This Week in Gluttony

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

The Crab Station is now open in Deep Ellum, and a grand opening party will take place Saturday, August 24.

Photo courtesy of The Crab Station

Seems like there is a lot to celebrate. From an annual celebration of a restaurant making it another year on the daunting Dallas dining scene to some new spots opening their doors for the very first time, it's all happening this week. And if you want an ice cold beer or a perfect pour of some fine wine, they're available, too. Cheers!

Tuesday, August 20

Duckhorn Vineyards Wine Dinner at Roy's Restaurant
Join Plano's posh seafood restaurant as they welcome this storied winery for a night of food and flavor. Courses include jumbo prawns, Georges Bank sea scallops, herb grilled Hawaiian Shutome, USDA Prime strip loin, and macadamia nut toffee crunch cake — all paired with premium pours. Tickets are $95, and dinner starts at 6:30 pm. To make a reservation, call 972-473-6263.

Beer Dinner at Local Yocal BBQ & Grill
Legal Draft Beer Company is making the drive from Arlington to McKinney to collaborate with chef Adam West on a five-course beer dinner. Courses include pan seared sea scallops, chicken and waffles, smoked wagyu coulotte, duck duo, and chocolate five ways. Tickets are $70, and dinner starts at 6:30 pm. To make a reservation, call 469-225-0800.

Red Beans Roadshow at Cafe Momentum
This one-night pop-up welcomes Pableaux Johnson and his Monday-night New Orleans tradition to Downtown Dallas. Guests will enjoy a Louisiana meal of deviled eggs two ways, crab cakes, and red beans and rice with cornbread. Dessert is, of course, Louisiana bread pudding. Beverages include cider from Austin East Ciders, as well as wine and beer. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available upon request. Tickets are $55, and the fun starts at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, August 21

Cakebread Cellars Wine & Food Dinner at Sevy's Grill
Leave it to this Preston Center-area restaurant to bring in this iconic Napa winery. In fact, Lisa Gurvey will be on hand representing Cakebread and will chat about the events that have led to the winery's success. Courses include halibut cheek; confit pork shoulder; A Bar n Ranch tri-tip; and a polenta, black cherry, and Texas honey cake. Tickets are $115, and dinner starts at 6:30 pm. To make reservations, call 214-265-7389.

Thursday, August 22

After Hours Cocktails Tour at The Samurai Collection
The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection allows Dallasites to explore the largest private collection of samurai art and armor outside of Japan. This monthly, after-hours cocktail tour happens the last Thursday of every month and includes bites by Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar and refreshing beverages. There is also a chance to win prizes. Tickets are $15, and the event starts at 6:30 pm. Call 214-965-1032 for more information.

Friday, August 23

City Hall Bistro Second Anniversary at The Adolphus
The all-day southern European-inspired eatery by Chef Jeramie Robison celebrates its two-year anniversary with this “A Taste of City Hall Bistro” dinner. Guests can sample staple dishes and flavors through interactive dinner stations while chatting with chefs of the restaurant. There will also be a live, local guitarist. The dinner starts at 6 pm, and tickets are $45 for a two-hour dinner reservation and a glass of Cava. To make a reservation, call 214-651-3686.

The Ivy Tavern 5th Year Anniversary Celebration
This popular bar is celebrating five years with lots of music and entertainment throughout the weekend. Friday will be a return to the 1980s with DJ Jen Miller, and prizes will be awarded for the best era outfits. Whiskey Pants is performing on Saturday, and the fun concludes Sunday with the chilled-out Reggae tunes of Watusi. Admission is free, and the fun kicks off at 9 pm on Friday and Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday.

Saturday, August 24

Grand Opening at The Crab Station Deep Ellum
It's grand opening day for this new crab shack in Deep Ellum, and to celebrate, the first 100 tables will get a chance to spin a prize wheel. They will also get a free appetizer, free dessert, and raffle tickets for a 55-inch 4K television. Guests who dine in will also get a 10 percent discount off of their total bill during the grand opening month of August 24 to September 24. The doors open at 11 am, and admission is free.

