This Week in Gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Mmmmm cheesecake.

Photo courtesy of Cheesecake Factory

It's officially crawfish season and the proof is in two major annual boils happening this week, both expected to draw big crowds. Also on the list: an anniversary dinner and an artist meet-and-greet with bites and a beverage. Lastly, ahead of Monday's total solar eclipse, brush up on your outer space knowledge with a discussion paired with beer at a local brewery. Looking for where to watch the eclipse Monday? Find that list here.

Wednesday, April 3

Meet the Maker at Ellie’s
Hall Arts Hotel restaurant and lounge will host artist Austin Uzor for this meet the maker event, which comes with complimentary light bites and a Maker’s Mark cocktail tasting. Uzor’s work will be showcased at this week’s Dallas Art Fair. The event is free and begins at 5 pm with artist Q&A to start at 5:30 pm.

Nerd Night: A Lesson on The Total Eclipse at Celestial Beerworks
Dallas brewery will host an evening of craft brew and conversation ahead of Monday’s total solar eclipse led by space enthusiast Jack Chang. Complimentary beer will be given out to lucky participants throughout the night. Save room for Tex-Mex from the brewery’s onsite taqueria. The event will run from 7–8:30 pm.

Thursday, April 4

Orin Swift Wine Dinner at Meddlesome Moth
The Moth will commemorate its 14th anniversary with a big wine dinner. Enjoy four courses paired with five Orin Swift wines, including chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet, sirah/grenache, and zinfandel. Menu highlights include roasted beet salad, seared duck, and the ricotta & parmesan fondue "moth ball." Dinner is $125 including gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Friday, April 5

A Taste Around the Village at The Shops at Highland Village
Outdoor shopping center hosts its 6th annual tasting event in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Highland Village. Enjoy all-you-can-eat tastings and entertainment including music bingo, a magician, and a 360-degree photo booth. Beer, wine, and cocktails are for purchase. Participating vendors include Delhi 6, Great American Cookie, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Lambeau’s America, Mt. Fuji Steak House, Shoal Creek Tavern, Sip + Savor, Brass Tap, Cheesecake Factory, Torchy’s Tacos, and Whole Foods Market. Tickets are $50 and proceeds benefit five local nonprofits. 6-10 pm.

Saturday, April 6

2024 Dallas Crawfish Kickoff Festival
More than 2,000 are expected to descend upon downtown for this annual crawfish boil, featuring all-you-can-eat crawfish from a variety of vendors, plus full bar and live music. This year, it's at Pacific Plaza, having outgrown its former location at Ferris Plaza. Folding chairs and blankets are permitted, coolers and tents are not. Tickets are $37 plus tax and a small fee; kids 8-and-under get in free. The event will run from 3-6 pm.

Sunday, April 7

Crawfish Fest at Dodie’s Cajun Diner in Rockwall
Annual all-you-can-eat crawfish festival will take place at the Rockwall Harbor on the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, where guests will gather to partake in mudbugs and live music. The $40 ticket ($20 for kids 6-12) includes crawfish, corn, and potatoes along with red beans & rice and jambalaya. Proceeds will benefit the J.E.R. Chilton’s YMCA Angel Camp, and the event will run from 11 am–4 pm.

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Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's an ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.