It’s a week for culinary education. There are four cooking classes on the calendar this week, from brisket-smoking to pasta-making. Also on the list is a taco festival (paired with furniture shopping), a State Fair of Texas-inspired beer dinner, a big Oktoberfest, and an always-sold-out 14- to 16-course sushi tasting with just a few seats left.

Tuesday, September 27

Loco for Elotes & Wine at Landon Winery at The Sound
Here’s a new wine pairing partner: elotes. The Coppell outlet of this local winery will pair four wines with four varieties of Mexican grilled corn slathered in an array of toppings, from chorizo and hot Cheetos to smoked blue cheese fondue. The pairing is $48 per person, plus tax, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, September 28

Omakase + Cocktails at Kessaku
One seating has already sold out for this 14- to 16-course sushi dinner, and a second seating is close to capacity. The elaborate dinner includes sake and cocktails, and is $250 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Kessaku is located on the 50^th floor of The National downtown, and dinner begins at 6 pm.

Altered State of A-Fairs Fall Beer Dinner at On Rotation
UPDATE: This dinner has been postponed until October 13. Lemmon Avenue brewery and restaurant will host a four-course beer dinner with a State Fair of Texas theme. Think deep-fried bacon-wrapped bratwurst, deep-fried Caesar salad, and even deep-fried Rocky Road brownies. A main course will feature espresso-crusted tomahawk ribeye steak. All courses come with a beer pairing, and tickets are $50 per person. Dinner begins at 7 pm.

Thursday, September 29

Make Bolognese at a Brewery
Take date night to the next level with this hands-on pasta-making class to be held at Pegasus City Brewery. Guests will learn how to make Bolognese with beef and burgundy wine, then enjoy the results with a beer from the brewery. Tickets are $55 per person and class begins at 7 pm.

Friday, September 30

ZestFest
The three-day fiery food experience is back at Market Hall Dallas for a sizzling good time. Guests can sample spicy creations from food vendors and celeb chefs, like Jon Bonnell, Eddie Deen, and Dean Fearing. There’ll be live music, chili-eating contests, and hot sauce sampling. Tickets are $16 per person on Friday and $20 per person on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, October 1

Brisket U at Peticolas Brewing Company
Become a certified backyard pitmaster after a three-hour course at this Dallas brewery. Brisket U instructors will teach the art of smoking meats, including the quintessential Texas brisket. Learn how to select meat, trim it, rub it, and manage a firebox to smoke it before finally slicing it. The class is $119 per person and will run from 9 am-12 pm.

Irving Oktoberfest
Free community event at Texas Lottery Plaza at Toyota Music Factory will have a Biergarten, brats, strudel, plus an eclectic Marktplatz with arts & crafts. German-American bands performing include The Royal Klobasneks, Nitty Gritty Polka Band, and Tootie Latte. Festivities begin at 8 am. Build an appetite with a 5K by Irving Marathon, followed by a Keg Tapping Ceremony. From 11 am-4 pm, there'll be a Barktoberfest Paw Crawl, a pet-friendly patio bar crawl and dog costume contest hosted by adjacent bars including Green Gator, Kitchen 101, Mesa Mezcal (Westin), Nosh & Bottle, Pacheco’s Taco Bar, and Reservoir.

Tacotopia at Nebraska Furniture Mart
Furniture shopping and tacos combine for the perfect Saturday. Visit The Lawn at Grandscape for this taco festival hosted by Nebraska Furniture Mart, featuring live music, entertainment, and lots of tacos. Food vendors include Lava Cantina, Paletas San Marcos, Julies Sweet Bakery, and more. Event entry is free, although a VIP upgrade comes with reserved seating, two drink tickets, and a gift bag. (Inquire upon arrival.) The event begins at noon and the last band goes on at 4:30 pm.

Yappy Hour at Chido Taco Lounge
The Frisco taco bar and lounge will host a dog-friendly happy hour with a mission. Order a Tito’s Vodka Brown Sugar Lemonade and a portion of sales will be donated to Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas. Nearby Bark N Fetch pet supplies is a co-host, and a portion of sales there will also be donated. Yappy Hour will run from 3–6 pm.

Sunday, October 2

Brisket U at Oak Cliff Brewing Co.
It’s another opportunity to perfect your backyard pitmaster skills. The folks from Brisket U will showcase the art of smoking brisket from start to finish. The class is $119 per person and will run from 10 am–1 pm.

Cook with Heart at the Dallas Arboretum
Learn the secrets of heart-healthy eating from Cindy Kleckner, author of DASH Diet for Dummies. Kleckner will demonstrate how healthy cooking and great taste can coexist with a three-course menu, including grilled macadamia nut citrus crusted salmon salad, ancient grain salad with dried cherries, and mint & mixed berry walnut crisp. Class is $65 for Arboretum members and $75 for non-members. The class will run from 12–3 pm.