Austin Eastciders Block Party at Bishop Arts District
Head down to the Bishop Arts District for this booze-infused block party that allows for endless exploring, tasting, and shopping. Guests can enjoy cider and food pairings at participating restaurants, including Eno’s Pizza Tavern, Neighborhood Cellar, Tacos y Vino, and The Local Oak. Retail shops will also be passing out complimentary cider samples and offering in-store promotions. Tickets are $5-$10, and the block party begins at 2 pm.

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Naan News

Lively Indian fusion restaurant-club debuts in Irving with sharp team

InSo Las Colinas

Chicken skewer at InSo Las Colinas

An Asian fusion restaurant that's way more than a restaurant has opened in Irving: Called InSo — short for Indus Social — it's a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant that transitions from upscale dining into a late-night lounge experience, now open at 3165 Regent Blvd., in what was most recently a Sickies Garage, and before that, Walk-On's, where it's serving Indian fusion food, cocktails, and entertainment.

The full name — InSo at Las Colinas, Club, Kitchen, Bar — tells the whole story. The concept is designed to fill a gap in the area: Serving lunch and dinner then pivoting to high-energy nightlife, with live music, themed nights, and rotating entertainment.

Food
According to a representative, InSo draws its name from the Indus region, located in the northwest part of India, stretching from Persia through South Asia, and home to the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent.

Their culinary approach draws inspiration from the regions of Indus and Southeast Asia, with influences fromTexas. Plates are designed with contrasts — aromatics against warmth, brightness against structure, rooted yet contemporary — defining InSo as a distinctive Southeast Asian fusion restaurant.

The menu features some amazing dishes you definitely do not see everywhere. Appetizers include:

Hot Gristmill Corn Naan with butter chicken sauce, peanut sauce, jalapeno-honey butter
Chicken Tikka Boulevard Tacos with Texas chow-chow, cilantro yogurt, pomegranate, cotija cheese, warm corn tortillas
Broiled Spinach, Burrata Cheese and Artichokes with pepita breadcrumbs & naan chips
BBQ shrimp potstickers, with buttered toast points

Entrees include:

Grilled Chicago Stockyards Filet Of Beef, with royal spinach, marble potato kebabs, & kashmir chile onion ring
Cashew And Sesame Crusted Salmon, with yuzu butter sauce, mustard green spoonbread, & charred broccolini
Swiss Chard, Potato, & Pea Tendril Crepes, with tatsoi and mizuna, jicama, corn, queso fresco, & ancho ranchero sauce
Wok Seared Broccolini Sandwich, served in a pasilla chili flatbread with green bean, shiitake mushroom, paneer cheese, & bean sprouts
Lamb Rack Biryani, with basmati rice, red pepper raita, & guajillo chile deviled eggs

There's also a 50-oz Szechuan and Malabar Peppercorn Crusted Tomahawk Ribeye with green peppercorn-Mekong whisky sauce, fried eggs, and Royal spinach.

Desserts include a tempting warm Naan Bread Pudding with Ron Zacapa rum, Tahitian vanilla, golden raisins, and cardamon cream.

Appetizers start at $15. Entrees range from $17 for a falafel sandwich to $40 for the salmon. But they also offer a late-night and happy hour menu with items priced from $15 to $22.

The team
Executive Chef is Michael Morabito, who brings decades of culinary leadership under the mentorship of his father, who was a renowned hotel chef. He worked at Caesars Palace’s Palace Court in Las Vegas, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, and Colonial Country Club where he was executive chef.

Manager Greg Minella brings a globally inspired, detail-driven approach, shaped by years living in Turkey, his Italian heritage, and early exposure to the food world through his family’s roots in New York’s historic Fulton Fish Market. His career spans acclaimed fine-dining destinations and private clubs, including Gershwin’s, Star Canyon, Aurora, Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa, and Carte Blanche, where he helped earn the only Five-Star Forbes rating awarded to a freestanding restaurant in Texas.

Assistant manager is Trisha Prellwitz and sous chef is Robert Pineda.

The club
The restaurant is a sibling to Goli Soda, a similar concept in McKinney which also boasts a lively after-dining scene. At InSo, that means bold cocktails and a heightened social energy with live bands and DJs spinning a wide variety of sounds: indie soul, deep house, Sufi electronica, and Texan funk.

openings

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