This week in gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Start the New Year with a new Sunday supper tradition at Monarch.

Monarch

January means it’s citrus season and Girl Scout Cookie season, and there are tasty events featuring both this week. It’s also a good time to take up a new skill, like stretching your own hand-made mozzarella. Finally, bring back the tradition of the family-style Sunday supper at a sky-high restaurant in Dallas this week.

Friday, January 12

Dallas Farmers Market Drink Dash
Stroll through The Market, The Shops at Harvest Lofts + Taylor Lofts enjoying delicious drinks like an Espresso Martini, Champagne, or Hot Cider plus small bites. Each shop will offer a drink or bite (or both!) from their origin helping to toast to a new year of longevity, abundance, good fortunes, and lots of fun. Abundantly Aromatic will serve Bubbling Cider, JuiceBabe will serve Flu Fighter, Rex’s Seafood will serve Spiked Frozen Lemonade Tea, and more. It's 5-8 pm. Tickets are $35 and include 16 drinks and six bites, souvenir DFM glass, and koozie.

Girl Scout Cookies + Cocktails Launch Party at Sweet Tooth Hotel
Sweet news from the Sweet Tooth Hotel immersive art experience: Girl Scout Cookie cocktails and mocktails are back. Visit Sweet Tooth’s Calirosa Cocktail Lounge for drinks inspired by the coveted cookies, including the Lemon-Upper (a nod to Lemon-Ups), Thicc Mint (inspired by Thin Mints), Tagalonging (inspired by Tagalongs), Trefoiled (a nod to Trefoils), and Stanning Samoas (inspired by the fan-favorite Samoas). The menu will be available starting Friday at 7:30 pm with a launch party and will run through February 16. Admission to the cocktail lounge is free, and entry to the art exhibits is $25.

Saturday, January 13

Hands-On Cheesemaking Class at The Mozzarella Company
Fresh mozzarella is a game changer in the kitchen, whether added to bruschetta, pizza, pasta, or simply sliced for a salad or snacking. Learn to make and stretch your own during this hands-on class that starts with a cheese factory tour and ends with a wine and cheese tasting party. The class is $85 and there are two start times: 12 pm and 3 pm.

Citrus Stroll at Central Market
It’s a “tart-y party” at the gourmet grocer, which will kick off its annual Citrus Fest with a citrus sampling stroll at all locations. Stations throughout the store will feature bites like coriander lime pork chops, citrus spring rolls, pink lemonade cake, and more. The free event will run from 2-5 pm. Register in advance and receive a $5 coupon.

Sunday, January 14

Martin Luther King Indoor Food Festival
Celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday over soul food and live cultural performances. Eat from the best caterers and shop with small business in the area. 12-6 pm. Hosted by Jus4U, at Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery St. Free entry with RSVP ticket at www.TexasFoodFest.com or $10 at the door.

Sunday Supper at Monarch
The wood-fired modern Italian restaurant, led by two-time Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant, will launch a new weekly Sunday Supper. The family-style, three-course menu will rotate weekly. Highlights from the kick-off menu include panzanella salad, King crab deviled eggs, veal osso buco, seafood cioppino, and warm berry crispy with vanilla ice cream. Reservations are $85 and begin at 5 pm.

Five Course Citrus Dinner at Central Market
Central Market's Lovers Lane location will host a five-course wine pairing dinner inside its cooking school. But prepare to sit back and relax because this is not a cooking class. Patrons will indulge in citrus-infused menu featuring American and Filipino influences. Dishes include Hamachi crudo, king crab salad, Filipino barbecue pork tenderloin, duck breast with blood orange sauce, and a calamansi tart with meringue and toasted coconut. The $120 price includes Napa Valley wine pairings by a sommelier. Dinner begins at 6 pm.

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H-E-B begins quest for Texas' best in 2026 grocery competition

H-E-B

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It’s not America’s Got Talent or The Voice, but for 12 years, H-E-B has been steadily churning out stars. Through its annual Quest for Texas Best competition, small companies have become literal household names, filling pantries across the state. Now, a new crop of products has the chance to audition.

H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best will take applications for its 13th annual contest from March 11 through April 22. Small business owners and entrepreneurs across the state can submit their unique and innovative products to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature their products on H-E-B shelves across Texas.

Since the competition started, H-E-B has discovered over 1,000 unique products across the Lone Star State. These have included various food and non-food items, including cookies, coffees, beauty items, toys, home goods, and even roasted crickets. The contest has awarded nearly $3 million in prize money and provided valuable marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support to its winners.

Over the years, Dallas-Fort worth has been well-represented among the champions. Spicytude, a Dallas company that sells Indian spices and chai tea, won third place in the 2025 competition, netting a $10,000 prize and opportunity to have products sold at H-E-B stores.

To be considered for the contest, interested suppliers and manufacturers can submit videos online. After the Call for Entries period is complete, H-E-B's Business Development Managers will select the top applicants who will head to San Antonio in October to present their wares in person before a panel of judges.

The jury will determine the top four winning products and award $50,000 to the Grand Prize winner, the title of "Texas Best," and placement on H-E-B store shelves. The first-place winner will receive $25,000, the second-place winner will receive $15,000, and the third-place winner will receive $10,000.

“We look forward to connecting with Texas-based innovators each year and providing exciting opportunities through this competition,” said James Harris, H-E-B’s Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity for H-E-B, in a release. “I can’t wait to see what products are brought to the table this year. After 12 years of the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best, the creativity and ingenuity of Texans still inspire me.”

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