Edible Gifts

No respectable foodie would miss CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop

If good food makes you giddy — and it’s what you like to give as gifts — then we have great news: There will be plenty of edibles at the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop, taking places December 7, noon-6 pm, at Sixty Five Hundred.

And these are no ordinary vendors. We selected quality producers who offer some of the best-tasting stuff around, from cheese and chocolate to fresh-pressed juices and pastries. So whether you need to refuel with a sandwich or salad, or you want to gift your favorite foodie with an assortment of macarons, you can do that at our inaugural holiday shopping market.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery
In a town obsessed with brunch, Bread Winners may be the most famous. But the restaurant — which now how locations in Uptown, Inwood Village, Plano and NorthPark Center — is worth a visit any time of day, because nothing complements comfort food better than dessert, and the cakes, pies and assorted pastries are a cut above. In addition to sampling, Bread Winners is selling sandwiches, soups and salads during our shopping event so you can keep up your energy to spend.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Katherine Clapner creates extreme chocolate confections, from chocolate almond salumi and Tub of Love hazelnut chocolate spread to truffles, bars and sauces. Come see what holiday surprises she has in store for the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop. Whatever they are, they are bound to delight the most diehard chocoholic in your life. In addition to her original shop in Bishop Arts District, Clapner has locations in Preston Center and Fort Worth.

The Gem
Owners Mary Kathryn Bass and Leslie Needleman, CHHC, toiled in the kitchen to come up with the perfect recipes that would be as delicious as they are nutritionally sound. The Gem serves organic handmade juices and smoothies, as well as snacks such as kale, hummus, quinoa and a soup of the day. During our big event, in addition to offering samples, The Gem team is selling hummus, quinoa and chopped veggie salad; gift cards; and granola holiday packs.

Scardello Artisan Cheese
Although Scardello does sell some side items and a trinket or two, and you can take a class or buy a sandwich, it’s really all about the cheese. Scardello brings in small-production, hard-to-get-cheeses, and more than half of those in the case are domestic — many from Texas. For the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up shop, Scardello is offering samples and the opportunity to buy gift baskets sure to please even the most persnickety foodie on your list.

Sucre Sucré by Lucía
Puerto Rico native Lucia Merino always knew she wanted to become a cook. She traveled all over the world honing her craft and landed in Dallas in October 2013 to become head pastry chef at Oak, where making macarons became her favorite thing to do. A finalist for best pastry chef in the 2014 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, Merino sells her macarons via her new online store, Sucre Sucré by Lucía. But you can taste and buy her treats in person on December 7.

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Buy tickets now for the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop. Cost is $10, and a portion of proceeds benefits our charity partners, Ronald McDonald House of Dallas and Family Place. In addition to access to more than 25 shops-within-a-shop, admission grants visitors access to Cointreau cocktails, holiday entertainment and complimentary gift-wrapping.

Sucre Sucre by Lucia

Photo courtesy of Sucre Sucre by Lucia

Sucre Sucre by Lucia

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Cocktail Time

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 holiday drink specials for December

Courtesy photo

Festive drinking at the Miracle Bar.

Dallas in December is brimming with holiday festivities, and that includes cocktails: from over-the-top pop-up bars to extravagantly priced cocktails to drinks with a festive Christmas theme.

We're covering all that and more in this edition of Where to Drink, our monthly column recommending the best places to have to drink in Dallas:

The Charlotte
American bistro and bar recently opened on Henderson Avenue has three specialty holiday cocktails starting at $14. There's a butterscotch espresso martini with Revel Stoke Butterscotch, Baileys Espresso Cream, and espresso; cranberry paloma, with Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, cranberry, and a splash of Squirt; and a twist on hot chocolate. Called The Charlotte's hot chocolate, it features house-made cocoa with red wine and Mozart Dark Chocolate liqueur. The space has also been decorated with red hanging ornaments and wreaths and bows on the walls to enhance the holiday vibe.

The Mansion Bar
Don't come to this swanky bar inside the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek if you're looking for a happy hour. For holiday high-rollers they have a crazy special “Elf on the Top Shelf” menu of four cocktails priced at $75 each — not kidding. There's the Evergreen Elixir with Macklowe Gold Whiskey, L.N.Mattei Cap Corse Rouge Quinquina, and Fot-Li Vermut; the Midwinter Manhattan with High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Rye Whiskey, Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso, and Angostura Bitters; the Golden Hearth with Casa Del Sol Angel’s Reserve Añejo Tequila, prickly pear cordial, lime, orange bitters; and the Shiver & Shine with Belvedere 10 Organic Vodka, Mulassano Vermouth di Torino Bianco, and orange bitters.

Miracle at Aussie Grind
Australian-inspired cafe in Frisco has transformed into a “Miracle” pop up bar with a variety of specialty cocktails including the Christmasaurus, a tropical drink with pineapple rum, mezcal, apricot liquor, coconut milk, and coffee; Rudolph’s Replacement, with vodka, coffee liqueur, orange curacao, chai syrup, almond milk, and aromatic bitters; and hot buttered rum. True to form for a Miracle bar, the drinks come in collector cups like Santa pants and boots that can be purchased. The drinks range from $16-$18.

Omni PGA Frisco
Resort and PGA District has holiday-themed cocktails at six of its dining outlets through December. Trick Rider has a Pecan Manhattan with Brown Butter Woodford Reserve, Carpano Antica, pecan bitter and candied pecan. The Ice House has Bourbon & Bells with Bourbon, apple, cinnamon, and torched rosemary; Lounge By Topgolf has Down the Chimney, with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Baileys Original Irish Cream, vanilla ice cream, and Oreo. The Lookout has a Sugar Plum Sparkler featuring an edible shimmer, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, and Milk & Cookies, with espresso martini mix and Baileys Irish Cream.

Red Lobster
Seafood chain is cutting us a break with a newly launched weekday Happy Hour from 3-6 pm featuring $5 drink specials and $2 off select starters. Drink specials include margarita, Long Island iced tea, Tito's Twisted Strawberry Lemonade, 14-ounce Blue Moon draft, 14-ounce Bud Light draft, 6-ounce Mark West pinot noir, and six-ounce Ecco Domani pinot grigio. Discounted starters include lobster flatbread, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, crab queso, lobster dip, and mozzarella cheese sticks.

Sanjh
Indian restaurant in Irving has four holiday drinks with wonderfully exotic flavors: The Autumn Old Fashioned has Bulleit bourbon, amaretto, maple syrup, and almond flakes; Golden Glow has turmeric-infused Ketel One vodka, velvet falernum, and orange bitters; Harvest Spritz has Tanqueray gin, spiced cranberry syrup, lime, and cranberry dust; and the Negroni Royal has jasmine tea-infused Tanqueray, saffron-infused Campari and rose petal-kissed sweet vermouth. Cocktails are $16.

Very Merry Village at The Village Dallas
Mixed-use community in East Dallas is hosting a pop-up on the second floor of The Village Country Club Wednesday-Sunday until December 29, all decked out with Christmas trees. The menu has seven festive cocktails, including Mrs. Claus’ cranberry spritz, with La Marca Prosecco, cranberry juice, and ginger beer; Santarita, with Patron Reposado, Raspberry Liqueur, Cointreau, Agave, Lime; and a salted caramel espresso martini. There’s also a selection of draft and canned beers, wine, and champagne. Drinks range from $12-$14. Entry is free.

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