This Week in Gluttony

Taste of the NFL and Fork & Cork top best food and drink events in DFW

Some weeks the foodie stars align and Dallas boasts a lineup of food and drink events so solid that it's hard to pick a winner. From a revamped food festival to a book signing with a famous food critic to a doughnut demo with the Top Pot founder, there is so much going on that you may not need to buy groceries this week, depending on your dedication.

Tuesday, May 13

Foodie Fiction with Ruth Reichl at Dallas Museum of Art
Author, editor and food critic Ruth Reichl shares her debut novel, Delicious, as part of the DMA's Arts & Letters Live series. At 6 pm, things get started with a three-course dinner inspired by some of her favorite dishes in the Founders' Room. At 7:30 pm, the action switches to Horchow Auditorium for a book signing and lecture. Tickets include a signed copy of Delicious and entry to the lecture. Tickets for the dinner cost $130 for DMA partners or $140 for non-partners. Just the lecture and book signing is $35 or $30 if you are a DMA partner. Buy your tickets online.

Thursday, May 15

Antonio Marquez’s Chef Dinner at Lazaranda
Chef Antonio Marquez hosts a four-course chef’s dinner with pairings from Chequen Winery starting at 7 pm. Courses include duck barbacoa, crab salad, bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with spinach and cheese, pork tenderloin, glazed roast beef, and mango- and chocolate-filled crepes. Dinner costs $44.95 per person. Call 972-866-8900 for reservations.

Friday, May 16

2014 Main Street Days in Downtown Grapevine
The 30th annual Main Street Days (though Sunday, May 18) features a special craft brew experience with more than 30 craft beers. Wine aficionados can enjoy a glass at the new Texas Wine Terrace located in Liberty Park. For shoppers, more than 80 locally owned shops, galleries, restaurants, jewelry stores, boutiques and more line Main Street. Admission is free until 5 pm on Friday; after 5 and on Saturday and Sunday, tickets are $5-$7. You can buy them online.

2014 Fork & Cork in Addison Circle Park
The replacement for Taste Addison, Fork & Cork (through Saturday, May 17) brings together celebrated chefs, craft breweries, wineries and spirit makers. Featured talent includes James Beard Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson and Texas music legend Pat Green. Friday night costs $65, but you get all the food and drinks that you can handle. Saturday is only $35 and includes access to the Grand Tasting Tent and the Pat Green concert. Attendees can also purchase tastings from local restaurants for $1 to $5 each. There are a limited number of $100 VIP packages, which include access to hands-on cooking classes, Marcus Samuelsson’s demo, special tasting opportunities, chef meet-and-greets, valet parking and more. Buy them online.

Saturday, May 17

Top Pot Doughnuts Demonstration and Book Signing at Sur La Table
Top Pot Doughnuts founder Mark Klebeck demonstrates the art of hand-forged doughnuts and autographs his cookbook, Hand-Forged Doughnuts: Secrets and Recipes for the Home Baker (co-authored with Jess Thomson). This event includes a copy of all the recipes plus tastings of two doughnuts and doughnut bread pudding. Class starts at 10 am and costs $49 per person. For reservations, call 214-219-4479 or secure your spot online.

2014 Tasty Run 5K & Fun Run at Beckert Park
The second annual Tasty Run 5K & Fun Run lets participants literally eat and run, thanks to several tasting stations courtesy of Addison restaurants along the route. Benefiting the Addison Legacy Foundation, registered participants receive a T-shirt, coupons from participating tasting stations and a $5 discount off a Fork & Cork general admission ticket for Saturday. Entry costs range from $20-$35, and you can register online.

Grill Out at Barter
To celebrate the warm weather, Tastemaker Award nominee Andrew Dilda roasts a full pig over an open fire via the Love Box. He serves plates of all-you-can pork with rice and beans for $25. Beverage director Rocco Milano, a fellow Tastemaker Award nominee, offers a playful Don Julio shot and beer cocktail made with Don Julio tequila, Fleur elderflower liqueur, freshly squeezed orange juice and Arnold Amber Ale. Guests can also order from the full lunch and cocktail menu. The event starts at 11 am, and reservations are not required. For more info, call 214-969-6898.

Sunday, May 18

2014 Taste of the NFL at Glass Cactus Nightclub
The only thing Dallasites dig more than their beloved Cowboys is good food. Also known as the ultimate Cowboys tailgate party, Taste of the NFL features Dallas Cowboys players past and present, Abacus executive chef and proprietor Kent Rathbun, and the area’s hottest celebrity chefs. Attendees enjoy gourmet tailgate fare, signature cocktails, and live and silent auctions, and proceeds benefit North Texas Food Bank. Tickets are $200 and can be purchased online.

Monday, May 19

Guest Chef Jason Dady at FT33
Matt McCallister welcomes Jason Dady to FT33 for an eight-course dinner showcasing local ingredients. Dady is the executive chef and owner of Bin 555 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Tre Trattoria, Two Bros. BBQ Market, and DUK Truck in San Antonio. This meal costs $110 per person; diners can add wine pairings for an additional $50. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214-741-2629.

