This week in gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

DIFFA's Burgers & Burgundy takes place Friday, October 8.

Photo courtesy of DIFFA Dallas

The week begins with a traveling bourbon pop-up that's making a stop in Dallas. Then, make plans for three wine pairing events: one with burgers, one with pizzas, and another with samples from more than a dozen restaurants. End the week with a new beer garden brunch event featuring live local music.

Tuesday, October 5

Legent Bourbon Omakase Experience
Kentucky-based Legent bourbon is hosting a one-night-only bourbon pop-up, featuring three bourbon cocktails crafted by Dallas mixologist Julia Momose, paired with three accompanying snacks. It takes place at 8:30 pm and is free — but seating is limited, and you must sign up in advance online for the chance to attend.

Pizza & Texas Wine Tasting at Gorji
Guests will receive three different skillet pizzas from the Belt Line Road Mediterranean restaurant, each paired with West Texas-based Reddy Vineyards wines. Pairings include marsanne, rosé, and a Tuscan-inspired red blend. Reservations are $79 per person, and dinner begins at 6 pm.

Wednesday, October 6

Celebrity Chef Demonstration at State Fair of Texas
Chef Noah Hester, star of E’s hit show The Bradshaw Brunch and son-in-law of NFL legend Terry Bradshaw, will lead a cooking demonstration at the State Fair of Texas. He's one of several chefs scheduled to showcase their culinary skills at the Cutco Celebrity Chef Kitchen throughout the fair. Watch as he prepares traditional Hawaiian-style poke starting at 11 am. The demonstration is free with State Fair admission.

Friday, October 8

Burgers & Burgundy
The Dallas Chapter of Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) will host its signature culinary event presented by chef John Tesar. Set to take place outside in the Peach Plaza at Cathedral of Hope, the event will feature gourmet burgers from Tesar and nine other local and national chefs. Proteins will come from 44 Farms, and buns are to be provided by Empire Baking Co. There’ll also be wine pairings and cocktails. Tickets are $125 per person, and the event will run from 6-9 pm.

Saturday, October 9

Honky Tonk Beer Garden Brunch at Lochland’s
The East Dallas restaurant and bar will debut its Honky Tonk Beer Garden Brunch featuring local live music. The inaugural brunch will feature singer-songwriter Mike Randall. Guests can enjoy brunch dishes like smoked salmon pancakes and hash and eggs, plus house-made sangria, mimosas, and brunch punch. Music will begin at noon, but Lochland's opens early at 10 am.

Fourth Annual Plano Food & Wine Festival
Taking place at Legacy West, the all-day event will give guests tastes from 30 wineries and 15 Plano-area restaurants, including True Food Kitchen, The Dock, Prim & Proper, Mesero, and more. Tickets are $80 for both food and wine, or they may be purchased separately ($45 for wine tastings, $50 for food tastings). The event begins at noon, and food tastings will be available until 4 pm; wine tastings will flow until 7 pm.

festivals dinner wine

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 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 — even landing him an invitation in October to participate in a foodie promotion by the Nickelodeon channel that celebrated popular cartoon Spongebob Squarepants, along with a limited number of restaurants 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