tacos on an adventure through East Dallas, Lake Highlands, and Oak Cliff. Stop to sample award-winning margaritas, then journey across town to taste tacos at Desperado's and Fuel City. Tickets are $59 per person and include transportation, food, beverages on the bus (soft drinks and water), and a tour guide. Itinerary and meet-up location are emailed to participants one to three days before the event.

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Pie News

White Rhino Coffee acquires Dallas bakery chain Emporium Pies

Photo courtesy of Emporium Pies

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A Dallas pie company has a new boss: Emporium Pies, a small chain of pie shops founded in 2012, has been acquired by White Rhino Coffee, the Dallas-born coffee company known for its community-driven cafés and craft-focused approach.

Emporium Pie owners and sisters Landon Perdue, Jen Abohosh, and Addie Roberts say in a release that the transition reflects a natural alignment in values.

"Part of our shared mission is hospitality and giving people a reason to celebrate," Roberts says. "We love the team, who I’ll continue working alongside, and I’m excited for this next chapter together. There’s something about dessert that brings people joy in a way nothing else can, and we’re thrilled to see that legacy carried forward."

Emporium began as a small operation selling pies from a 1930s bungalow in Bishop Arts. A second location opened in McKinney in 2013, followed by Deep Ellum which opened in 2016, and Fort Worth which opened in 2021, for a total of four shops. This is the second time the chain has changed hands; the original founders sold the company in 2022.

White Rhino was founded in 2007 and currently has 12 locations, the most recent being a location at Cypress Waters, inside a conference room, which opened in 2025.

“Emporium Pies has built an extraordinary legacy,” said Sara Escamilla, CEO of White Rhino Coffee. “Their products are consistently excellent, impeccably crafted, and beloved. Every pie is made with the highest quality ingredients. To be able to support and grow a concept of this caliber is an honor.”

The bakers and Addie Roberts will remain on staff, ensuring that the recipes remain unchanged. While the businesses will operate as usual for now, White Rhino Coffee plans to explore expanding Emporium Pies’ footprint across the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

They'll also introduce collaborations and menu integrations such as signature pie-and-coffee pairings.

“For now, it simply means coffee and pie - two of life’s best comforts - can be enjoyed across both brands,” Escamilla says.

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