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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Skewer News

Vila Brazil to bring affordable Brazilian steakhouse to Cedar Hill

Photo courtesy of Vila Brazil

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A Brazilian steakhouse known for its low-for-steak prices is coming to Garland: Called Vila Brazil, it's part of a small local chain and will open in Cedar Hill, at 305 W. RM Rd. 1382 #316, in the former Crab & Bar space, in late 2025.

Vila Brazil was founded by restaurateur Roberto de Sa, who opened the first location in Irving in 2011, as a home-grown rendition of churrascaria-type restaurants such as Fogo de Chao. A second location opened in Garland in 2024.

According to co-owner Gabriel de Sa, the Cedar Hill location will feature the same menu, including rotating chef specials at the buffet.

Vila Brazil features a lower-cost version of churrascaria, a Brazilian style of serving cuts of grilled meat from giant skewers onto diners’ plates. They offer eight cuts of meat including picanha steak, sirloin, chicken, lamb, and pork.

There’s also a salad bar buffet featuring rice, salads, vegetables, and Brazilian-inspired dishes such as cheese bread rolls and cinnamon-grilled pineapple.

Weekday lunch is $25 and dinner is $40 daily. For the buffet only, it’s $18-$21.

They own other restaurants including VB's steakhouse in Arlington and Casa Pollastro, a Brazilian-Italian concept in North Dallas. But Gabriel says they take a different approach with Vila Brazil than some of the other more expensive churrascaria restaurants in town.

"Instead we offer homemade food at an affordable price with great quality and flavor,” he says. "Our guests on average visit our store three times a month — much more frequently than your typical churrascaria."

The Cedar Hill location will be fairly large, in a 6,528 square-foot space, with an approachable casual dining atmosphere.

“We choose the Cedar Hill community for the same reason we opened in Garland, to serve an underserved community,” Gabriel says. “A fusion between a fast casual buffet and a Brazilian Churrascaria Vila Brazil is accessible to all members of the community with high value.”

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