Marcus Samuelsson visits Fork & Cork in Addison Circle Park.

fork and cork, city of addison, Marcus Samuelsson

Photo courtesy of Fork & Cork

Marcus Samuelsson visits Fork & Cork in Addison Circle Park.

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Cocktail Time

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 holiday drink specials for December

Courtesy photo

Festive drinking at the Miracle Bar.

Dallas in December is brimming with holiday festivities, and that includes cocktails: from over-the-top pop-up bars to extravagantly priced cocktails to drinks with a festive Christmas theme.

We're covering all that and more in this edition of Where to Drink, our monthly column recommending the best places to have to drink in Dallas:

The Charlotte
American bistro and bar recently opened on Henderson Avenue has three specialty holiday cocktails starting at $14. There's a butterscotch espresso martini with Revel Stoke Butterscotch, Baileys Espresso Cream, and espresso; cranberry paloma, with Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, cranberry, and a splash of Squirt; and a twist on hot chocolate. Called The Charlotte's hot chocolate, it features house-made cocoa with red wine and Mozart Dark Chocolate liqueur. The space has also been decorated with red hanging ornaments and wreaths and bows on the walls to enhance the holiday vibe.

The Mansion Bar
Don't come to this swanky bar inside the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek if you're looking for a happy hour. For holiday high-rollers they have a crazy special “Elf on the Top Shelf” menu of four cocktails priced at $75 each — not kidding. There's the Evergreen Elixir with Macklowe Gold Whiskey, L.N.Mattei Cap Corse Rouge Quinquina, and Fot-Li Vermut; the Midwinter Manhattan with High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Rye Whiskey, Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso, and Angostura Bitters; the Golden Hearth with Casa Del Sol Angel’s Reserve Añejo Tequila, prickly pear cordial, lime, orange bitters; and the Shiver & Shine with Belvedere 10 Organic Vodka, Mulassano Vermouth di Torino Bianco, and orange bitters.

Miracle at Aussie Grind
Australian-inspired cafe in Frisco has transformed into a “Miracle” pop up bar with a variety of specialty cocktails including the Christmasaurus, a tropical drink with pineapple rum, mezcal, apricot liquor, coconut milk, and coffee; Rudolph’s Replacement, with vodka, coffee liqueur, orange curacao, chai syrup, almond milk, and aromatic bitters; and hot buttered rum. True to form for a Miracle bar, the drinks come in collector cups like Santa pants and boots that can be purchased. The drinks range from $16-$18.

Omni PGA Frisco
Resort and PGA District has holiday-themed cocktails at six of its dining outlets through December. Trick Rider has a Pecan Manhattan with Brown Butter Woodford Reserve, Carpano Antica, pecan bitter and candied pecan. The Ice House has Bourbon & Bells with Bourbon, apple, cinnamon, and torched rosemary; Lounge By Topgolf has Down the Chimney, with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Baileys Original Irish Cream, vanilla ice cream, and Oreo. The Lookout has a Sugar Plum Sparkler featuring an edible shimmer, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, and Milk & Cookies, with espresso martini mix and Baileys Irish Cream.

Red Lobster
Seafood chain is cutting us a break with a newly launched weekday Happy Hour from 3-6 pm featuring $5 drink specials and $2 off select starters. Drink specials include margarita, Long Island iced tea, Tito's Twisted Strawberry Lemonade, 14-ounce Blue Moon draft, 14-ounce Bud Light draft, 6-ounce Mark West pinot noir, and six-ounce Ecco Domani pinot grigio. Discounted starters include lobster flatbread, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, crab queso, lobster dip, and mozzarella cheese sticks.

Sanjh
Indian restaurant in Irving has four holiday drinks with wonderfully exotic flavors: The Autumn Old Fashioned has Bulleit bourbon, amaretto, maple syrup, and almond flakes; Golden Glow has turmeric-infused Ketel One vodka, velvet falernum, and orange bitters; Harvest Spritz has Tanqueray gin, spiced cranberry syrup, lime, and cranberry dust; and the Negroni Royal has jasmine tea-infused Tanqueray, saffron-infused Campari and rose petal-kissed sweet vermouth. Cocktails are $16.

Very Merry Village at The Village Dallas
Mixed-use community in East Dallas is hosting a pop-up on the second floor of The Village Country Club Wednesday-Sunday until December 29, all decked out with Christmas trees. The menu has seven festive cocktails, including Mrs. Claus’ cranberry spritz, with La Marca Prosecco, cranberry juice, and ginger beer; Santarita, with Patron Reposado, Raspberry Liqueur, Cointreau, Agave, Lime; and a salted caramel espresso martini. There’s also a selection of draft and canned beers, wine, and champagne. Drinks range from $12-$14. Entry is free.

cocktails holidays where-drink