This week in gluttony

Alpine-inspired pop-up tops 5 best Dallas food & drink events this week

Tableside s'mores at Haywire Plano.

Haywire Plano

Find ski lodge vibes without hitting the slopes during a Plano pop-up that launches with a kick-off party this week. January also marks the start of Carnival season, and there's a cooking class with French Quarter inspo. Keep moving with brewery yoga and a taco and beer social run, then end the week with mahjong, martinis, and mocktails.

Thursday, January 8

Après Haywire Pop-Up Opening Day
Kick off ski season at Haywire Plano’s après-themed pop-up, located on the restaurant’s third floor rooftop patio. Sponsored by High West Whiskey, the cozy Alpine-inspired experience will feature seasonal cocktails, whiskey tastings, comfort food specials, a hat bar, DJ music, and complimentary leather luggage tag branding for the first 50 guests. Dress in your best ski-themed ‘fit for a chance to win a $100 Haywire gift card. The kick-off party will run from 6-9 pm and the pop-up runs through February 8.

Bourbon Street at The Cookery
Carnival season officially begins this week and runs through Fat Tuesday, which falls on February 17. Let the good times roll now during this hands-on cooking class themed around Bourbon Street eats. The menu includes spicy Cajun crawfish bread; shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage jambalaya; and bananas foster with vanilla bean ice cream. The $125 ticket price also includes hurricane cocktails and wine pairings. Class begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, January 10

Peticolas Running Club Social Run/Walk
Peticolas Brewing Company will dedicate its first social run/walk of the year to staying motivated through “quitters’ day” – the unofficial day when most quit their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions. Complete three miles during this leisurely run or walk, then be rewarded with tacos and beer. The $35 ticket includes tacos from That Taco Dude, three pours, and a social run branded pint glass. Check in begins at 8 am with a rolling start until 9 am.

Saturday Morning Brewery Yoga at Westlake Brewing
The downtown brewery has been hosting free Saturday morning yoga classes since it opened in 2019. Bring your own mat and towel, along with tip money for the instructor. Class begins at 10 am sharp. Stick around for a pint after class.

Mahjong, Martinis, & Mocktails at Bar Juniper
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas will combine mahjong with martinis and mocktails during this afternoon experience inside its chic and spacious lobby bar. The $95 ticket includes a curated martini flight, seasonal mocktails, and an assortment of sweet and savory bites along with complimentary mahjong instruction. Reservations begin at 12 p m.

cooking class dinner food events

Margaritas & fajitas

Dallas Mexican favorite El Molino to debut new location at Preston Royal

Photo by Samantha Marie Photography

Enchilada plate at El Molino.

A Dallas Mexican restaurant that quickly built a following for its wood-fired fajitas and flaming margaritas is expanding with a second high-profile location. El Molino, from Vandelay Companies, will open Monday, August 10 in Preston Royal Shopping Center.

According to a release, the new restaurant will take over the former Anchor Sushi Bar space at 6025 Royal Ln., Ste. 250.

The opening comes about 10 months after El Molino debuted in Snider Plaza, where it introduced a menu centered on wood-fired fajitas in a cozy, upscale atmosphere. It earned much acclaim and even garnered a nomination for Best New Restaurant in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

According to the release, the new restaurant spans 6,000 square feet - significantly larger than the 83-seat original - and will feature an expanded menu while maintaining the neighborhood feel of the Snider Plaza location.

Entrees, chips, queso, and margs at El Molino.Photo by Samantha Marie Photography

At the heart of the menu is still El Molino's wood-fired fajita program, with options including USDA Prime tenderloin, grilled chicken, jumbo tiger shrimp, marinated prime ribeye, and combination platters.

Other dishes include queso, elote corn chowder, fresh tuna nachos, tacos, enchiladas, salads, and entrées such as the Las Vegas Ribeye, Crispy Shrimp Brochette, Filet Mignon Famosa, and Grilled Sonora Quail.

The beverage program includes the restaurant's signature Flaming Margarita, frozen margaritas in flavors such as passion fruit, pineapple jalapeño, cherry vanilla, and mango, plus handcrafted cocktails and sipping tequilas.

El Molino Flaming margaritas are a must.Photo by Samantha Marie Photography

According to the release, the Preston Hollow location will also offer a daily happy hour from 3-6 pm at the bar with discounted frozen flaming margaritas, house margaritas, and sangria.

“The response to El Molino since its debut has exceeded our expectations, making Preston Hollow a natural next step for the brand,” says Hunter Pond, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vandelay Companies, in the release. “This larger location allows us to welcome even more guests while building upon the food, hospitality and overall experience that have made the Snider Plaza restaurant so successful.”

El Molino The Preston-Royal location will take over the former Anchor Sushi Bar space.Photo by Samantha Marie Photography

Pond also addressed the closure of Anchor Sushi Bar and why El Molina made sense to take over its spot.

“We intentionally opened Anchor Bar in two very different footprints to determine the best long-term model for the brand,” said Hunter Pond, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vandelay Companies, in a statement. “What we learned is that Anchor is at its best in a more intimate setting, like our Knox location, and that's the format we'll continue to expand. A larger footprint is much better suited for a high-energy Tex-Mex concept like El Molino, making Preston Royal the ideal home for its next chapter.”

Once it opens August 10, the Preston Hollow location of El Molina will be open for lunch and dinner, 11 am-9 pm Sunday-Wednesday and 11 am-10 pm Thursday-Saturday.

mexican cuisine preston hollow snider plaza preston royal openings