This Week in Gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Reserve your spot now for the third annual Sous Chef Dinner at CBD Provisions happening on Sunday, June 12, and Monday, June 13.

Photo courtesy of CBD Provisions

Major snaps to the variety of food and drink events this week, because we've been craving a change in pace. Plus, it's Negroni Week now through June 12, and cocktail consultants Christy Pope and Chad Solomon of Cuffs & Buttons (the masterminds behind the cocktails at Americano, Midnight Rambler, and CBD Provisions) have created a fun set of classic and unique sippers to celebrate.

Tuesday, June 7

Bar Stars Mixology Series at NYLO Dallas Southside
The NYLO Bar Stars program highlights some of the top mixology talent across the country. The series features a new “celebrity” bartender each month, challenging each to create an innovative menu of three to six specialty cocktails exclusively for NYLO. Each featured menu will be available at all three North Texas NYLO properties for the duration of its designated month. Kicking off the program is Dallas’ very own Stephen Halpin of the Patrón Spirits Company. The event kicks off at 6 pm and admission is free.

Pour Yourself Into History at Texas Theatre
Join the Dallas Historical Society and the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League for a fun happy hour. Bring friends and sip, socialize, and support a local historic business while learning about its unique history. The event kicks off at 6 pm and admission is free. Attendees are responsible for their own food and beverage.

Thursday, June 9

Dallas No Kid Hungry Dinner at Smoke
Dine out for a good cause by joining James Beard Award-winning chef Tim Byres as he hosts this exclusive multicourse event to benefit No Kid Hungry's work to end childhood hunger in America. Chefs joining Byres include Marlene Duke of The Theodore, Ford Fry of Atlanta’s Ford Fry Restaurants, Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club in Austin, and Taylor Bowen Rickets of Sela Cooking in Mississippi. Tickets are $250, and the event kicks off at 6 pm with a cocktail reception.

Friday, June 10

Le Cirque at Tower Club Dallas
Tower Club Dallas is teaming with legendary Manhattan French restaurant Le Cirque for one night benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The pop-up dinner is one of only 10 taking place at private clubs around the nation. Attendees will get the opportunity to meet Le Cirque’s new chef, Massimo Bebber, while enjoying wines of Feudi del Pisciotto Italian Fashion Designers Collection by Domini Castellare de Castellina. Dinner is $175 and starts at 6 pm. Make your reservations by calling 214-220-0403.

Sunday, June 12

Third Annual Sous Chef Dinner at CBD Provisions
This memorable culinary event celebrates talented Texas sous chefs on two separate nights — Sunday, June 12, and Monday, June 13. Each evening, Justin Holt (Lucia) and nine chefs prepare one dish for a nine-course plated dinner, served alongside beverage pairings. The menus focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients, while the paired drinks highlight two unique cocktails and two glasses of wine. Fifteen percent of proceeds benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Dinner is $150 and begins both nights at 6:30 pm. Make your reservations by calling 214-261-4500.

Craft Cocktail Class at The Joule
Ian Reilly hosts a two-hour mixology class in Taschen Library, providing guests with tips and tricks for concocting at home. Reilly demonstrates cocktail-making techniques perfect for the novice or enthusiast and everyone in between. Throughout the hands-on lesson, guests can enjoy crafty libations and nibble on a two-course seasonal menu of sharable bites, including quail scotch eggs, black-eyed pea hummus, and mixed pickled vegetables. This class is limited to eight people, and reservations are required in advance by emailing cocktailcart@thejouledallas.com.

12th Annual Dallas Uncorked at Sevy's Grill
Through a multicourse tasting menu, you can taste a selection of Ram's Gate Winery's new releases, tasting wines side by side from a variety of Sonoma vineyards to understand the differences and nuances of vineyards throughout the region. Chef Jim Severson of Sevy's artfully pairs each to help enhance these nuances. Tickets are $110, and the event starts at 4:30 pm. Proceeds from this year's dinner event benefit the Birthday Party Project.

where-to-eat

Hugs all around

Nonprofit Hugs Café expands with $10M McKinney headquarters and eatery

Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Hugs Cafe has debuted a new cafe in its new McKinney headquarters.

A culinary-centric charity that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities build careers in hospitality has a snazzy new home in downtown McKinney: Hugs Café Inc. has opened a new $10 million headquarters, eatery, and training center at 221 Andrews St., McKinney.

The 13,500-square-foot facility brings together the organization's administrative offices and Hugs Training Academy under one roof, a release says, creating what it calls a centralized hub to expand workforce training and employment opportunities.

“This new space allows us to grow our programs and serve more individuals than ever before,” says Lauren Smith, CEO at Hugs Café Inc, in the release. “It represents a major step forward in our mission to create meaningful training and employment opportunities. We are deeply grateful for the community support and partnerships that have helped bring this vision to life and continue to make our work possible every day.”

The new HQ is called Home for Hugs.Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Called the Home for Hugs, the building includes a commercial training kitchen, four classrooms, administrative offices, flexible workspaces, a rooftop deck, and an outdoor patio. The facility is designed to increase the organization's training capacity while supporting future expansion of its programs, leadership says.

Hugs Café Inc. is a McKinney-based nonprofit social enterprise that provides hospitality training and competitively paid employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its flagship venture is Hugs Café, which offers on-the-job experience in an inclusive restaurant environment.

Dining at Hugs Cafe
Founded in 2015 by Ruth Thompson, the organization has grown from a single McKinney café into a network that now includes two café locations (the other's at 2918 Live Oak St. in Dallas), along with two Hugs Training Academies, the new headquarters, and affiliate partners across the country.

The McKinney cafe is open to customers for dine-in and delivery at breakfast and lunch, 8 am-3 pm Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday), with catering available. The menu includes breakfast items such as biscuit sandwiches and breakfast burritos; salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.

Sweet treats from Hugs Cafe. Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Sandwiches include grilled cheese, a Monte Cristo, a BLTA with avocado, and a "chickie hug" sandwich with cranberry pecan chicken salad and mixed greens.

Salads include a Greek salad, spinach salad, and a chef's salad with turkey and bacon. Desserts include cookies, carrot cake, and chocolate bourbon pecan pie.

Catering choices vary from sandwich boxed lunches to whole cakes and jumbo quantities of pimento cheese or chicken salad. White Rhino coffee in large quantities is offered, as well.

Building a lasting impact
Construction on the headquarters began in May 2025. Dallas developer KDC led the project, with Corgan serving as architect, Brasfield & Gorrie as general contractor, and Valliance Bank providing financing, according to the release.

“Bringing this vision to life alongside Hugs Café Inc. is a meaningful opportunity for KDC to support individuals seeking personalized training and a pathway into the workforce,” says Eric Hage, KDC president. “We’re grateful to the Hugs Café team and our fellow donors for allowing us to play a role in creating lasting impact for these individuals and their families.”

openings mckinney nonprofits