Whether you want to mix up a classic cocktail after a long day at the office or enjoy some fresh bounty from farmers all around North Texas, this week has a delicious food event opportunity for you. Plus, DFW Restaurant Week begins its run, offering meals at discounted prices and giving proceeds to good causes. Finally, what's better than a fresh piece of watermelon on a hot summer day?

Wednesday, July 31

Grand Marnier Cocktail Class at The French Room Salon
Join mixologist Morgan Moore as she leads a class on how to make Grand Marnier's twist on summer classics like the Julep and the Sidecar. Attendees will also go home with bar tools of their own. Tickets are $35, and the class starts at 7 pm.

Thursday, August 1

Come-As-You-Are Wine Dinner at The Grape
Chef Brian C. Luscher presents an intimate three-course dinner to complement hand-selected wines from Burt Street Cellars. Winemaker Timothy Skok will serve as the evening's special guest host and will visit each table to chat about the wine selections. Tickets are $75, and tables are available from 5:30-9 pm. To reserve your spot, call 214-828-1981.

Icon Wine Dinner at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
Happening at both the Dallas and Plano locations, this event includes an exclusive five-course menu that complements a selection of wines from noteworthy wineries, including Cade, Odette, and PlumpJack. Courses include seared jumbo sea scallops, grilled Australian lamb loin, and duck confit meatballs. Tickets are $195, and the event begins at 6:30 pm. To reserve your spot, call 972-490-9000 for Dallas and 972-312-9115 for Plano.

Hello Dumpling Cooking Demonstration at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
See how the pros cook up some favorite cuisine and sample the fruits of their labor. This week's demonstration is from East Dallas' treasured dumpling outpost Hello Dumpling and is happening from 11 am to noon at A Tasteful Place. Admission is free with your paid entry into the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

DFW Restaurant Week
Far longer than a week, the annual dine-out fundraiser kicks off with "preview weekend" August 2 and now runs as long as four weeks at some area restaurants. Patrons can make reservations to indulge in a pre-set, multicourse meal for either $39 or $49 per person — a real bargain for some of Dallas-Fort Worth’s priciest establishments. There are dozens of restaurants in Dallas participating in the 22nd annual event, which benefits the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home.

Saturday, August 3

Watermelon Festival at Dallas Farmers Market
This second annual celebration kicks off National Farmers Market Week and features watermelon eating contests, watermelon bowling, seed spitting contests, and more. Guests can also enjoy live music, demos, and tastings. Do not forget to bring your market bags so you can take home some delicious findings from farmers, ranchers, and artisanal food vendors. The festival kicks off at 9 am, and admission is free.

Good Local Market at Lake Pointe Church
Shop local produce, meats and eggs, bread and pastries, pickles, jams, and more from North Texas vendors who show up week in and week out to bring the White Rock Farmers Market some of the best goodies around. The best news? All of the vendors there produce their goods from within 150 miles of Dallas. The market starts at 8 am, and admission is free.

Celestina Blok contributed to this report.