This Week in Gluttony

Drink booze and see a Food Network star at this week's best Dallas food events

It would take a mighty serious beer drinker to hit all of the events during North Texas Beer Week, but know it is in full swing. And Meat Fight is this weekend, if you were lucky enough to get tickets.

For the rest of you, highlights include the return of Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival and an appearance at the Majestic Theatre by Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis. Dig in.

Tuesday, November 10

Chappellet Wine Dinner at Knife
Chef John Tesar teams up with the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon producer for a five-course wine dinner. Special hosts Cyril Chappellet and Trey Blankenship lead guests through each pairing and educate them on winemaking techniques and practices. Dinner costs $125, and it starts at 6 pm. For reservations, call 214-443-9339.

Wednesday, November 11

Champagne Taittinger Dinner at SER Steak + Spirits
Join special guest Clovis Taittinger, the eldest child of Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who heads up the operation in Reims. Courses include sea scallops, Jidori chicken, Japanese mero, seared venison, and burrata with fruit chutney; all are paired with Champagne, including the prestigious 2006 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. The reception starts at 6:30 pm; a seated dinner follows at 7. Seats are limited and cost $175 per person. Call 214-761-7479 for reservations.

Franconia Beer Dinner at Hickory
The Hickory team hosts Dennis Whermann of Franconia Brewery for this dinner, which includes courses such as German kielbasa sausage, salt roasted beet salad, hickory-smoked spare ribs, prime brisket, barbecue chicken, and roasted apple-pecan cobbler. The dinner costs $55 and starts at 6:30 pm. For reservations, call 972-712-7077.

Friday, November 13

An Evening with Giada de Laurentiis at Majestic Theatre
The Emmy Award-winning Food Network star — and author of seven New York Times bestselling books — talks about her newest, Happy Cooking. The program is followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets start at $45, and the show starts at 8 pm.

2015 Brewer’s Ball at Renaissance Dallas Hotel
North Texas Beer Week presents this signature event filled with the best in craft beer and bites from some of the area’s top beer-centric restaurants, including BrainDead, Meddlesome Moth, and Rodeo Goat. National and local breweries include Abita, New Belgium, Saint Arnold, Deep Ellum Brewing, Rahr & Sons, Revolver, and more. The Dallas Opera performs traditional opera and drinking songs from around the globe. Tickets are $125, and the fun kicks off at 7 pm.

International Wine Dinner at Cook Hall
Chef Vijay Sadhu crafts a four-course meal paired with wines from around the world. This dinner costs $75 and starts at 7 pm. Call 214-397-4100 for reservations.

Saturday, November 14

Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival at Addison Airport
Dress to impress for this Sin City 1960s themed event. Enjoy lavish libations and delightful bite while relishing the live entertainment, cigar lounge area, and a plethora of casino games to make you feel as if you are right on the strip. Tickets are $75; get $10 off by using promo code CULTUREMAP. Doors open at 6 pm.

Sunday, November 15

Homebrew Throwdown at Panther Island Pavilion - The Shack
A this inaugural event, local home brewers compete against each other, and a panel of celebrity judges crowns a winner. Entry gets you a 12-sample tasting card, and you can expect sips from Collective Brewing Project, Martin House, Panther Island Brewing, Rahr & Sons, Revolver, and Shannon Brewing. Also on tap: a Q&A session with local experts, food trucks, and live music from Shotgun Friday. Tickets start at $10, and the event begins at noon.

Sunday Cinema Series at Knife
This culinary-themed film program rolls on with a patio screening of Sideways. Chef John Tesar is serving up gourmet bites, while Four Corners Brewing Company provides the beverages. Tesar and Lee Papert, president and CEO of the Dallas Film Society, are speaking prior to the film about its impact on the culinary and restaurant industries. Tickets are $35, and $10 of each sale benefits the Dallas Film Society. Call Knife at 214-443-9339 to purchase.

Go to Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival on November 14.

Glasses of whiskey with ice on bar or table

Photo via Taopic.com

Go to Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival on November 14.

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outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Photo courtesy of Starboy's

Check out the cheese pull on Starboy's birria pizza.

A new pizza restaurant is slinging a variety of innovative pies in the Dallas Medical District: Called Starboy’s Pizzeria, the new shop is part of Food Nation Cinco Cocinas, the eclectic food hall at 4711 Maple Ave. The food hall was created by Ray Quintanilla and legendary restaurateur and "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex" Mico Rodriguez, who died earlier this month at age 68.

John Flores, an IT professional and self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys super-fan, created Starboy’s Pizzeria, which is now open in the former Sal’s Pizza and Restaurant space. Friends call Flores by the nickname "Starboy," which combines his love for the Cowboys and his fascination with NASA and space, he explains.

Flores met Quintanilla and Rodriguez while hosting karaoke at Mico’s Bar, another food hall occupant. When Sal’s closed earlier this year, they saw an opportunity to fill the void with a refreshed pizza concept.

“It is because of Mico that I even thought about starting this project: he was part of this, he was always happy, and we really hit it off, so I miss him,” Flores says.

Starboy's Pizzeria joins Mico’s Bar, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Wing City, and JJ’s Cafe, which opened a location in the food hall earlier this year.

Lupe Ibarra, a chef from the closed Sal’s Pizza with 25 years of experience, stayed on at Starboy's to continue perfecting traditional recipes while creating signature new ones tied to Flores’ Mexican heritage.

The result of the collaboration is a menu that includes traditional favorites alongside creative pies with a Mexican-inspired twist like the Pizza Birria (resembling the flavor profile of popular birria tacos), elotero, chicken fajitas, and pastor, among more than 15 specialty offerings.

Flores' passion for the Cowboys is especially evident in several unique creations:

Cry Eagles Cry: Inspired by the Philly cheesesteak, topped with beef, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella.
Starboy’s Classic (Blue): Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and fresh arugula.
Starboy’s Classic (Silver): White sauce, chicken, mushrooms, onions, arugula, mozzarella, and a balsamic glaze.
Cowboy: Brisket, onions, barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.

Starboy's 16-inch pizzas range from $14-$25, with individual slices priced around $4. The menu also features sub sandwiches, pastas with a variety of sauces, and chicken Parmesan, all under $14.

To cater to the busy medical, residential, and retail crowds nearby, Starboy's offers lunch deals for under $12, which include pasta and garlic knots or a slice of pizza and a salad, complete with a drink.

Flores explains that his heritage and his mother’s influence serve as the primary driving force behind his new venture.

“My mom would always host family gatherings. She always fed people, and I got that from her. I like to see smiles on people’s faces from the things I do,” he says. “I have big dreams for this place. I want us to be part of the community and give back.”

Flores remains involved with karaoke at Mico’s Bar and is focused on driving traffic to the entire complex. He hosts Cowboys watch parties, while his adult children — Nathan, Natalie, and Amy — assist with social media, website management, and overall promotion for Starboy’s.

“When people try our pizzas for the first time, their eyes light up, so we know we are on the right track,” Flores says.

Starboy’s Pizzeria is open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

dallas pizza starboy's food nation cinco cocinas maple street food hall dallas medical district lunch pizzeria locally owned latino owned business pizza dallas cowboys tex-mex

This Week in Gluttony

Drink booze and see a Food Network star at this week's best Dallas food events

Go to Dallas Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival on November 14.

outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Family-owned whiskey distillery opening in the Texas Hill Country

Dessert and wine pair up at new Bordeaux & Creme lounge coming to Plano

Colorado sandwich chain Snarf's to expand across Dallas with 6 new shops