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.

event-planner dinner

Chai News

Dubai tea chain Filli Cafe steams into Carrollton for Dallas debut

fillicafe.com

Snack and coffee from Filli Cafe

An international tea house chain from Dubai has made its Dallas debut: Called Filli Cafe, it just opened softly in Carrollton at 1205 W. Trinity Mills Rd. #101, in the same center as Al Markaz Restaurant and Groceries.

Dubbed "Dubai's most loved tea cafe chain," Filli Cafe is known for its signature Zafran chai tea and creative South Asian street foods including chaats and wraps.

The chain was born in Dubai in 2004 when founder Rafih Filli took over his father's small cafeteria in Dubai and rebranded it, using his high school nickname "Filli." He created Filli Cafe's intriguing menu and also established its laid-back culture, emphasizing it as a place for friends to hang out, with a motto of "global street bites, chai moments, and a whole lot of Tea n' Talk."

It has since grown to more than 74 cafes across 14 countries, and made its debut in the U.S. in 2022 with the first location opening in Sugar Land near Houston. There are now nine locations in the U.S. including Chicago, New York, Virginia, and Columbus, Ohio.

The DFW location is from the same group of friends and family that brought it to Houston, led by food & beverage veteran Sajid Iqbal, who says they plan to open at least one or two more locations in the DFW area.

Beverages
The signature Zafran Chai is a rich milk tea with saffron, sugar, and "secret" spices, while the Karak Chai is a traditional, strong spiced milk tea.

These are a departure from typical chai which contains a mix of spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Karak chai opts for fewer spices — often just cardamom or saffron — and relies on extra-strong black tea simmered with evaporated or condensed milk.

Filli also sells regularly spiced masala chai; traditional pink Kashmiri chai with cardamom and almonds; and milk with zafran — like their signature Zafran Chai, but minus the tea.

Beyond chai, there are espresso-based drinks such as cappuccino and latte; matcha lattes; hot chocolate; coffee drinks like dalgona, the trendy whipped coffee with steamed milk; iced coffees; frappuccino-style frozen drinks; iced tea and herbal teas of all kinds; lemonades in various flavors; and even mocktails like fruity mojitos.

Food and drink at Filli Cafe. www.visitdelohio.com

Food
The food is a creative, well-executed fusion of familiar dishes like breakfast and burgers with South Asian spices. For example, the Shawarma Jalapeno Melt with marinated shawarma chicken, jalapenos, and cheese.

There are also

sliders — in five varieties including beef burger, fried chicken, and Aloo Tikki Sliders featuring a crispy fried Aloo cutlet — aka potato patties — all served on Hawaiian buns
paratha rolls — a South Asian street food featuring kebabs or vegetables enclosed in a flaky, pan-fried flatbread called a paratha
samosas — fried dumplings with a variety of fillings
chaat — a street style snack with chickpeas, potatoes, yogurt, and tamarind-mint sauce, topped with crispy wafers, onions, green chillies, tomatoes, cilantro, and chaat masala
rice bowls
loaded fries
pizza, in a long oblong format, in varieties such as one topped with Indian butter chicken

The menu is entirely halal, meaning that all ingredients are processed according to Islamic guidelines. Food prices range from $8 to $20, while the beverages range from $2.50 to $8.

Iqbal notes that Filla Cafe has wide appeal, whether it's people seeking halal foods, people who crave fusion flavors, or people who love coffee.

"We have a motto on the wall, 'Uniting cultures, one cup at a time,'" he says.

coffee openings