This week in gluttony

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

Komodo Dallas has launched Omakase Nights on Tuesdays.

Photo courtesy of Komodo Dallas

It's a week full of festive pairing events, including wine and cookies, tequila and tamales, and bloody Marys and brunch. Make note of a new weekly omakase night, then hone your holiday cooking skills during a Christmas dinner cooking class by week's end.

Tuesday, December 17

Omakase Nights at Komodo Dallas
The Asian restaurant and bar has launched Omakase Nights, held every Tuesday, featuring three different menus priced at $48, $65, and $95. Highlights include creations like the crudo tasting box, salmon tacos, premium nigiri, toro caviar hand rolls, and lobster crispy rice. The offerings are available from 5-10 pm.

Wine & Mary’s Mountain Cookie Pairing at Lone Star Winery
The McKinney winery will host a pairing event featuring local Mary’s Mountain Cookies paired with festive holiday wines. The $42 price, plus tax and a small fee, includes five tasting pours paired with five different cookies. The tasting will begin at 7 pm. Can’t make it Tuesday? Plan for the Saturday pairing at 11:30 am.

Thursday, December 19

Tequila & Tamales: Masterclass at Little Daisy
The lead mixologists at Little Daisy, the French American bistro at the Thompson Dallas, will guide guests through a tequila tasting experience while the Thompson’s exec-chef team gives a lesson on making tamales from scratch. The $125 price includes tamales to take home. Class begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, December 21

Brunch with Santa at Thompson Dallas
As part of Thompson Dallas’ 12 Days of Christmas festivities, adults are invited to sip wine and champagne while the little ones explore the festive hot chocolate bar during this brunch with Santa. The $60 price ($20 for children) includes a mimosa bar, bloody Mary bar, and michelada bar. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Toys for Tots and bringing an unwrapped toy is encouraged. Brunch will run from 10 am-3 pm Saturday and Sunday.

A Holiday Dinner at Central Market Cooking School Plano
Amid all of Central Market Plano’s festive classes this week, which include make-and-take Buche de noel, sugar cookies, chocolate bark and truffles, and gingerbread houses, is this hands-on lesson covering an elegant holiday dinner. Participants will make blue cheese souffles with mixed greens, roasted prime rib of beef with pink and green peppercorn crust and red wine pan sauce, creamy Swiss chard gratin with Parmigiano-Reggiano, butter roasted herbed fingerling potatoes, and chocolate and peppermint tart. Class is $105 and will run from 6:30-9 pm.

Family Friendly Christmas Lights & Treats Tour
Among the many Dallas-area holiday light tours presented by operator Dallas by Chocolate is this event for the whole family. Guests can view holiday lights in sweet style on the private heated motorcoach, taste treats from premier local dessert venues, and relax as the lively tour host showcases some of Dallas' most spectacular holiday displays. The tour - which focuses on Park Cities neighborhoods - will highlight a cool Santa House, a unicorn house, and more surprises in the Park Cities. It embarks at 4:30 pm and tickets are $43-$56; free for children 3 and under.

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Fresh fast food

Healthy bowl chain Cava to sprout in revitalized Oak Cliff development

Photo courtesy of CAVA.

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A prolific eatery famous for its customizable menu featuring proprietary crazy feta and healthy bowls is under construction in Oak Cliff. The fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava is building a branch at 671 W. Illinois Aven., in Wynnewood Village, which continues to undergo a multi-million-dollar redevelopment project.

Located west of I-35 East at the corner of Illinois Avenue and Zang Boulevard, Wynnewood Village's first big announcement for the updated outdoor shopping center was the tenancy of a Target store at 655 W.Illinois, which opened last January after three years in the works. It joined existing tenants including Kroger, El Rancho Supermercado, LA Fitness, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, Five Below, James Avery, Bath and Body Works, with more to be revealed.

The first modern-day version of Cava was founded in 2010, inspired by a trio of Greek guys nostalgic for the slow-roasted lamb, lemony roasted potatoes, and bowls of tzatziki of their youth, according to company literature. It arrived in Dallas in 2020. It now just opened its 500th store in the United States (Minneapolis), and has approximately 25 locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Diners first choose a base of salad, pita bread, or a bowl of grains and greens. Then you can build your own salad, sandwich, or bowl from rows of ingredients such as salmon, steak, chicken, falafel, hummus, tomato, onion, cucumber, sumac cabbage slaw, and loads of seasonal options. Or choose a signature combo like the Greek Goddess steak or salmon or Falafel Crunch.

According to its Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the new 2,391-square-foot Cava was supposed to be complete this summer, but the final inspection status remains unconfirmed.

A representative from Cava confirms to CultureMap that the brand intends to open the Wynnewood Village store in the first half of next year.

“We aren't able to confirm any other specifics or a time frame at this point,” Emma Vogt, brand communications manager, says, noting that "we look forward to welcoming the Wynnewood Village community to our table.”

Wynnewood Village shopping center has more than 80 stores, restaurants, and service tenants, but they’re spread out with huge sections of parking and roads that owner Brixmor Property Group is working to make more approachable for cars and pedestrians, according to a press release.

“We will make traffic flow better. Now it’s kind of a free-for-all,” Brett Milke, Brixmor’s vice president of redevelopment said in a statement. “We want to get it more pedestrian friendly because even though it’s a large property, people really do shop it on foot.”

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