This Week in Gluttony

These are the 10 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Dallas diners have four beer-themed events to choose from this week.

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We've got whisky, cheese, pizza, and lots of craft beer this week. Chances are you can identify one of those categories as an area of interest in terms of planning this week's food-related activities. And, if all else fails, remember that it's not too late to take advantage of a DFW Restaurant Week meal.

Tuesday, August 15

Noble Rey Pop-Up Dinner at Noble Rey Brewing
The Design District brewery is partnering with chef Tina Miller from Proper Baking Company and the Blind Butcher for a delicious, paired four-course dinner. Tickets are $65, and the dinner begins at 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 16

Glenmorangie at Steel Restaurant and Lounge
Whisky enthusiasts are invited to attend this exclusive game dinner that includes a four-course meal prepared by chef Tysun Thomas and a Glenmorangie whisky tasting. Courses include wild boar dumplings, smoked squab, seared venison loin, and more. Tickets are $125, and the dinner begins at 6:30 pm. For reservations, call 214-219-9908.

Cane Rosso at The Star Grand Opening
Everybody's favorite Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Cane Rosso, will host a grand opening party at the newly opened location at The Star in Frisco. Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney will join for a ribbon cutting, and the restaurant will be offering all-night happy hour deals. In addition, guests who dress up in Cowboys gear will receive a $5 discount.

Thursday, August 17

Monthly Cut at Dallas Chophouse
Dallas Chophouse is pairing a three-course dinner with spirits from Glenlivet and finishing out the night with a scotch and cigar pairing. Courses include grilled flat iron steak, flash seared salmon, and pork loin. Tickets are $60, and the dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

Classic Cheese and Wine Class at Scardello Artisan Cheese
When it comes to cheese there is sometimes nothing more comforting than a classic, like goat cheese from the Loire or a beautiful hard sheep cheese from Spain. Join Scardello as they explore some of the original greats paired with classic wines. Tickets are $40, and the event begins at 7 pm.

Slices for Supplies at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company
Swing by Greenville Avenue Pizza Company from 5-8 pm, and swap school supplies for a free slice of cheese pizza with the topping of your choice. Pencils, pens, notebooks, folders, and other supplies are all fair game, and monetary donations will also be accepted. All donations and supplies will benefit the Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary School in East Dallas, and GAPCo has pledged to match the donations dollar for dollar.

Friday, August 18

Community Beer Artisan Dinner at Omni Dallas Hotel
Dine on local ingredients and beer brewed in your own neighborhood at this dinner. The four-course menu features heirloom tomato salad, confit chicken thigh, speck wrapped local pork, silly gose sabayon, and green apple mille-feuille, as well as several cocktail options. Tickets are $55, and the dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Reservations may be made by calling 214-979-4529.

Saturday, August 19

Local Brews, Local Grooves at House of Blues Dallas
This beer and music festival is the place to be this weekend. Featured artists include The Bodarks, Chuck Ligon, Dave Thomas, Nite, DJ Willie Trimmer, and more, and participating breweries include Rahr and Sons, Armadillo Ale Works, Panther Island, Woodcreek Brewing, Deep Ellum Community, and more. Tickets start at $14, and the doors open at 4 pm. The sampling wristband can be used for beer, food, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Cooking and Cocktails with Chef Tiffany Derry at The Brixton
This Plano hot spot is hosting celebrity chef Tiffany Derry for an afternoon of good food and drinks. Derry will teach attendees how to cook some of her favorite dishes, and then she'll share those dishes with the crowd. To wash down the food, signature cocktails come with each plate. Tickets are $75, and the event starts at noon.

Nine Band Brewing Pop-up Dinner at Nine Band Brewing
Get double the chefs, as Graham Dodds (Statler Hotel) teams up with Stephen McHugh (Lovers Seafood and Market) for a four-course dinner that will be paired with beers from the evening’s host, Nine Band Brewing. Tickets are $65, and the dinner starts at 7 pm.

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Hummus News

Revered family-owned Mediterranean restaurant debuts in North Dallas

Samantha Marie Photography

Zon Zon food spread

An upscale Mediterranean restaurant is coming to North Dallas from a trusted name: Called Zon Zon, it'll open at 5455 Belt Line Rd. #130, in the Work/Shop center, and it's hospitality group Yela Concepts led by Yaser Khalaf (Darna, Baboush), together with his son Mak Khalef in their first collaboration.

According to a release, it'll open on December 22.

Named for Mak's sister Zaina (“Zon Zon”), the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with a refined take on Mediterranean dining, rooted in tradition but with modern influences.

"We tried to merge what embodies Mediterranean cuisine with dishes that people in Dallas love," Mak says. "A lot of the dishes we have on menu are Mediterranean but have American and Texan influences."

Mezze favorites include hummus topped with green shatta and extra-virgin olive oil; baba ghanoush with charred eggplant, tahini, dukka, and pomegranate; crispy cauliflower with saffron labneh; tuna neya with tahini, mixed pickles, and Aleppo pepper; and kibbeh with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts, and dill labneh.

Salads include seared tuna salad with freekeh and golden beets; Tahini Caesar with tahini–Caesar dressing and za’atar croutons; and roasted beets with burrata, oranges, and pistachios.

Entrées include roasted chicken with garlic-batata and pomegranate jus; chicken shish kebab over saffron rice with almonds and raisins; hanger steak shawarma frites — a clever twist on steak frites with hand-cut fries; ZZ’s Wagyu cheeseburger with smoked provolone and house pickles; Prime ribeye with za’atar chimichurri and heirloom carrots; and apricot lamb couscous.

The beverage program complements the menu with a Mediterranean-focused wine list and creative cocktails such as the coffee-kissed Midnight Istanbul and ZZ’s Margarita, with burnt pineapple and ras el hanout.

Designed in collaboration with Dallas-based Coeval Studios, the restaurant features a 2,130-square-foot interior with an expansive 735-square-foot patio that seats 76, for a total occupancy near 100.

The restaurant boasts an open kitchen, while decorative finishes include modern woodwork, rich textures, and Middle Eastern-inspired details — stylish yet inviting, with a setting that feels like home.

“The inspiration behind Zon Zon came from wanting to create the kind of place we’ve always wished existed — a neighborhood Mediterranean spot that feels both familiar and exciting - we wanted to create a comfortable space where guests can meet up with friends or neighbors on a regular basis,” says Yaser in a statement.

Mak went to college to sudy biomedical engineering, but says he couldn't resist the lure of the restaurant world in which he grew up.

"Zon Zon is a reflection of everything we love about food," Mak says. "What makes this especially meaningful is building it with my dad — bringing our family’s story and passion to the table."

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