This Week in Gluttony

Chocolate extravaganza and Okrapalooza top best food and drink events in DFW

Events dedicated solely to okra, beer, wine and chocolate? Only in Dallas could these things happen in the same week. Plus, the Goss-Michael Foundation is continuing its new artsy lunch series in the Design District.

Enough talk. Dig in.

Tuesday, September 9

Red Wine with Fish (!?) Dinner at Spoon Bar & Kitchen
Dining tradition may dictate that fish be paired with white wine, but Spoon chef-owner John Tesar and J.R. Richardson from Oak Cliff Cellars are throwing tradition to the wind at this wine dinner. Enjoy dishes such as layers of thinly pounded big eye tuna, "Singapore style" chili lobster, beef cheek ravioli and king salmon, all designed to pair with red wines. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, September 11

2014 Grapefest in Historic Downtown Grapevine
This four-day festival (Thursday-Sunday) features premium wines from Texas, Washington and five of Italy's wine regions. In fact, it's the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Popular events include the People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic and the Texas Wine Tribute. Tickets range in price from $5-$119 and can be purchased online.

Friday, September 12

Fridays (at) GMF at Goss-Michael Foundation
If you missed it last week, the Goss-Michael Foundation is giving Dallasites a chance to dine amongst the art of GMF exhibiting artists Adam Ball and Michelle Rawlings. Cost is $15 per person and includes choice of three courses: curried turkey salad; quinoa tabbouleh; romaine salad with olives, radishes and creamy feta dressing; eggplant salad; hummus with chili oil and veggies; or minted fruit. You must RSVP by September 10, and you can do that by emailing ruby@gossmichaelfoundation.org. Lunch starts at 11:30 am.

Saturday, September 13

2014 Dallas Chocolate Festival at Addison Conference Centre
Now in its fifth year, the Dallas Chocolate Festival brings together local and national artisans for a wall-to-wall chocolate extravaganza. Chocolate makers scheduled to appear include Art Pollard (Amano Artisan Chocolate, Utah); Ben Rasmussen (Potomac Chocolate, Virginia); Kristen Hard (Cacao Atlanta); Scott Moore Jr. (Tejas Chocolate, Houston); and Santiago Peralta (Pacari Chocolate, Ecuador). Included with a ticket purchase is a full day of classes and demonstrations that take place in an adjoining room of the Addison Conference Centre. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online for the 12:30 and 2:30 pm festival entry times.

2014 Dallas Observer BrewFest at Dallas Farmers Market
The fourth annual Dallas Observer BrewFest is an outdoor beer-sampling event and festival that features craft beers, local food vendors and live music. Tickets get you 12 two-ounce beer samples, with additional samples available for additional dough. Food is available for purchase from Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Full Circle Tavern, Samson's Gourmet Hot Dogs and Social House. Tickets cost $45 for general admission and $75 for VIP; purchase them online. Gates open at 6 pm.

Sunday, September 14

2014 Okrapalooza at The Lot
Celebrity chefs and home cooks present their best okra dishes to compete for the title of Okrapalooza Champion of the World. Featured chefs include Eric Shelton and Justin Box from Cafe Momentum, Graham Dodds from Hibiscus, Mark Wootton from Garden Cafe, and Ryan Barnett from Green Grocer. Tickets include okra dish tastings and sides, free local beer, and live music. All proceeds benefit the Promise of Peace Community Garden. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online. The fun lasts from 11 am-3 pm.

Lucia's Justin Holt and Mike Gibson Pop Up at Windmill Lounge
Mike Gibson and Justin Holt of Lucia are serving up Red Wattle porchetta and sides at the Maple Avenue watering hole from 6:30 pm until it runs out. A flat $20 gets you a plate and a craft cocktail. The event is sponsored by Angels Envy Bourbon and Pilar Rum.

Monday, September 15

Kobalt Wine Dinner at Grace
Guest host Kevin Carriker, owner and winemaker at Kobalt, joins the Grace team to discuss wine, winemaking and the industry. Courses include passed canapés, Japanese Madai, smoked king salmon belly, trumpet royale mushrooms, Colorado lamb and a selection of artisan cheese. The price per person is $150. The event starts at 6:30 pm and reservations can be made by calling 817-877-3388.

Sample all kinds of okra dishes at The Lot on September 14 during Okrapalooza.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins

Sample all kinds of okra dishes at The Lot on September 14 during Okrapalooza.

unspecified

BBQ News

Dallas sauce guy opens Hump's BBQ restaurant in Arlington

Hump's BBQ

A Dallas sauce purveyor has opened a BBQ restaurant in Arlington: Called Hump’s BBQ, it’s at 2503 W. Pioneer Pkwy. in Pantego in a space that was previously home to Jambo's Barbecue Shack where it opened in early June.

Hump’s is from restaurateur and pitmaster Antionne Ivory, a former real estate and mortgage professional who began his barbecue journey in 2017, when he started making and selling his own BBQ sauces. He opened a vendor booth at the Dallas Farmers Market in 2019.

Ivory took the next step in 2022, when he opened the first Hump's BBQ, a takeout and drive-thru in Oak Cliff at 4367 S. Hampton Rd. It closed in April after a fire, though Ivory says they're working to rebuild it.

"I grew up cooking and watched my grandfather cook, who was a World War II military vet," Ivory says. "I named the sauce and restaurant after him."

The menu includes brisket, pulled pork, beef and lamb sausage, smoked turkey legs, and pork rib tips, sold by the half pound or pound, $11 to $30, or as a sandwich for $11-$13. They also serve whole chicken wings for $3.50 each. Meats can be paired with Ivory's sauces, which include original, spicy, and honey sweet.

There's also a whole Southern side to the menu, with fried catfish baskets, turkey legs stuffed with toppings such as mac & cheese or greens & rice, plus baked potatoes you can order with one meat for $18. On Wednesdays, they do a special: their signature chopped beef sandwich with a side and drink for $13.50.

Desserts includes peach cobbler bread pudding and banana pudding. They also serve alcohol, namely margaritas, but will be adding beer.

Ivory describes his barbecuing as Texas style, but says there's also some Cajun influences woven into dishes like the fredo sauce (an alfredo sauce with Cajun spices) on stuffed turkey legs.

The space had a perfect BBQ house feel to it, with a built-in smoker. The interior is small and homey, with a walk-up counter and wood everywhere, from the walls to the ceiling to the tables and floors. There's one TV on the wall for watching games.

"My previous place didn't have seats, but I needed seats," he says. "It's a family business and we want to create a nice family vibe and have fun doing it."

barbecue openings