Tastemakers preview

Savor the best in Dallas dining at the 2019 Tastemaker Awards

Join us for the 2019 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards on April 25.

Photo by WJNPHOTO

In less than a week, Fashion Industry Gallery will transform into a foodie destination for CultureMap's annual Tastemaker Awards. Our biggest party of the year will be filled with top Dallas and Fort Worth culinary talent for a swanky tasting event and awards ceremony announcing the 2019 Tastemaker winners.

Join us Thursday, April 25 for your chance to toast DFW's top restaurants and bars, all while sampling signature bites and sipping cocktails. VIP and general admission tickets are on sale now — here's a little taste of what's in store.

VIP experience
New this year is an exclusive VIP experience. Starting at 6 pm, VIP guests get early access to the event — and a first taste of bites from nominated restaurants — as well as a dedicated bar and valet service. Throughout the night, the VIP lounge will host an elevated food pairing experience featuring dishes from The French Room and drinks from Tastemakers presenting sponsor Woodford Reserve.

Bites from DFW's best
More than 25 of Dallas and Fort Worth's best restaurants will be on hand at this year's event. Both savory and sweet items are on the menu, from participants like Bullion, Jose, Mercury Chophouse, Sugarfina, and Bisous Bisous.

Bubbly and more
Fancy a drink? In addition to cocktails from Woodford Reserve, there will be bubbly from Korbel, beer from Deep Ellum Brewing, and wine from Sonoma-Cutrer.

Toast the winners
You've met the 2019 Tastemaker nominees in our editorial special series, now we'll unveil the winners, including Best New Restaurant, as voted on by our readers. The awards ceremony will take place at 8:30 pm, and the party continues after with DJ Blake Ward and LandLiners.

A free ride
To make getting to and from the event a breeze, Tastemaker Award attendees can get their first ride (up to $50) free from rideshare app Alto. Just use the code TASTEMAKERS for the discount.

---

The 2019 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards takes place April 25 from 7-10 pm. Grab your tickets now, and we'll see you at the party.

tastemakers

Smoothie News

Healthy smoothie chain from the Northeast makes Dallas-area debut

Fresh Monkee

Fresh Monkee smoothies

A smoothie chain from the Northeast has landed in Dallas-Fort Worth: Called Fresh Monkee, it's a chain from Connecticut that made its DFW debut in Richardson at 3501 Custer Pkwy. #119, in the Custer Creek shopping center, where it opened July 1.

Fresh Monkee was founded by entrepreneur Judy Flynn in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 2014. It has since expanded to 20 locations across 15 states. Four locations are planned for Texas, including Austin and Houston. The Richardson location is from franchisees Anam and Omer Nawab.

In a release, Flynn notes that many smoothie places rely on sugary fruit blends and "strange" powders.

"Most juice bars strip away the fiber from fruits and veggies, which is essential for a healthy gut and feeling satisfied," Flynn says in a press release. "I was convinced we could do better."

Their menu includes 30 varieties: fruit smoothies, green smoothies, chocolate smoothies, and coffee smoothies, with seasonal flavors such as the summer-ready watermelon strawberry limeade shake.

Notable options include:

Chunkee Monkee — milk, chocolate or vanilla protein powder, banana, and peanut butter
Filthy Monkee — milk, chocolate protein powder, brownie protein bar, and peanut butter
Coffee Buzz — milk, a splash of cream, chocolate protein powder, coffee cubes, vanilla extract, and Stevia
Orange Cream — milk, orange juice, vanilla protein, and a whole orange
Maui Colada — coconut milk, orange juice, vanilla protein, unsweetened coconut shreds, pineapple, and mango

They also carry a protein ball snack with peanut butter, oat flour, chocolate whey protein, and maple syrup, rolled in coconut oil and chocolate chips.

Each location has indoor seating, including couches and tables, but they're mainly a to-go concept.

Another pair of franchisees, Clarence Gadapati and Karuna Annavajjala, are opening a location in Arlington, at 5904 S. Cooper St. #120, in the Sublett Corners center, where it will open in August.

openings