This Week in Gluttony

Thai Me Up dinner and GrapeFest top the best food and drink events in Dallas

Now that summer has subsided (on the calendar, anyway), more Dallas restaurants are getting back into the events game. This is a good thing, especially when places like the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek are involved.

Besides a seven-course Argentinean wine dinner at the aforementioned Mansion, Malai Kitchen hosts Paul Singhapong for a Thai Me Up dinner exploring coastal recipes from Thailand. And there’s Grapefest, every oenophile’s favorite time to drink nice wine out of plastic cups.

Thursday, September 12

Thai Me Up at Malai Kitchen
Malai Kitchen hosts its “Thai Me Up” dinner at 7 pm with guest chef Paul Singhapong. The family-style, five-course dinner explores Thai coastal cuisine with dishes such as tom yum hua pla (hot and sour soup made with fish head) and kha pong dang tod (pan-seared whole red snapper with fried corn patty and green curry sauce). The $60 dinner includes an optional $20 wine pairing. Reservations are required and can be made at 214-599-7857 or online.

Bressia Wine Dinner at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
The Rosewood Mansion hosts a seven-course wine dinner exploring the Bressia wines from Argentina. Pairings include Texas Wagyu bavette with crispy grit gratin, baby kale and goat cheese with a Bressia Monteagrelo Malbec 2010, and confit lamb shoulder with olive granola, smoked eggplant, preserved lemon and yogurt with a Bressia Profundo 2008. Reception starts at 7 pm; dinner starts at 7:30. The dinner is $165, and reservations can be made at 214-443-4747.

Friday, September 13

A Night With Glenfiddich Scotch Dinner at Pappas Bros.
Pappas Bros. and Glenfiddich host a four-course Scotch dinner beginning at 7 pm. The meal pairs roast stuffed quail with wild rice, apricot, chestnuts and braised kale with Glenfiddich 15 year, and cocoa-crusted Prime strip steak with baked mashed sweet potatoes and watercress with Glenfiddich 18 year. Guests top off the night with a coconut layer cake paired with Glenfiddich Malt Masters Edition. Price is $79.95 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 214-366-2000.

Saturday, September 14

Hornitos Tequila Dinner at Cantina Laredo
Cantina Laredo at Preston Road and Royal Lane hosts Sauza Hornitos Tequila for a four-course dinner beginning at 7 pm. Dishes include chicken empanadas and a choice of filet with either four chile sauce or relleno de camaron Yucatan. Seats are $50 and can be reserved at 214-265-1610.

Sunday, September 15

27th Annual GrapeFest in Grapevine
Explore wines from all over the globe at the 27th annual Grapefest, the largest wine festival in the Southwest. The fest — which starts Thursday, September 12, and runs through Sunday — also features plenty of live music, carnival food and family-friendly entertainment. Events include a People’s Choice Wine Tasting and a Texas Wine Tribute. Tickets begin at $8 and can be purchased online.

Malai Kitchen and guest chef Paul Singhapong explore Thai coastal dishes on September 12.

Malai Kitchen/Facebok

Malai Kitchen and guest chef Paul Singhapong explore Thai coastal dishes on September 12.

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Shawarma News

Kebab concept Doner Shack comes to Texas with location in Prosper

Doner Shack

A new doner kebab chain is coming to town: Called Doner Shack, it's a quick-service restaurant concept based in the U.K. which is opening its first location in Texas in Prosper. The restaurant has yet to be built, so the opening date is still TBA. But according to a release, it will open in a shopping center at the intersection of Teel Parkway and University Drive, on the northwest corner, kitty corner from the PGA Golf Resort.

Doner Shack says it was built with one goal: to become the world’s leading kebab brand. No mention of the food, but what they're really pushing is franchising. Founders are chef Sanjeev Sanghera and Laura Bruce, who own three stores in the U.K., and who were inspired after an "epic 48-hour trip to Berlin" where the culture and kebabs blew their minds "in the best way possible." Hopefully that means the food is good.

Doner kebab is the dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It's popular in Germany because there's a large Turkish population there. Competitors — many of whom have expanded to DFW — include Halal Guys, Nick the Greek, The Great Greek, Spitz Mediterranean Grill, Soulard Gyro, and German Doner Kebab.

Doner Shack's menu features the original doner kebab with beef on Turkish bread and salad, and then varieties such as chicken, or beef with chili sauce, or a vegetarian with fried halloumi cheese.

In addition to doner kebabs, there are also chicken tenders served with crinkle cut fries; slider-size sandwiches with fried chicken or with shaved beef; and loaded fries, topped with the same assortment of meats.

Bringing it to Texas is franchisee group Gyro N Philly LLC, led by Hassan Zaman who says in a statement that they're delighted to bring Doner Shack to Prosper.

"With the new PGA headquarters across the street, a high school with over 30,000 students, and the upcoming Universal Kids Theme Park just minutes away, we believe this is a home run location," he says. For good food, one hopes.

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