This Week in Gluttony

Greenville Avenue charity pub crawl tops best food and drink events in Dallas

With all of the drinking, eating and carrying on that came along with the NCAA Final Four madness, it's time to get back to normal. And in Dallas, normal means beer and wine dinners, crawfish boils and pub crawls. From Mike Modano collaborating with Rabbit Hole brewing at SER to Dallas Pets Alive and Community Beer Company putting on a "pup" crawl down Greenville, you'll be back in celebratory mode in no time. And hey, don't worry, after a few drinks we can all sit around and watch the NBA and pretend its as exciting as college basketball.

Tuesday, April 8

Deep Ellum Brewing Beer Dinner at Boxwood T+G
Boxwood chef Jason Wade rolls out a four-course dinner paired with beers from Deep Ellum Brewing Company. The menu includes pork ribs, rainbow kale and cornbread croutons, catfish and hush puppies, roasted duck with potatoes, and chocolate cupcakes with cherry frosting. The cost is $55 per person, and you can reserve your spot by calling 214-220-2901.

Thursday, April 10

Pascual Toso Winery Dinner at Lazaranda
Chef Antonio Marquez hosts a five-course wine dinner starting at 7 pm with pairings from Pascual Toso Winery. Items on the menu include mini salmon tart; beet and asparagus salad with goat cheese, tomato, candied walnuts and cilantro dressing; octopus zarandeado and "maneado refried beans;" beef tenderloin with sweet potato and hummus puree; and chocolate-walnut tart. The cost is $45.95 per person. Call 972-866-8900 for reservations.

Rabbit Hole Brewing Beer Dinner with Mike Modano at Ser Steak + Spirits
Ser teams up with Rabbit Hole Brewing for its first beer dinner featuring three courses prepared by chef Anthony Van Camp. Guests begin with Wagyu tenderloin tartare with parsley fluid gel, toasted bread and candied lemon paired with Modano’s 561 Kolsh-style beer, followed by smoked and spicy eye of rib-eye served with “Van Camps” pork and beans, grilled spring vegetables, and No. 9 caramel mustard glaze paired with Rapture Fusion Brown Ale. Dessert is caramel glazed bananas with orange-chiffon cake and fried plantains paired with 10/6 English India Pale Ale. Mike Modano and KVIL radio personality Tony Zazza host a table at the dinner, and all proceeds benefit the Mike Modano Foundation and Zazza Community Foundation. Dinner starts at 7 pm and costs $65 per person excluding tax and gratuity. Call 214-761–7479 for reservations.

Sunday, April 13

Dallas Pets Alive and Community Beer Company Pup Crawl on Lower Greenville
Dallas Pets Alive and Community Beer Company are joining forces for a "pup crawl" down Lower Greenville. Check-in starts at 1 pm at Dallas Beer Kitchen, and all proceeds go to the medical and behavior care of DPA dogs. Other participating bars include Truck Yard, Crown & Harp and The Libertine. A $30 ticket gets you four Community Beer Company tickets (one for each participating bar) and a T-shirt. You can buy tickets online.

Little D Farmers Market at Four Corners Brewing
The city's newest farmers market debuted last Sunday, and vendors from within a 150-mile radius of Dallas return again this Sunday to offer seasonal fruits, vegetables and specialty items. If this trial run proves successful, the market will run on the first, second and third Sunday of the month through December.

Salute to King Creole Crawfish Festival at Chicken Scratch and The Foundry
It's a party unlike any other, with all-you-can-eat gumbo, oysters and crawfish, plus a cash bar stocked with Stoli vodka and brews from Peticolas Brewing Company. Also enjoy live entertainment from the Zydeco Stingrays starting at 4:30 pm. Tickets are only $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased online.

Dallas Pets Alive and Community Beer Company are hosting a Greenville Avenue "pup crawl" on April 13.

Dallas Beer Kitchen Facebook

Dallas Pets Alive and Community Beer Company are hosting a Greenville Avenue "pup crawl" on April 13.

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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