This Week in Gluttony

These are the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

How many sliders can you eat?

Photo courtesy of Oak'd

Another benchmark on Dallas' return to normal from the dregs of the pandemic is the return of foodie events — and the revival of CultureMap's food events roundup, highlighting the best food and drink events happening over the next seven days.

These events feature wine, beer, BBQ, and even more wine.

Wednesday June 9

Wednesday Wine Chat: Kings of Chardonnay at Cru Wine Bar
Hail to the Kings of Chardonnay in this cool Wine Chat featuring four Chardonnays paired with chef's small plates. Wines featured include Bourchard Bourgogne Burgundy, William Febre Champs Royaux Chablin, Jordan Russian River Valley, and Mes Soleil from Santa Lucia Highlands. Tickets are $30 and the event runs from 6:30-7:30 pm.

Texas bartender competition: Fish House Punch
Chefs Christian Armando Guillén of El Cantinero, Haley Merritt of Midnight Rambler, Trey Roland of Parliament and the Hard Shake, and Pedro Tapia of Hillside Tavern will make one of America's oldest drinks, featuring rum and brandy, with bites by chefs Misti Norris and Philippe Gaston, plus wines from Ribera y Rueda from Spain. The event starts at either 5 pm or 6 pm, depending on who you ask, but it's definitely at The Gaston Dallas Bed & Breakfast at 4802 Gaston Ave. Tickets are $50, buy them here.

Thursday June 10

Dallas Arboretum Food and Wine Festival
The 2021 Dallas Arboretum Food & Wine Festival has been reimagined into a three-day celebration. On Thursday June 10, from 7-9 pm is a Gatsby Garden Soiree, with food, wine, and beer stations outdoors; roaring '20s attire is encouraged. On Saturday-Sunday June 12-13 from 10 am–3 pm is a farmers market event featuring local vendors. Tickets are a rather steep $125 and can be purchased here.

6th Annual Tap Fest at Texas Ale Project
Festival celebrating sixth anniversary of this Design District brewery runs four days, June 10-13, and includes: Thursday Night on the Midway with Fletcher's Corny Dogs and fair games; Friday VIP brewers' night; Saturday Tap Fest with new beers and live music; and Sunday Brunch at Stock & Barrel. Tickets run from $15-$175 and can be purchased here.

Friday June 11

BarNone Bar & Grand Re-Opening
East Dallas bar will host a Grand Re-Opening weekend from June 11-12 with specialty drinks and live performance by Rosco Johnny on Friday 6-8 pm and Honey Folk on Saturday 7-9 pm.

Saturday June 12

Rosé Wine Walk on Greenville Avenue
Fourth annual Rosé Wine Walk takes place on Greenville Avenue. Check-in at the Libertine Bar between 12-2 pm for wine glass, map, and a $15 wristband that gives access to specials at participating businesses such as $6 rose at Son of a Butcher. According to organizers Dallasites 101, a highlight of the experience is seeing everyone dressed pink, so apparently pink clothes are encouraged. It's 12-5 pm, and you can buy your $15 wristband here.

Oak'd BBQ Bash
East Dallas BBQ restaurant hosts party with live music, cornhole, and all-you-can-eat sliders, ribs, beans, mac & cheese, slaw, and potato salad. It starts at 6 pm and ends at 10:30 pm unless they run out. Tickets are $15.

Monday June 14

Ida Claire Wine Dinner with Elyse Winery
Five-course dinner features Lee Abraham from Elyse Winery guiding guests through a menu paired with wines from Napa Valley vineyards including Fried Pickled Green Strawberries with JP Chenet Sparkling Rosé, Kale Salad with Elyse Winery C'Est Si Bon, Duck Leg Confit with Petite Sirah, A Bar N Ranch Hangar Steak with Elyse Winery Cabernet Sauvignon from Holbrook Mitchell Vineyard in Yountville, and Texas Blackberry Crostata with Kopke 10 Year Tawny Port. Tickets are $90. Call 214-377-8227.

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Steakhouse News

Al Biernat's takes its legendary Dallas steakhouse to Fort Worth

Steak at Al Biernat's restaurant in Dallas

Al Biernat's Facebook

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One of Dallas' top steakhouses is expanding west: Al Biernat's, the acclaimed steakhouse with two locations in Dallas, is taking its magical ambiance, old-world elegance, celebrity cachet, doting service, and impeccably-prepared food to Fort Worth.

The restaurant - which will be the third location for the local chain - will open at 913 Houston St., across from where Fort Worth's new Convention Center ballroom is being built.

Restaurant co-owner Brad Fuller confirms the opening, noting that they are in the very very early stages of the process, with an opening date still TBD.

"We just signed the lease and are in space planning and design, but hope to share more information with details and renderings once we have them," he says.

Fuller says that Fort Worth had always been on their radar.

"This opportunity arose last summer, and [co-owner] Jeannie [Biernat] and I both love the building and its potential," he says.

Al Biernat's has been serving Dallas the highest quality steaks and seafood since 1998, when founder Al Biernat opened the first location at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, marriage proposals, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town including Conan O'Brien, Tom Brady, Brooke Shields, Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell, and more.

They went on to open a second location, Al Biernat's North at 5251 Spring Valley Rd., in 2017, successfully recreating the same formula as the original in Oak Lawn.

Signature dishes include a 30-ounce porterhouse, filet mignon with lobster thermidor — featuring Prime aged beef — along with Chilean sea bass and their legendary coconut cream pie. Like most steakhouses, they possess a well-stocked wine list, and also frequently host spectacular wine dinners.

They've earned countless nods and awards, from Open Table's Icon Awards to consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence honors, and have been home to many acclaimed chefs over the years.

They've also been one of the most nimble steakhouses in DFW, embracing changing trends such as alcohol-free mocktails. They were the first (and only?) steakhouse to offer a standalone vegan menu with dishes such as grilled portabella mushroom enchiladas. Biernat always wanted to be with the times, not behind the times.

Tragically, he passed away in 2024 after being diagnosed with ALS — but the restaurant has continued to thrive under the watch of Brad Fuller, the director of operations and Biernat's nephew; with Biernat's wife, Jeannie, his daughter Kaitlin Biernat Connell, son Jess Biernat, and Jess' wife, Erin.

And it's just possible that Al is still very much with us in spirit.

"Today is Al's 71st heavenly birthday, and my Aunt Jeannie and I feel it's 'very Al' that this news would be breaking today," Fuller says.

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