Foodie Things To Do

The 5 best food and drink events in Dallas during New Year's week

Visit Strokers Ice House for beer, burgers, and chili on New Year's Day.

Strokers Ice House/Facebook

The year comes to a close with many delicious ways to celebrate in Dallas. We have an entire list of places hosting New Year's Eve dinner, and another whole list of places open for New Year's Day brunch. But don't slack during the rest of the week, when there are options for daytime New Year's Eve dining (staying up until midnight not required), a big annual chili cook-off, and opportunities to kickstart a healthier 2025 in the kitchen.

Tuesday, December 31

New Year’s Eve Brunch at Four Corners Brewing Co.
The Dallas brewery will open early on New Year’s Eve for coffee, tea, micheladas and more served with a special menu by Pacheco Taco & Burger. The special event menus will be available from 9 am–2 pm, but the kitchen will remain open until 7 pm and the taproom until 8 pm.

Noon Year’s Eve at Fish City Grill
If staying up until midnight is not in your New Year's Eve plans, visit any location of Fish City Grill for a lunchtime party to ring in 2025. There’ll be party hats, table décor, and specials like $8 French 75s and peach bellinis. Lunch menu specials include horseradish artic char with Creole cream and buttermilk mashed potatoes ($25), and lobster and shrimp grilled cheese with applewood smoked bacon ($20.49). Fish City Grill has locations in Allen, Dallas, Flower Mound, and Richardson.

Wednesday, January 1

16th Annual Chili Cookoff at Strokers Ice House
Start the New Year off with some spice. The legendary Dallas biker bar and restaurant will host its annual chili cook-off, and guests get to judge. Pay $5 to taste all entries and choose your favorite. There’ll be trophies for first, second, and third places, and judging starts at 3 pm. But arrive as early as 12 noon to start sampling. Motorcycle not required.

Friday, January 3

Steakhouse at The Cookery
Learn how to pan sear the perfect steak during this hands-on culinary class at The Cookery Dallas. The three-course menu will feature scratch Caesar salad with garlic croutons, pan-seared steaks with whole grain mustard sauce, creamed spinach, and Duchess potatoes, and mini Oreo cheesecakes with raspberry whipped cream. Tickets are $125 and include wine and Manhattan cocktail pairings. Class begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, January 4

Winter Wellness Event at Central Market Plano
Kick off 2025 with some healthy inspiration. Visit Central Market Plano for complimentary wellness product samples, recipe ideas and demos, and 25 percent off vitamins, supplements, bars, and body care. The event will run from 12–3 pm.

event-planner holidays

Wine Bar News

Unique wine bar will open in former Fireside Pies in northeast Dallas

Water's Edge

Water's Edge Winery

There's a convivial new concept coming to northeast Dallas: Called Waters Edge Winery, it's a winery and cafe from California, opening at the Creekside Village shopping center at 6750 Abrams Rd., where it will take over the space that was previously home to Fireside Pies.

According to a spokesperson for the concept, it will open in early 2025.

Waters Edge was founded by husband-and-wife Ken and Angela Lineberger as a combination urban winery franchise with accompanying bistro. Wines are crafted from grape juice purchased from around the world and bottled at each location, then sold by the glass or the bottle.

Their portfolio includes more than 50 wines, with grapes culled from regions like California, France, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, and Spain, in all your basic varietals: pinot noir, merlot, pinot grigio, chardonnay, cabernet, plus a selection of sangria wines in flavors such as peach apricot white sangria and raspberry peach red sangria.

The concept combines those elements of a traditional winery with a wine bar concept, offering a bistro-style menu with appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.

The menu runs heavy on shareable items such as boards and flatbreads, plus appetizers such as black truffle burrata, smoked Gouda arancini with sun-dried tomato pesto, crispy potato skins with Raclette cheese & samba sauce, a mini baguette with flavored butters, and cheesy Southwest corn dip with and tortilla chips.

There are bowls, panini and flatbreads such as pepperoni, steak & mushroom, and intriguing options such as the French onion with roasted garlic spread, caramelized onions, and Swiss Cheese — like a French onion soup on a pizza. Entrees include cheese tortelini and short ribs with mashed potatoes.

They also do custom bottle labeling as personalized gifts, private tasting areas for groups, a wine club and more.

They currently have 11 locations including one that opened in Houston in 2020. Dallas is one of three lined up to open in 2025.

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