This Week in Gluttony

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

Dallas by Chocolate hosts a Christmas-themed tour every night through December 23.

It’s officially Christmastime, and our roundup reflects that with themed food events sprinkled throughout. But your old boozy favorites are also here, so get out there and enjoy.

Tuesday, December 6

Christmas Lights: Chocolate and Sips Tour
Begin by boarding the private motor coach and tasting treats from premier local dessert venues. Then relax as you glide past some of Dallas’ most spectacular holiday displays in the Park Cities, Addison, downtown Dallas, and Lake Highlands while sipping hot cider or chocolate. Tickets are $43 and include transportation, dessert samples, beverages, and tour guide. Meeting spot is at Krispy Kreme on Greenville Avenue at 6:30 pm, and tours are offered once a day through Christmas by Dallas by Chocolate.

Winter "Wine"derland at Greater Dallas Restaurant Association
A knowledgeable sommelier guides guests through a tasting of premium wine from favorite brands. Tasting includes delicious eats from 3015. Tickets start at $75, and the event kicks off at 6 pm.

Wednesday, December 7

Sommelier for a Day at III Forks
Have you ever wanted to be a sommelier at a fine-dining restaurant with a world-class wine cellar? Now is your chance. On the first Wednesday of each month from 5-7 pm, guests can help select featured wines for the coming month. For $20 per person, sample six wines selected by the steakhouse’s wine director and enjoy hors d’oeuvre created by executive chef Chris Vogeli. Call 972-267-1776 for reservations.

Thursday, December 8

Holiday Cocktails Mixology Class at Four Seasons Resort and Club
Learn to make festive punches, eggnogs, and other holiday classics during this interactive class with Bar 19 head bartender Davis Rhea. The class runs from 6-8 pm, and tickets are $28 per person. Reserve your spot by calling 972-717-0700.

Friday, December 9

Spanish Cheese and Wine Class at Scardello Artisan Cheese
Explore the various cheeses from Spain by region — with wine pairings, of course. Tickets are $40, and the class starts at 7 pm. If the event is sold out, call 214-219-1300 to get on the waiting list.

Saturday, December 10

Cointreau Pop-Up Cart at Cedar Grove
The Dallas hot spot hosts a Cointreau pop-up bar cart on December 10 and December 11 from 1-3 pm. The brunch promotion includes a $5 glass at the cart, where a Cointreau representative helps customers muddle, squeeze, and pour an array of fresh ingredients into a Cointreau Rickey cocktail.

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Greek News

Savvy chef team to open Elia Greek Tavern in Dallas' Bishop Arts

Weight Watchers

Branzino with olives and tomatoes

A new restaurant is coming to a revered Oak Cliff location: Called Elia Greek Tavern, it will open this summer in Bishop Arts at 205 N. Bishop Ave., better known as the former home of Nora Restaurant and Bar.

Elia is from highly prolific chef Habip Kargin and his partner Hayko Sherenian, who also own Selda Mediterranean, the growing Turkish restaurant concept which now has four locations in Dallas — including The Mayor's House by Selda, also in Bishop Arts — as well as a location in San Antonio.

When Nora closed in May, they saw an opportunity to offer something new to the neighborhood.

"We wanted to bring an authentic Mediterranean/Greek seafood restaurant to Bishop Arts and also bring another attraction to the area," Sherenian says.

Elia will be a fusion, combining Turkish and Greek cuisine, especially seafood such as baked Greek branzino, dorado, swordfish, and snapper, as well as Greek classics like chicken and lamb.

They'll also do classic Greek dishes like tzatziki and caviar dips, calamari, and saganaki — a pan-fried Greek cheese. Prices will be reasonable for a nice place, from $20-$40 per person.

As is their habit, they're bringing in chefs with expertise: Abdullah "Apo" Acik and Yusuf Alasulu, two chefs from Cyprus, an island south of Greece, to head the culinary team.

The restaurant will be open late nights until 2 am and feature a full bar with wine, beer, and cocktails, as well as a weekday happy hour from 3-6 pm.

The inside of the restaurant is also being renovated with a classic Greek vibe incorporating lots of the color blue.

"It will be upscale but cozy and relaxed at the same time," Sherenian says. "We want the customer to feel as if they just had a meal at a small family restaurant in Greece."

Kargin opened his first restaurant in Mersin, Turkey, before moving to the U.S. He founded Pera, a Mediterranean concept, in 2012 and later opened the original Selda on Belt Line Road in 2020. Sherenian became a partner when they expanded with a location in Frisco, which opened in May.

oak-cliff openings

This Week in Gluttony

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

Greek News

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