This week in gluttony

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Tequila for everyone this week.

Photo courtesy of Cadillac Bar

Many Dallas restaurants are breaking out their bottles of the good stuff to toast National Tequila Day. From patio parties and mariachi music to tequila tastings and even a dog park party with “Barkaritas,” the celebrations are many. Also this week, a meat-smoking class, street food market, wine dinner, and free ice tea just in time for summer’s heat wave.

Thursday, July 22

Sweet Sips Tea Fest at McAlister’s Deli
Whether it’s sweet, unsweet, mixed with lemonade or flavored, the tea is free on Thursday at all McAlister’s Deli locations. Each customer can claim a free 32-ounce tea of any variety. One per customer. (Excludes third-party deliveries.)

Friday, July 23

Misfits Market at White Rock Lake Park
Misfits Market, which touts itself as the nation’s fastest-growing online, direct-to-consumer grocer, will pop up for one day only, 11 am-4 pm, at White Rock Lake Park (Mockingbird Lot). Attendees can expect organic and upcycled snacks, as well as fun selfie opps, cool swag, and the chance to win free groceries for a year. Visitors who donate at least $1 to Feeding America via Misfits Market’s Venmo handle will receive upcycled stroopwafel cookies from Belgian Boys and organic fruit ice pops from GoodPop. For a coupon and more information, click here.

Mastering the Art of Smoking Meats at Sheraton Dallas
Chef Zeb Hartline of the Sheraton Dallas Hotel will share his tips and tricks for smoking meats and seafood during this cooking demo series. This week, chicken and pork are featured. The $35 ticket includes the class, appetizers, and one specialty cocktail, wine, or beer. The event will take from 6 to 8 pm in the hotel’s terrace-level Herb ‘n Jungle outdoor garden, where live music will play during a post-class reception.

Saturday, July 24

Bark and Booze at Mutts Canine Cantina
The urban oasis for dogs and their people will host a tequila-fueled fiesta. Visit for the special Mutts’ Barkarita, made with Lunazul resposado tequila, fresh juices, and a touch of agave. Add a sangria popsicle made by local Social Ice for extra flair. Pups can celebrate with their own Pupsicle made with frozen peanut butter and beef broth on an edible “stick.” The specials will be available at both DFW Mutts locations.

Cambodian Street Food Market
The Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Dallas will host its first-ever pop-up street food market featuring live music and traditional Cambodian dishes and treats. Visit Saturday from 12-11 pm and Sunday from 10 am-3 pm. Admission is free, but bring cash as all food vendors are cash-only.

National Tequila Day at Joe Leo
Joe Leo is one of Dallas' newest Tex-Mex joints, opened on Cinco de Mayo, and comes from the owners of The Rustic. They're celebrating National Tequila Day from 3-6 pm with $5 frozen margaritas, a live mariachi band, and a shot luge for those feeling extra festive.

Tequila Tasting at Seely's Mill
Seely’s Mill, the legit yet still under-the-radar Texas barbecue restaurant and bar located in the lobby of The Beeman Hotel, will host a tequila tasting with live music and food. Participating distilleries include Insolito (part-owned by the band Midland), Republic, Pepe Z, Socorro, and Veneno. The $20 ticket gives patrons a taste of each tequila and light bites served with samples of local Speakeasy Hot Sauce. The event will take place from 5 to 8 pm.

National Tequila Day at Café Herrera
The contemporary Mexican restaurant at the Omni Dallas Hotel will host a ticketed tequila celebration that comes with a food, live music, and of course, tequila. Taking place from 6:30-9:30 pm on the restaurant patio, the event includes a welcome cocktail, Casamigos tequila tasting, and four taco stations. Tacos range from chile rojo grilled shrimp to shredded beef cheek. Tickets are $45 plus tax.

Sunday, July 25

Farm to Trova Dinner
Chic Dallas wine bar Trova Wine + Market is teaming with local purveyors Profound Foods and Regalis Texas to host a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings. Menu highlights include smoked salmon and trout roe tart, bone marrow toast with blackberry confit, roasted Texas quail with summer truffle, and mountain huckleberry tart with salted honey mint ice cream. The dinner is $110 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and begins at 6 pm.

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Pizza News

Donatos Pizza totes its unique crust to new location in Flower Mound

dallas.culturemap.com

Donatos

A pizza chain with a quirky obsession on its crusts is coming to Flower Mound: Donatos Pizza, the franchise famous for spreading its toppings to the very edge of the pizza, will open a location at 1400 Long Prairie Rd. #160.

According to a release, it'll open on December 17.

Donatos Pizza was founded by Jim Grote in Ohio in 1963 from a single stand, and remains family-owned. Their signature is to place the toppings on their pizzas "edge to edge" — for clueless diners who do not like plain crust edges. (Come on, the crust is the best part.)

Their menu features more than a dozen varieties of pizza such as veggie, four cheese, and pepperoni with hot honey. Their signature crust is a thin-crust but they also offer thicker alternatives as well as a cauliflower crust. Pizzas come in a 7-inch individual and go all the way up to a 14-inch large. Prices range from $15 to $25.

Fans appreciate their better-than-average ingredients and describe it as more flavorful compared to other corporate pizza chains, with a crisp thin crust and generous toppings.

In addition to pizza, Donatos' menu includes oven-baked wings, sub sandwiches, including meatball and Italian cold cuts, plus appetizers and salads.

The Flower Mound location will be a family affair, owned by Lynne and Ralph Pence, whose son Travis will oversee day-to-day operations. The Pence family has deep connections to Donatos including the fact that Lynne's sister used to work for the company, while her brother-in-law still does.

"We're from Columbus, Ohio — it is where our kids grew up and where our family is—it also happens to be the hometown and birthplace of Donatos Pizza," Lynne says. "Our daughter in Oklahoma found out Donatos was coming to Edmond, where she lives, and called us. She was so excited that Donatos was finally coming down south and we wanted to be a part of it."

This is the second Donatos in the Dallas area: a location opened in Frisco in November — the first in Texas.

There are currently 470-plus locations in 28 states. That includes 175 stores plus nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide, including select Red Robin restaurants, sports, and entertainment venues.

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