This Week in Gluttony

82-cent cocktails fuel this roundup of Dallas’ best food and drink events

Just as one of the biggest food holidays recedes into memory, it's time to get back out there for This Week in Gluttony. From festive gingerbread house-decorating classes to multiple wine events and even a party featuring dirt-cheap cocktails, there is no shortage of food-and-drink fun.

Wednesday, December 2

Holiday Mini Tour Kickoff Party at Old Chicago
This celebration showcases the taproom’s 12 new, limited-time-only holiday beers. Sip on Texas beers like Lakewood's Holiday Bonus and Martin House's Sugar and Spice while playing games, winning prizes, and eating pizza. The fun starts at 7 pm.

Wine and Chocolate Pairing at Messina Hof Grapevine Winery
Enjoy decadent wine and chocolate pairings at this fun event that takes place the first Wednesday of each month. This happy hour event starts at 5 pm and costs $20 a person. Make reservations by calling 817-442-8463.

PlumpJack and Cade Estate Wine Dinner at Lark on the Park
Chefs Melody Bishop and Dennis Kelley pair an exquisite five-course menu with wines from the Napa boutique wineries. Courses include caña de cabra, pepper crusted yellowfin tuna, braised shortribs, grilled wagyu NY strip, and more. The dinner is $165 and starts at 7 pm. For reservations, call 214-855-5275.

Thursday, December 3

Valrhona Chocolate and Vineyard Brands Wine Dinner at Abacus
This unique dinner features six chocolate-inspired courses from Chef Kent Rathbun and team, and to up the decadence, each course will also be paired with chocolate and wine. Joining the Abacus team will be Carmen Cantu from Valrhona and Todd Ruback from Vineyard Brands, as they discuss their chocolates and wines with attendees. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm and costs $175. Reservations are required by contacting Stephanie Conder at 214-520-0151.

Saturday, December 5

Repeal Day Celebration at Victor Tangos
In honor of the 82nd anniversary of the 21st amendment ratification, this Henderson hot spot is offering 82-cent cocktails from 5-7 pm (or until the booze runs out). Cocktails on the menu include the Sazerac, Income Tax, and Hemingway Daiquiri. And, in true Victor Tangos form, Rum Cognac Punch will be flowing.

Checkered Past Winery Grand Opening
Come celebrate the opening of Dallas' latest winery. Starting at 4 pm, enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and appetizers while supplies last. Guests can also score freebies and win raffle prizes. DJ Mark Ridlen and ska band Boss Riot are providing the entertainment.

Gingerbread House Decorating Class at Whole Foods Plano
Get in the Christmas spirit by decorating your ideal gingerbread house with friends and family. This class includes the gingerbread house, candy, and icing along with a bakery team member on hand to answer any questions. Tickets are $30 and the fun starts at noon.

Sunday, December 6

Sunday School at Hotel ZaZa
This is the last Sunday School brunch of the year and the perfect place to let off a little post-Thanksgiving steam. There is always champagne, delicious food, and dancing on tables (really). Brunch costs $75 a person and starts a noon. To reserve your spot, call 214-550-9500.

Celebrate Repeal Day by sipping 82-cent cocktails at Victor Tangos from 5-7 pm on December 5.

Photo courtesy of Victor Tangos

Celebrate Repeal Day by sipping 82-cent cocktails at Victor Tangos from 5-7 pm on December 5.

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Pizza News

Donatos Pizza totes its unique crust to new location in Flower Mound

dallas.culturemap.com

Donatos

A pizza chain with a quirky obsession on its crusts is coming to Flower Mound: Donatos Pizza, the franchise famous for spreading its toppings to the very edge of the pizza, will open a location at 1400 Long Prairie Rd. #160.

According to a release, it'll open on December 17.

Donatos Pizza was founded by Jim Grote in Ohio in 1963 from a single stand, and remains family-owned. Their signature is to place the toppings on their pizzas "edge to edge" — for clueless diners who do not like plain crust edges. (Come on, the crust is the best part.)

Their menu features more than a dozen varieties of pizza such as veggie, four cheese, and pepperoni with hot honey. Their signature crust is a thin-crust but they also offer thicker alternatives as well as a cauliflower crust. Pizzas come in a 7-inch individual and go all the way up to a 14-inch large. Prices range from $15 to $25.

Fans appreciate their better-than-average ingredients and describe it as more flavorful compared to other corporate pizza chains, with a crisp thin crust and generous toppings.

In addition to pizza, Donatos' menu includes oven-baked wings, sub sandwiches, including meatball and Italian cold cuts, plus appetizers and salads.

The Flower Mound location will be a family affair, owned by Lynne and Ralph Pence, whose son Travis will oversee day-to-day operations. The Pence family has deep connections to Donatos including the fact that Lynne's sister used to work for the company, while her brother-in-law still does.

"We're from Columbus, Ohio — it is where our kids grew up and where our family is—it also happens to be the hometown and birthplace of Donatos Pizza," Lynne says. "Our daughter in Oklahoma found out Donatos was coming to Edmond, where she lives, and called us. She was so excited that Donatos was finally coming down south and we wanted to be a part of it."

This is the second Donatos in the Dallas area: a location opened in Frisco in November — the first in Texas.

There are currently 470-plus locations in 28 states. That includes 175 stores plus nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide, including select Red Robin restaurants, sports, and entertainment venues.

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