It's a quiet week for avid Dallas foodies, but after last week's epic lineup, people need a week to recover. It's not a total wash, though, as the weekend proves to be quite promising, thanks to a food truck extravaganza, the first-ever Thai Culture & Food Festival and the fourth annual Margarita Meltdown.
Let's get to it.
Friday, May 23
Food Truck Frenzy at Fair Park
The most popular food trucks in Dallas-Fort Worth roll into the Esplanade at Fair Park from 11 am-2 pm, including Butchers Son, Ssahm BBQ, Mad Grill, Mr. Snowie, Texas Burrito Co., Rockn' Rick's and My Cupcake Garden. Nosh on food truck fare while you take in the popular Esplanade Fountain musical water show. Admission is free.
Food, Wine & Jazz Festival at the Hilton Anatole
The Hilton Anatole hosts its first Food, Wine & Jazz Festival in which guests are treated to live music — including jazz trioFingerprints and jazz pianist Scott Bucklin — along with a variety of domestic and international wines and gourmet food from the hotel's chefs. The event starts Friday evening and concludes with a champagne brunch on Sunday. Tickets range in price from $20-$55; packages with hotel stays are also available.
Saturday, May 24
White Rock Local Market at Green Spot
From 8 am-1 pm, stop by the White Rock Local Market where you can find the best local produce, meats and cheese, bread and pastries, pickles, jams, tamales and more. Best of all, when they say local, they mean it: All goods are grown or made within 150 miles of Dallas.
Thai Culture & Food Festival at Buddhist Center of Dallas
The Thai Community Center of North Texas is hosting the first Thai Culture & Food Festival, a two-day event filled with authentic dances, music and arts; Thai boxing matches; food-carving presentations; tours of the temple; and foods from all four regions of Thailand, including vegan selections. Parking and admission are free, and all proceeds support the Thai Community Center of North Texas and the Buddhist Center of Dallas. It all goes down from11 am-9 pm on Saturday and 10 am-6 pm on Sunday.
Sunday, May 25
Dallas Margarita Meltdown in Bishop Arts District
At this fourth annual event, bartenders from 32 restaurants compete for bragging rights to the best margarita in Dallas. From 5 pm-10 pm, attendees can sample the margaritas (pace yourself!) and vote for their favorites via text message. The winner walks away with a $1,000 cash prize, and the event benefits La Voz del Anciano (The Voice of the Elderly), a local nonprofit that helps serve the needs of the elderly Latino population. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.
Thirty-two Dallas restaurants compete for bragging rights to the best margarita in Dallas at the fourth annual Margarita Meltdown on May 25.
