This week in gluttony

Chill out during 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

There's a whole day devoted to cool, refreshing watermelon this week.

Photo by Rens D on Unsplash

This week's events will help bring on the chill during a hot week. Have a sweet slice of summer at a watermelon fiesta, find refreshment during a spritz sip-and-stroll, then keep cool at a gelato party. For those who like the heat, Hatch chile season is officially underway.

Friday, August 1

29th Annual Hatch Chile Festival launch at Blue Mesa Grill
It’s one of the longest-running Hatch chile festivals in existence, and it happens at Blue Mesa Grill every August. The Southwestern-inspired restaurant will serve a lengthy menu of specials using the piquant New Mexican pepper all month long. Highlights include fried Hatch chile strips, Hatch chile rellenos, Hatch brownies with cajeta swirl, and a pineapple Hatch margarita with grilled pineapple. Hatch chiles will also be featured at all weekend brunches throughout the month, or whenever the last crop arrives.

Saturday, August 2

Dallas’ Original Watermelon Day at Dallas Farmers Market
Have a sweet slice of summer at Dallas Farmers Market’s seventh annual Watermelon Day, this year featuring 15 different varieties of Texas-grown watermelons. Bring the whole family for kids' workshops, face painting, watermelon carvers, cooking demos, live music, and tastings all day. The event will run from 9 am-5 pm.

National Spritz Day Stroll in Bishops Arts
Sip spritzes of all sorts – from Aperol to limoncello – during this boozy stroll in the Bishop Arts district. The $15 ticket includes one Campari cocktail, spritzy samples, party favors, and discounted drinks from six-plus stops, including Casablanca, Paradiso, and Bar Eden. The event will run from 12-5 pm and check-in is at Bishop Lane’s.

Dallas Taco & Margarita Festival
At the Dallas Taco & Margarita Festival, presented by Casamigos Tequila, guests can sample some of the best tacos and margaritas that Irving has to offer. General admission ticketholders will receive five (two food and three drink) sampling tickets for margarita samples, tacos, elote, and other items, while VIP guests receive seven (three food and four drink) sampling tickets. There will also be live music and a beer garden, and a portion of the proceeds benefits Alexiam Foundation. The event runs 12-6 pm at Ferris Wheelers; tickets are here.

Sunday, August 3

Gelato Festa at Eataly
The NorthPark Italian gourmet grocer and dining destination will host a gelato party featuring 15 sweet, savory, and boozy flavors across the entire the store. Varieties range from gelato affogato and Caprese gelato to prosciutto di parma and melon sorbet. Tastes require tickets, which start at $3 for one, or spend $40 and get access to all stations, plus drinks. There’ll also be live entertainment. The event will run from 3-6 pm.

The Giving Table: Love For Kerrville
More than 20 area chefs will come together to prepare a family-style dinner benefiting Mercy Chefs, an organization currently in Kerrville that is provides hot, chef-prepared meals to victims, first responders, and volunteers. Set to take place at Profound Foods in Fairview, the dinner will include four to five courses paired with complimentary beverages. Chefs include Katherine Clapner, Dean Fearing, and Sharon Van Meter. Tickets are $150 or go VIP for $175 and get entry to cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres. Dinner begins at 6 pm with cocktail hour at 5 pm.

Monday, August 4

Uncommon Ramen at Uchiba
There are only a few very late-night reservations left for this monthly series at Uchiba featuring innovative ramen dishes. This month's bowl is black garlic and truffle tonkotsu ramen ($22.50, or $19.50 for vegetarian) from guest chef Jon Stevens, chef and owner of Stock & Barrel, in collaboration with Uchi and Uchibā chef de cuisine Rhonda McCullar. An abbreviated regular menu will be offered. Reservations are available from 9:30 to 11 pm on the patio, but hurry.

cocktails dallas farmers market desserts festivals hatch chile events

Craft Beer News

Lakewood Brewing brings Fort Worth favorite Rahr beers to Dallas

Photo by Mary Tuab/Flickr

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands.

Longtime Fort Worth craft beer name Rahr & Sons Brewing is about to surface in a new location: The brewery, which exited its longtime brewery space in Fort Worth in 2025, has entered a new partnership with another acclaimed brewery: Lakewood Brewing of Dallas.

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands, bringing together two of North Texas’ most respected craft brewing pioneers.

"Rahr Brewing has been seeking additional brewing capacity to help meet increasing Dallas demand," their statement says. "Under this new agreement, Lakewood Brewing will produce certain Rahr brands at its Dallas facility, while Rahr will continue brewing beer in Fort Worth."

As an added benefit to the new partnership, Rahr beers will be served on tap at the Lakewood Brewery taproom.

Rahr left their Fort Worth location after 20 years, with a goal to find a new home. (Their space was taken over by Blue Flag whiskey distiller.) Rahr has continued to brew their beers, maintaining their availability in restaurants, bars, and stores.

Craft beer pioneer Fritz Rahr debuted his namesake brewery in 2004, back when Fort Worth was “very much a Miller-Coors town,” as he said in 2024. They went on to establish themselves as the godfather of Fort Worth's craft beer scene, thanks to an evolving roster of beers that range from classics like Texas Red American ale to newer favorites like Dadgum IPA — earning them critical nods such as a CultureMap Tastemakers Award nomination in 2023 for Brewery of the Year.

Founded by craft beer aficionado Wim Bens in 2012, Lakewood Brewing has become one of Texas’ most recognized independent craft breweries, winning numerous awards. Their tap room on the east side of Dallas is a popular beer hound haunt.

With the new partnership, the two brands will collaborate on brewing projects, special releases, community events, and initiatives that celebrate the vibrant culture of North Texas craft beer.

“This partnership is built on friendship, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the future of Texas craft beer,” says Fritz Rahr in a statement.

“Together, we can continue to innovate while honoring the traditions that have made both of our breweries successful," Wim Bens says. “Rahr Brewing has long been a cornerstone of the North Texas brewing community. We are excited to produce some of their brands here at our brewery.”

---
Celestina Blok contributed to this story.

craft-beer openings