This Week in Gluttony

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

Klyde Warren Park presents Park & Palate

There'll be a big feast this weekend at Klyde Warren Park.

Photo courtesy of Klyde Warren Park

UPDATE 10-23-2019: The International Wine and Food Society dinner at Tulum has been canceled.

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Food events in Dallas this week include wine, bourbon, and chicken-fried steak. That covers every essential food group, and for dessert, there's a new frozen pop shop.

Here are the 6 best food events in Dallas this week:

Wednesday, October 23

Come & Steak It: Chicken Fried Steak Day Festival
Norma’s Cafe is hosting the first annual, Come & Steak It, a fundraiser and festival in honor of Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day. Besides eating unlimited amounts of chicken fried steak and enjoying a few adult beverages, the event raises for the Dallas Stars Foundation. There'll be live music by The Bird Dogs, a live auction emceed by the Dallas Stars' Marty Turco, a silent auction stacked with amazing goodies, and lots of Texas themed surprises. It's at Trinity Groves, from 7-10 pm. Tickets are $55, or $80 for VIP tickets. General admission tickets include access to the event, chicken fried steak, Texas-themed dishes and desserts, open bar beverages, and one entry into a raffle.

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Bourbon Whiskey Release
Austin-based distiller is debuting its second limited-release batch of high-rye bourbon whiskey in Dallas during a series of tasting events. (The first batch of bourbon was debuted in Austin in May.) The bourbon is crafted from Texas-grown corn, rye, and barley sourced from Texas farmers. Do such things matter to bourbon drinkers? The debut hops and skips across three Deep Ellum bars: Hide at 6 pm, Armoury at 8 pm, and Shoals at 10 pm. It's free. If you were a real hound, you could go and scarf free Texas bourbon at the three different locations.

Thursday, October 24

The Keeper presents Oregon Wine Dinner
The Keeper will host a wine dinner featuring five courses paired with unique wines from Oregon. The dinner is inspired by The Keeper's chef de cuisine, Gil Vasquez, who is originally from Oregon. Courses include an opening amuse of smoked rout dip, followed by Dungeness crab salad, oyster soup, pan-seared sturgeon with English pea puree and confit carrot, poached King salmon, and blackbery cobbler. It's $75, relatively cheap by wine dinner standards, and it starts at 7:30 pm. To make a reservation, call 469-210-5337.

Saturday, October 26

Klyde Warren Park presents Park & Palate
The fifth annual Park & Palate, presented by Republic National Distributing Company unveils the Grand Taste on October 26. Kent Rathbun will serve as host chef and Drew Hendricks as host master sommelier. There'll be dozens of top Dallas chefs, spirits, and restaurant fare, from barbecue to biscuits, from sushi to tacos, including a sneak preview of Commons Club, the coming-soon eatery at the new Virgin Hotel Dallas, starring chef Nick Walker. The event is from 12:30-4 pm. Tickets are $75, or $125 for VIP.

Pop Factory Grand Opening
Celebrate the grand opening of Pop Factory at The Hill, the shopping center at 75 and Walnut Hill Lane. Pop Factory serves whole fruit popsicles, boozy pops, ice cream pops, and stuffed pops, and cookie dough by the cup. On its secret menu is Waffle Pops, and all popsicles have the option of being dipped or drizzled in white, dark, or milk chocolate and topped with toppings. Is it really a secret, then? Pop Factory recently opened in Uptown on City Place West Boulevard; its first location and factory is in Las Colinas. The first 100 people get a BOGO deal. Saturday at 12 noon.

Sunday, October 27

CANCELED Una Noche en Tulum
International Wine and Food Society will present Una Noche en Tulum. The evening will begin with a specialty cocktail and passed appetizers, followed by a five-course dinner, created by Executive Chef Nico Sanchez. Each course will be paired with wines that embody the spirit of Tulum. The event begins at 6 pm. Tickets are $90-$105.

Monday, October 28

Uncommon Ramen at Uchiba with chef Justin Carlisle
The October installment of Uchibā’s Uncommon Ramen, the monthly series featuring innovative collaborations with Uchibā’s chef de cuisine Alex Astranti and renowned chefs from around the country, stars Justin Carlisle. A three-time James Beard Best Chef: Midwest finalist, and owner of Milwaukee’s Ardent, and Red Light Ramen, Justin is a chef who refuses to conform to the convention mold of typical restaurateurs. Since Ardent opened in 2013, it has received much recognition, but what’s really worth recognizing is the philosophy on which Ardent was built. 5-10 pm.

bests wine event-planner

Skewer News

Vila Brazil to bring affordable Brazilian steakhouse to Cedar Hill

Photo courtesy of Vila Brazil

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A Brazilian steakhouse known for its low-for-steak prices is coming to Garland: Called Vila Brazil, it's part of a small local chain and will open in Cedar Hill, at 305 W. RM Rd. 1382 #316, in the former Crab & Bar space, in late 2025.

Vila Brazil was founded by restaurateur Roberto de Sa, who opened the first location in Irving in 2011, as a home-grown rendition of churrascaria-type restaurants such as Fogo de Chao. A second location opened in Garland in 2024.

According to co-owner Gabriel de Sa, the Cedar Hill location will feature the same menu, including rotating chef specials at the buffet.

Vila Brazil features a lower-cost version of churrascaria, a Brazilian style of serving cuts of grilled meat from giant skewers onto diners’ plates. They offer eight cuts of meat including picanha steak, sirloin, chicken, lamb, and pork.

There’s also a salad bar buffet featuring rice, salads, vegetables, and Brazilian-inspired dishes such as cheese bread rolls and cinnamon-grilled pineapple.

Weekday lunch is $25 and dinner is $40 daily. For the buffet only, it’s $18-$21.

They own other restaurants including VB's steakhouse in Arlington and Casa Pollastro, a Brazilian-Italian concept in North Dallas. But Gabriel says they take a different approach with Vila Brazil than some of the other more expensive churrascaria restaurants in town.

"Instead we offer homemade food at an affordable price with great quality and flavor,” he says. "Our guests on average visit our store three times a month — much more frequently than your typical churrascaria."

The Cedar Hill location will be fairly large, in a 6,528 square-foot space, with an approachable casual dining atmosphere.

“We choose the Cedar Hill community for the same reason we opened in Garland, to serve an underserved community,” Gabriel says. “A fusion between a fast casual buffet and a Brazilian Churrascaria Vila Brazil is accessible to all members of the community with high value.”

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