This Week In Gluttony

Festival toasting all things Texas tops this week's DFW food and drink events

It's August, which means it's stupid-hot in Dallas. So hot, in fact, that sometimes all you can do to beat the heat is to grab some friends and enjoy a cold beer. Those who agree with this method of coping are sure to enjoy this week's lineup of food — or shall we say booze — events.

Tuesday, August 18

Beer & Cheese Pairing at Little Elm Crafthouse
This event, hosted by Chris Wilborn of No Label Brewing Company from Katy, TX, features various styles of cheese and beer guaranteed to excite your palate. Each person gets a flight of select beers from No Label Brewing, an assortment of cheeses and a signature glass. The event begins promptly at 7 pm and tickets are $25 and only available in advance.

Grain-Free Meals Cooking Class at Whole Foods Plano
Learn to cook delicious meals that are free of grain. The menu for this hands-on cooking class includes seared tuna with avocado topping over ucchini noodles, and herbed white wine and caper chicken over white bean salad. This class begins at 6:30 pm and tickets are $35.

Friday, August 21

Reservations for Murder at Maggiano's Little Italy NorthPark
What happens when someone shows up at a popular restaurant unannounced and finds their spouse occupied under reservations for a party of two? You'll find out at this murder mystery dinner. Starting at 7 pm, your $65 ticket gets you an appetizer buffet, dinner and entertainment.

Salado Dinner at Texas Spice at Omni Dallas Hotel
As part of the Third Friday event, Texas Spice is hosting another Salado Whiskey Dinner. The dinner includes honey ginger poached Texas shrimp, glazed pork belly, ancho coffee rubbed petite tenderloin and mini State Fair funnel cake paired with Salado Neat. The dinner starts at 6:30 pm and the cost is $55. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214-979-4529.

Saturday, August 22

Brew HaHa at Oak Highlands Brewery
The 2nd Annual Brew HaHa, benefiting Genesis Women’s Shelter, features a fitness workout incorporating martial arts moves and the daily physical challenges of a brewmaster, led by professor Nicholas Chamberlain, who is a 9th degree black belt. The workout includes loading bags of barley, a freezer room challenge and a consumption station featuring an Oak Highlands Brewery Allgood Kolsch brew.

The $20 ticket covers a Brew HaHa T-shirt and entry into the OHB Saturday tap room experience, which includes a free pint glass, three beers, live bands, food trucks and bar games. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of cash or gift cards for groceries, fast food or everyday items that are delivered with a portion of the event proceeds to Genesis Women's Shelter.

Lone Star Beer Texas Heritage Festival at Gilley's Dallas
Happening in San Antonio, Houston, Austin and Dallas, the Lone Star Beer Texas Heritage Festival is bringing the best in Texas music, Texas food and Texas beer right to your backdoor. The music lineup is stacked with performances by the Old 97's, The Black Angels, Grupo Fantasma, Dale Watson, LaTasha Lee & The BlackTies and The Deathray Davies. When you get hungry, enjoy food from Gilley's, Easy Slider, El Come Taco and What's da Scoop?.

This event is free and attendance is first come, first serve. Attendees also have the option to buy a $25 ticket that guarantees admission until 7 pm on the day of the festival. All the proceeds from those ticket sales go directly to the North Texas Food Bank. Doors open at 1 pm.

Monday, August 24

Merryvale Wine Dinner at Bob’s Steak & Chop House at Omni Dallas Hotel
Join special guest René Schlatter with Merryvale Vineyards for a five-course dinner. The menu includes crispy toast points with cheese and dried fruit, seared scallop mixed green salad, espresso rubbed Australian lamb chop, cherry wood-smoked prime beef tenderloin, and brûléed Grand Marnier cheesecake. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm and costs $139. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214-652-4804.

The Lone Star Beer Texas Heritage Festival is happening at Gilley's on August 22.

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Skewer News

Vila Brazil to bring affordable Brazilian steakhouse to Cedar Hill

Photo courtesy of Vila Brazil

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A Brazilian steakhouse known for its low-for-steak prices is coming to Garland: Called Vila Brazil, it's part of a small local chain and will open in Cedar Hill, at 305 W. RM Rd. 1382 #316, in the former Crab & Bar space, in late 2025.

Vila Brazil was founded by restaurateur Roberto de Sa, who opened the first location in Irving in 2011, as a home-grown rendition of churrascaria-type restaurants such as Fogo de Chao. A second location opened in Garland in 2024.

According to co-owner Gabriel de Sa, the Cedar Hill location will feature the same menu, including rotating chef specials at the buffet.

Vila Brazil features a lower-cost version of churrascaria, a Brazilian style of serving cuts of grilled meat from giant skewers onto diners’ plates. They offer eight cuts of meat including picanha steak, sirloin, chicken, lamb, and pork.

There’s also a salad bar buffet featuring rice, salads, vegetables, and Brazilian-inspired dishes such as cheese bread rolls and cinnamon-grilled pineapple.

Weekday lunch is $25 and dinner is $40 daily. For the buffet only, it’s $18-$21.

They own other restaurants including VB's steakhouse in Arlington and Casa Pollastro, a Brazilian-Italian concept in North Dallas. But Gabriel says they take a different approach with Vila Brazil than some of the other more expensive churrascaria restaurants in town.

"Instead we offer homemade food at an affordable price with great quality and flavor,” he says. "Our guests on average visit our store three times a month — much more frequently than your typical churrascaria."

The Cedar Hill location will be fairly large, in a 6,528 square-foot space, with an approachable casual dining atmosphere.

“We choose the Cedar Hill community for the same reason we opened in Garland, to serve an underserved community,” Gabriel says. “A fusion between a fast casual buffet and a Brazilian Churrascaria Vila Brazil is accessible to all members of the community with high value.”

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