Chocolate Paradise

Dallas' sweetest festival returns for mouthwatering weekend

Chocolate is always worth celebrating, but this year is especially sweet for the Dallas Chocolate Festival. It's the event's 10th year, and there's plenty on the menu for guests who attend the three-day event at Fashion Industry Gallery.

More than 60 exhibitors are bringing their knowledge, passion, and — most importantly — samples to downtown Dallas from September 6-8. Snag tickets to the main event on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy treats, lectures, demos, food trucks, a kid's area, and more. The entries are timed (and the event runs 11 am-5 pm), so be sure to buy early to secure your preferred slot.

Go the extra mile and purchase tickets to one (or several) of the workshops and classes. On Saturday you can indulge in a beer and chocolate tasting with Texas Ale Project and Yelibelly Chocolates, learn how to pair spirits from Balcones Distillery with chocolate, or hear the history of chocolate from renowned chocolate expert Sophia Rea (also available on Sunday).

Sunday brings the chance get your hands dirty making chocolate from bean to bar, led by such top chocolate makers as Art Pollard (Amano), Ben Rasmussen (Potomac), Rob Anderson (Fresco), and Jessica Young (5 Mile).

Taste red and white wines from Cassaro Winery paired with chocolates from San Antonio maker Casa Chocolates, or experience the flavors of port wine paired with chocolates from Houston chocolate maker Xocolla.

Can't wait until the weekend to get your chocolate fix? Attend the VIP party on September 6 from 7-10 pm and sip cocktails, beer, and wine while nibbling on savory and sweet bites (and there'll be a chocolate fountain!). Sashay away with a swag bag and enjoy free valet, then get ready for a weekend your sweet tooth will love.

CultureMap readers get some extra love with the code CMChocolate5, which will save you $5 on event tickets.

Dallas Chocolate Festival runs September 6-8.

Photo by Bret Redman

Dallas Chocolate Festival runs September 6-8.

craft-beer desserts festivals promoted chefs wine education

Taco News

Award-winning Dallas chef launches taquito concept at Oomi Kitchen

Yelp

Revolver Taco Lounge is known for its tacos.

An award-winning Dallas chef is taking on taquitos: Called Taquitos Ross, it's a new brand from award-winning chef Regino Rojas, owner of Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum, who will bring his celebrated flavors and techniques to Oomi Kitchen, the digital food hall on 3510 Ross Ave.

Taquitos Ross will be available through the oomi ordering platform and will make its debut on November 19 — bringing a fresh addition to Oomi’s diverse lineup of food concepts.

The focus will be on taquitos filled with premium carefully-prepared ingredients. The opening menu will feature:

Carnitas taquitos
Chicken Tinga taquitos
inventive nachos

Taquitos consist of a rolled-up tortilla filled with ingredients and deep-fried until crisp. So far, they have not been "elevated." The partnership with Oomi promises not only to elevate the taquito experience — taking it from crunchy snack to refined, flavorful dish — it will also bring Rojas' food to a wider audience. Rojas opened Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum in 2017.

Oomi founder Markus Pineyro says in a statement that "We’re incredibly honored to work with chef Rojas on Taquitos Ross. His passion for quality and tradition aligns perfectly with our mission to bring exceptional, creative food to our customers. Taquitos Ross is a brand that we believe will not only bring people together but also spark a love for taquitos like never before.”

Pineyro is a career innovator who previously founded the Urban Taco chain in 2007, helping pave the way for chains such as Velvet Taco. He founded Oomi Kitchen, a digital food hall just outside downtown Dallas in 2022, as a one-stop shop for bold concepts, with a focus on delivery and take out. Customers can order from multiple concepts at once — providing a solution for groups with varying tastes — with $2 delivery.

His innovation has put him on the national radar and landed him an invitation to participate in the recent Spongebob Krabby Patty promotion, one of a limited number of restaurans across the U.S.

Oomi house brands include: include Bodega Sandwiches & Wraps, Okie Dokie Smash Burgers, Love Bowls, Clucky’s Damn Good Chicken (fried chicken & wings), Savage Rabbit (salads), Hot Lips (Asian-inspired dishes) and Bowlrito (bowls and burritos). Partner brands currently offered include Urban Taco, Pacuigo, and Tribal Juices.

trends tacos