This Week in Gluttony

Drink in the holiday goodness at the best food events in Dallas this week

Well, you survived Thanksgiving and consumed more turkey than you ever thought possible. But now it’s time to get in the Christmas spirit. This week is full of holiday-themed food events, from hot cider to gingerbread houses to an entire market filled with holiday treats.

We even found a cooking class devoted to not eating terribly over the holidays. And of course there are always wine dinners.

Tuesday, December 2

Holiday Wine Experience with Jean-Charles Boisset at Dallas Arboretum’s DeGolyer Estate
Boisset Collection proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset hosts a night of wine appreciation, with selections flown in from Boisset’s collection of wineries — Raymond Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, Bouchard Aîné & Fils and the JCB collection of fine wines — paired with gourmet dishes. As a special holiday treat, guests can also tour the lush gardens and be among the first to experience the 12 Days of Christmas exhibition. The event lasts from 6:30-10 pm, and tickets are $80. Buy them online.

Wrath Wine Dinner at Canary By Gorji
Canary By Gorji and Wrath Wines are teaming up for a four-course dinner prepared by Gorji himself. Wrath managing director Claire Marlin discusses the characteristics of each wine and the winemaking process. Fifteen percent of proceeds from the event goes to Laidley’s Ladies Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping under-funded families receive excellent breast cancer care. Dinner is $125 and starts promptly at 6:30 pm. Pre-payment is required by calling 972-503-7080.

Thursday, December 4

To V or Not to V: Holiday Cooking Classes at Roots Juices
You don’t have to gain weight and feel like a turkey just because it’s time to party. If you yearn to eat healthier over the holidays, join experienced chefs and teachers Kathryn and Sherry, who provide two versions of traditional dinners: plant-based or animal-based. Learn to cook a healthy meal that will please everyone in your household. The class is $50, and you can order reserve your spot online.

Friday, December 5

Wassail Fest at Downtown Denton Square
Wassail is a fancy name for hot cider, and you can check out versions at participating merchant locations around the historic downtown Denton Courthouse on the Square and beyond. Tasting takes place during the Holiday Lighting Festival on Friday and continues through Saturday. Merchant participation varies depending on the day, but the wassail tasting is free for all ages. On Saturday, also enjoy live music. The fun kicks off at 5 pm on Friday and 2 pm on Saturday. Get more info here.

Saturday, December 6

Gingerbread House Workshop at Whole Foods Park Lane
Join the Whole Foods bakery team for their annual gingerbread house workshop that yields festive, tasty and edible mini houses. Class fee includes one pre-assembled house, icing and edible embellishments to decorate your creation. Multiple children may decorate one house. The event lasts from 10 am-noon, and you can reserve your spot online for $25. The class is limited in size, so act fast.

White Rock Local Market Holiday Extravaganza at Lakeside Baptist Church
Expect market staples like Bisous Bisous Patisserie, EMA Baking, Just Pie, Michele’s Marshmallows, Mom’s Buns Bakery, Village Baking Company, Empire Baking Company, Wackym’s Kitchen, Haute Sweet, Brazos Valley Cheese, Gold Rush Mustard, In a Pickle Foods, Molli Cooking Sauces, Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters and more. Also enjoy live entertainment, with music by the David Burris Group.

Head to downtown Denton for the Wassail Festival on December 5 and 6.

Photo courtesy of Denton Main Street Association

Head to downtown Denton for the Wassail Festival on December 5 and 6.

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Asian Chain News

Healthy Asian concept Balance Grille is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth

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Balance Grille is a new healthy Asian option coming to DFW.

Dallas-Fort Worth is getting a new fast-casual Pan-Asian concept by way of Ohio: Called Balance Grille, it's a small-but-growing startup founded in northwest Ohio in 2010, and is opening its first Dallas-area location in Wylie, at 544 & Springwell, between Valvoline and Care Now.

The restaurant comes to DFW via HRH Operations 1 LLC, a franchisee and development partner owned and operated by Roshan Ayub, who is bringing the brand to Texas. Thanks Roshan!

According to a release, it'll open later this year.

Balance Grill is a healthy veg-friendly Pan-Asian option founded by Prakash Karamchandani and HoChan Jang, two friends who wanted to provide a fresh take on clean eating and Asian cuisine, with flavors and ingredients from across Asia. There are currently two locations in Ohio, in Toledo and Cleveland, and one in Denver, Colorado, which opened in 2022.

They say that the focus is on achieving overall balance and wellness, much like the Asian diet, which promotes eating plant-based greens, vegetables, and whole grains, with minimal meat and dairy.

The menu includes tacos in options such as Korean BBQ, bang bang, and wasabi aioli; and bowls with choice of grilled chicken, wok-fired steak, tofu, lentils, brown rice, white rice, fried rice, cauliflower rice, or wheat noodles.

Some of their signature bowls include:

The Four Star Bowl - tangy, garlicky General Tso’s sauce served with broccoli, carrots, and seasonal sprouts
Thai Guy - Thai-style peanut sauce served with carrots, seasonal hot peppers, seasonal sprouts, crushed peanuts, peapods, and Balance Farms micro cilantro
Bibimbap - classic Korean gochujang sauce with potatoes, kimchi radish, kimchi pickles, red cabbage, sprouts, and Balance Farms microgreens. If you aren’t vegan, add a 7-min egg (+$2) for the full experience
Nuts 4 Pao - spicy Kung Pao sauce with scallions, roasted peanuts, and seasonal hot peppers. Contains nuts.

Other menu options include popcorn chicken, egg rolls, veggie egg rolls, and edamame.

Ayub has 15 years of experience as an operator, having owned and operated locations of Subway and Marcos Pizza, and in fact has won awards such as Franchisee of the Year.

This development deal in Dallas is the first round in Balance Grille’s national expansion efforts, led in partnership with brand consultant, Pivotal Growth Partners.

"We are thrilled to be expanding into the Texas for the first time," says co-founder Karamchandani in a statement. "Dallas is a flourishing city and we are confident that Roshan is the perfect partner to help us lead the way in our expansion efforts in the area. We look forward to integrating into the community and sharing Balance Grill’s innovative approach to fresh, delicious Pan-Asian food in a tech-advanced environment.”

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