This week in gluttony

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This week includes plenty of wine.

Photo courtesy of LakeTravisLifestyle.com

Christmas spirit is in full swing, with all but one of this week’s events being holiday-themed. Check off pics with Santa for both the family and fur babies; take a Christmas cocktail-making class; sample holiday spirits from around the world; and stroll acres of candlelit walkways while indulging in holiday hors d’oeuvres and drinks – just to name a few. ‘Tis the season.

Tuesday, December 6

Caymus Wine Dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Decadent four-course meal features pairings with wines from award-winning Caymus. Courses include Stuffed Mushrooms with Shrimp, Rigatoni Al Forno with Chicken, Filet & Scallop Spiedino with Mashed Potatoes, and Crème Brulée, paired with Caymus wines including Cabernet Sauvignon and Conundrum Red Blend. The dinner is $75 starts at 6:30 pm. For the Dallas location, reserve here, and for Plano, reserve here.

Fontodi Wine Dinner at La Stella Cucina Verace
The Dallas Arts District Italian restaurant will host a five-course dinner paired with wines from Fontodi, a producer located in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Courses will include beef carpaccio, butternut squash cappellacci with brown butter and sage, porchetta di Pienza with marble potatoes, Wagyu New York strip tagliata with porcini mushroom and butternut squash, and apple crostata. Dinner begins at 7 pm and is $175 plus tax and gratuity.

Thursday, December 8

Santa Paws at Texican Court Hotel
The Irving hotel invites furry friends and their humans to pop by for photos with Santa and complimentary hot apple cider and s’mores by the fire. Santa will be available for pet photos from 5-7 pm. Also enter to win a “Pups Night Away” overnight stay. Don’t miss the hotel’s pocket tequila bar, Salt, for new holiday cocktails in jolly keepsake glassware.

Reindeer Games Bar Crawl
Here’s a holiday bar crawl that spans beyond just drink specials. Participants get their money’s worth with a night of mini golf, axe throwing, unlimited video games, a chartered “sleigh bus,” and a pizza buffet. Start at Another Round and make stops at Flashback Retro Pub, LoneStar Axe Dallas, and Sylvan Avenue Tavern. Participants will also get a beer or seltzer at each stop. Tickets are $150 per duo, and the crawl will run from 6:15-10:30 pm.

Holiday Spirits Around the World at Hotel Vin
Sample an array of global spirits during this tasting experience at Grapevine’s Hotel Vin. Spirits to be served include Montenegro Italian liqueur, The Dalmore Scottish whiskey, Komo tequila, and Horse Soldier bourbon. Each spirit will be paired with globally-inspired bites. The tasting is $50 and will begin at 7 pm.

Friday, December 9

Cocktails by Candlelight at Old City Park
Candlelight will feature more than 13 acres of holiday cheer with decorated buildings, carolers, craft vendors, and candlelit walkways in Old City Park. Its 50^th edition is set to begin on December 10, but adults only can get a sneak peek the night before during Cocktails by Candlelight, which comes with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Tickets are $100 per person or $175 per couple, and the event begins at 6 pm.

Saturday, December 10

Shaken, Not Stirred, Holiday Cocktail Class at Elm & Good
The modern American restaurant inside the Kimpton Pittman Hotel will host a holiday cocktail class great for groups looking to make spirits bright. Elm & Good’s lead mixologist Indy Acevedo-Fowler will guide guests through creating three cocktails: a cranberry margarita, peppermint espresso martini, and sangria rosa. Guests will also receive a branded take-away gift. The class is $35 and will begin at 2 pm.

Sunday, December 11

Brunch with Santa at the AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria
Meet the big guy himself while indulging in brunch dishes during this family-friendly Sunday Funday. Tickets are $25 for adults (includes one mimosa) and $15 for kids 3-12. Children will get to meet Santa and take family photos. Brunch will run from 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

Monday, December 12

12 Days of Thompson
The Thompson Hotel Dallas will spread Christmas cheer with 12 days of daily holiday activations. The festivities start Monday with Home Alone, S’mores & Sips, a movie night with cocktails themed after the Christmas classic, a s’mores bar, and movie screening amid downtown views. The price is a $15 charitable donation. Doors opens at 5 pm with the movie to start at 6 pm. Other 12 Days of Thompson events range from a pie-baking class and cookie decorating to brunch with Santa and Holiday High Tea. See the complete calendar of events here.

holidays wine news-you-can-eat dinner

outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Photo courtesy of Starboy's

Check out the cheese pull on Starboy's birria pizza.

A new pizza restaurant is slinging a variety of innovative pies in the Dallas Medical District: Called Starboy’s Pizzeria, the new shop is part of Food Nation Cinco Cocinas, the eclectic food hall at 4711 Maple Ave. The food hall was created by Ray Quintanilla and legendary restaurateur and "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex" Mico Rodriguez, who died earlier this month at age 68.

John Flores, an IT professional and self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys super-fan, created Starboy’s Pizzeria, which is now open in the former Sal’s Pizza and Restaurant space. Friends call Flores by the nickname "Starboy," which combines his love for the Cowboys and his fascination with NASA and space, he explains.

Flores met Quintanilla and Rodriguez while hosting karaoke at Mico’s Bar, another food hall occupant. When Sal’s closed earlier this year, they saw an opportunity to fill the void with a refreshed pizza concept.

“It is because of Mico that I even thought about starting this project: he was part of this, he was always happy, and we really hit it off, so I miss him,” Flores says.

Starboy's Pizzeria joins Mico’s Bar, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Wing City, and JJ’s Cafe, which opened a location in the food hall earlier this year.

Lupe Ibarra, a chef from the closed Sal’s Pizza with 25 years of experience, stayed on at Starboy's to continue perfecting traditional recipes while creating signature new ones tied to Flores’ Mexican heritage.

The result of the collaboration is a menu that includes traditional favorites alongside creative pies with a Mexican-inspired twist like the Pizza Birria (resembling the flavor profile of popular birria tacos), elotero, chicken fajitas, and pastor, among more than 15 specialty offerings.

Flores' passion for the Cowboys is especially evident in several unique creations:

Cry Eagles Cry: Inspired by the Philly cheesesteak, topped with beef, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella.
Starboy’s Classic (Blue): Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and fresh arugula.
Starboy’s Classic (Silver): White sauce, chicken, mushrooms, onions, arugula, mozzarella, and a balsamic glaze.
Cowboy: Brisket, onions, barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.

Starboy's 16-inch pizzas range from $14-$25, with individual slices priced around $4. The menu also features sub sandwiches, pastas with a variety of sauces, and chicken Parmesan, all under $14.

To cater to the busy medical, residential, and retail crowds nearby, Starboy's offers lunch deals for under $12, which include pasta and garlic knots or a slice of pizza and a salad, complete with a drink.

Flores explains that his heritage and his mother’s influence serve as the primary driving force behind his new venture.

“My mom would always host family gatherings. She always fed people, and I got that from her. I like to see smiles on people’s faces from the things I do,” he says. “I have big dreams for this place. I want us to be part of the community and give back.”

Flores remains involved with karaoke at Mico’s Bar and is focused on driving traffic to the entire complex. He hosts Cowboys watch parties, while his adult children — Nathan, Natalie, and Amy — assist with social media, website management, and overall promotion for Starboy’s.

“When people try our pizzas for the first time, their eyes light up, so we know we are on the right track,” Flores says.

Starboy’s Pizzeria is open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

dallas pizza starboy's food nation cinco cocinas maple street food hall dallas medical district lunch pizzeria locally owned latino owned business pizza dallas cowboys tex-mex

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outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall