This week in gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drinks events in Dallas this week

Ferris Wheelers gets into the State Fair spirit this week.

Photo courtesy of Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ

This week is all about competition. From stein-holding contests and Mexican bingo to an international tamale-eating competition, there’s lot of opportunity to showcase some skills. Break out the lederhosen for more Oktoberfest-style events, and get into the spirit of the State Fair, too.

Tuesday, September 21

One Year of Chimalma
The downtown Dallas taco bar will celebrate its one-year anniversary with menu specials and one lively bingo game. Visit Tuesday through Thursday for new enchilada plates, including verdes, queso blanco, and mole. On Thursday, plan for a game of loteria, also known as "Mexican bingo," starting at 6 pm. Patrons can pay $20 to get a game board, and small cups of Chimalma’s frozen margaritas will be placed on each game board image. Players will drink the margaritas if the caller says an image on their board. The first person to clear the board wins.

Thursday, September 23

Oktoberfest Beer Dinner at On Rotation
The brewery and kitchen will host its first beer pairing dinner in its spacious new Braniff Centre location. Plan for three German-inspired courses, featuring house-made sausage and schnitzel, paired with four craft brews. Tickets are $60 per person and dinner begins at 7 pm. Lederhosen welcome.

Thursday, September 23

Central Market Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Cooking School Series
Over the next month, the gourmet grocer will host a series of online cooking classes featuring the stories and recipes of three experts in Hispanic cuisine. The series kicks off Thursday with longtime Central Market chef Michelle Rodarte, who will prepare picadillo de res, Mexican rice, and fresh jalapeño salsa. There are two options to participate: simply watch and learn ($20) or cook along at home ($65). Class begins at 6 pm.

State Ferris of Wheelers Themed Pop-Up at Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ
To coincide with the Friday kickoff of State Fair of Texas, the carnival-themed outdoor barbecue joint will host a fair-inspired pop-up. It will include midway games and prizes, fair food vendors, carnival entertainers, and live music. Open at 11 am until late night. It's free to attend, but RSVPs are appreciated, at 214-741-4141.

Friday, September 24

Oktoberfest at ArtPark Trinity Groves
In true Oktoberfest fashion, the colorful beer garden at Trinity Groves will host live music all day and stein-holding contests and will serve specialty German fare and beer. Tickets start at $15 for entry, which includes a beer tumbler and two Sam Adams Oktoberfest beers. Upgrade to a stein for $20 or two-day admission with three beers for $25. The evening event will run from 6 to 11 pm on both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, September 25

Fourth Annual Oktoberfest at Legacy Hall
The Saturday celebration of German culture will feature live music all day, brats, pretzels, stein-holding competitions, and plenty of beer. Tickets start at $15 for general admission, and seating is first-come, first-served. The $60 ticket includes access to VIP seating, a brat and pretzel combo with beer cheese from Degenhardt’s Brat Haus, a branded beer stein, and one beer. The event will run from 12-10 pm.

The Padrino Foods World Tamale Eating Championship
Major League Eating, the folks behind the nationally-televised Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, will host their tamale eating competition at high noon on the steps of City Hall in Lewisville. Last year Joey Chestnut, the No. 1 ranked eater in the world according to MLE, took the championship by inhaling more than 93 tamales — two shy of the world record of 95. While he won’t be at this year’s competition, the world recorder holder, Geoffrey Esper, will be. Spectators are welcome, as the event is part of Historic Old Town Lewisville’s Western Days Festival.

dinner festivals news-you-can-eat

Hummus News

Revered family-owned Mediterranean restaurant debuts in North Dallas

Samantha Marie Photography

Zon Zon food spread

An upscale Mediterranean restaurant is coming to North Dallas from a trusted name: Called Zon Zon, it'll open at 5455 Belt Line Rd. #130, in the Work/Shop center, and it's from hospitality group Yela Concepts, led by Yaser Khalaf (Darna, Baboush), together with his son Mak Khalef in their first collaboration.

According to a release, it'll open on December 22.

Named for Mak's sister Zaina (“Zon Zon”), the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with a refined take on Mediterranean dining, rooted in tradition but with modern influences.

"We tried to merge what embodies Mediterranean cuisine with dishes that people in Dallas love," Mak says. "A lot of the dishes we have on menu are Mediterranean but have American and Texan influences."

Mezze favorites include hummus topped with green shatta and extra-virgin olive oil; baba ghanoush with charred eggplant, tahini, dukka, and pomegranate; crispy cauliflower with saffron labneh; tuna neya with tahini, mixed pickles, and Aleppo pepper; and kibbeh with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts, and dill labneh.

Salads include seared tuna salad with freekeh and golden beets; Tahini Caesar with tahini–Caesar dressing and za’atar croutons; and roasted beets with burrata, oranges, and pistachios.

Entrées include roasted chicken with garlic-batata and pomegranate jus; chicken shish kebab over saffron rice with almonds and raisins; hanger steak shawarma frites — a clever twist on steak frites with hand-cut fries; ZZ’s Wagyu cheeseburger with smoked provolone and house pickles; Prime ribeye with za’atar chimichurri and heirloom carrots; and apricot lamb couscous.

The beverage program complements the menu with a Mediterranean-focused wine list and creative cocktails such as the coffee-kissed Midnight Istanbul and ZZ’s Margarita, with burnt pineapple and ras el hanout.

Designed in collaboration with Dallas-based Coeval Studios, the restaurant features a 2,130-square-foot interior with an expansive 735-square-foot patio that seats 76, for a total occupancy near 100.

The restaurant boasts an open kitchen, while decorative finishes include modern woodwork, rich textures, and Middle Eastern-inspired details — stylish yet inviting, with a setting that feels like home.

“The inspiration behind Zon Zon came from wanting to create the kind of place we’ve always wished existed — a neighborhood Mediterranean spot that feels both familiar and exciting," says Yaser in a statement. "We wanted to create a comfortable space where guests can meet up with friends or neighbors on a regular basis."

Mak went to college to study biomedical engineering, but says he couldn't resist the lure of the restaurant world in which he grew up.

"Zon Zon is a reflection of everything we love about food," Mak says. "What makes this especially meaningful is building it with my dad — bringing our family’s story and passion to the table."

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