This week in gluttony

Steak 101 leads 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Steak cuts from the Local Yocal.

Local Yocal BBQ & Grill

Grilling season is upon us and this week brings two opportunities to adequately prepare with classes on both steak and techniques - both come with delicious meals. Continue the education with a coffee brewing workshop this weekend. Ramen lovers, there are still seats for an "uncommon ramen" pop-up on Monday night.

Monday, April 6

Uncommon Ramen at Uchiba
There are only a few late-night reservations left for this monthly ramen pop-up at Uchiba, which features collaborations with top area chefs. This one welcomes Meridian executive chef Eduardo Osario, who’ll create wood-fired beef cheek tonkatsu ramen via flambadou ($24.50), a French grilling tool made of cast iron and typically shaped like a cone, used to melt fat to baste foods over an open fire. The special will be available until 10 pm.

Wednesday, April 8

McAlister's Grand Opening in Greenville
Sandwich chain McAlister’s Deli will celebrate its recent opening in Greenville (6834 South Wesley) with giveaways and a performance by the Greenville High School band. The first 50 people in line at 10 am will receive a $50 gift card. Grand opening-related deals actually start the day before: On Tuesday, April 7, first responders, medical professionals, active military personnel, veterans, and teachers receive a complimentary meal from 5-7 pm. Also on April 7 from 12-2 pm, guests who donate a minimum of $2 to The Salvation Army of Hunt County via Eventbrite are invited to enjoy a complimentary meal.

Thursday, April 9

Komodo Dallas Anniversary Party
It was April 2023 that this Southeast Asian fusion restaurant from Miami-based Groot Hospitality opened in the Epic tower building on the edge of Deep Ellum, with its signature high-energy blend of dining and nightlife. Now three years later, they'll celebrate with an anniversary dinner on April 9, hosted by founders David & Isabela Grutman, featuring bubbly and menu highlights such as fried chicken, garlic noodles, and fried rice. Price a la carte. 6-11 pm.

Saturday, April 11

Hands-On Brewing Workshop at White Rock Coffee
Learn how to brew coffee like a pro during this popular class at White Rock Coffee’s "brew lab." Learn the coffee shop’s five essentials for brewing while tasting different coffees from around the world. Tickets for the highly caffeinated experience are $103, and the class will run from 10 am-12 pm. (Note that ticket sales end April 9.) For those interested in learning how to create latte art, White Rock Coffee will host a class on that topic Sunday, April 12.

Steak 101 at Local Yocal BBQ & Grill
Matt Hamilton, the entertaining founder of McKinney-based Local Yocal will host a class on all things beef during this interactive lunch-and-learn. Enjoy 17-plus steak samples and scratch-made sides, along with adult beverages available for purchase, while Hamilton educates on everything from certification programs, meat grading, cattle raising, grilling, and much more. Tickets are $99 and doors open at 12:45 pm for the 1 pm class start.

An American Grill at Central Market Cooking School
The Lovers Lane location of Central Market will host a hands-on class featuring a steakhouse-caliber meal. The menu includes heirloom tomato salad with bacon, blue cheese, and basil, grilled steak with whiskey butter, grilled corn grits, and ice cream-topped chocolate chip pie. Class participants will work in small teams. The $110 price includes wine with the final meal. Class begins at 6:30 pm.

food events

Taking the field

Dak Prescott-backed Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux kicks off in Wylie

Photo courtesy of Walk-Ons

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is opening in Wylie on August 10.

A Louisiana sports bar chain that counts Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as a partner continues to build its fan base in Dallas-Fort Worth: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is set to open a new location in Wylie on Monday, August 10.

Announced earlier this year, the restaurant is at 906 FM 544, near the intersection of Highway 78 and FM 544. The opening marks the chain's 20th Texas location and its second operating restaurant in the DFW area.

Founded in Baton Rouge in 2003 by former LSU basketball "walk-ons" Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On's has grown to more than 80 locations nationwide. The company is co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (an Austin native), and franchise partners include Prescott, along with former NFL player Derrick Brooks, and college football coach Dabo Swinney.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Wylie The new Walk-On's is at 906 FM 544, Wylie.Photo courtesy of Walk-On's

The menu is centered on seafood and classic Louisiana dishes: fried seafood platters, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, po'boys, fried oysters, gumbo, fried alligator, and boudin balls. Prices range from $10 to $20.

Starters include waffle cheese fries, fried pickles, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders, spinach-artichoke dip, and venison nachos. They have a bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

There's also a plentiful selection of beers on tap, plus margaritas and other crafty-ish cocktails.

The Wylie restaurant is owned by franchisee Cooper Thomson, who says the community made the city an appealing place to expand.

"I am thrilled to expand Walk-On's presence in Dallas, and particularly in the community of Wylie," Thomson says in a release. "To be a part of the growth in this area - to serve families and be a place where little league teams celebrate and football fans cheer on their team - is such a special opportunity."

Although Walk-On's has been in the DFW market since pre-pandemic times, Wylie will be its second restaurant in DFW open currently, joining a location at Grandscape in The Colony. Earlier Dallas-area locations in Irving and Arlington have closed, although the company has previously said it plans to reopen the Arlington restaurant at a new location.

The Wylie restaurant features a sports bar with dozens of TVs, a large outdoor patio, and a family-friendly dining room designed for game-day crowds.

Grand opening festivities will kick off at 10:30 am on Monday, August 10, with a ceremony featuring Walk-On's founder Brandon Landry, franchise owner Cooper Thomson, Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, city officials, and representatives from Wylie High School and Wylie East High School.

The celebration will include donations to the two schools' athletic departments, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 am. Doors open to the public at 11 am, and the first 100 guests to dine will have a chance to win free Walk-On's for a year.

Walk-On's will be the second sports bar concept with celebrity cred to open in DFW within a few days' time. Shark Club, from Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, opened Friday, August 7 in Northlake.

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