This week in gluttony

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

Commons Club kicks off three days of brunch this week.

Commons Club/Facebook

It’s the final countdown to Christmas this week, with plenty of cheer to be had before the big day. Start the week with a complimentary bites and beverage tasting, then take part in a truffle-making class or a wine or beer pairing dinner. Save room for brunch and DJ beats by week’s end.

Looking for Christmas dining? Look no further than these lists of best restaurants for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Tuesday, December 19

Pairing Parties at The Westin Dallas Downtown
Tuesday means it’s time for The Westin’s weekly complimentary bites and beverage tasting, which is open to guests and visitors alike. The tasting will take place in Grill & Vine from 6-8 pm. Bonus: there’s free valet parking for those who make a food or beverage purchase during the event.

Wednesday, December 20

Orin Swift Wine Dinner at Dolce Riviera
The North Harwood Street Italian restaurant will host a four-course dinner inspired by Orin Swift wine pairings. The menu includes scallop crudo, oxtail ravioli, New York strip with beef tallow whipped Yukon gold potatoes, and chocolate panna cotta. Wine pairings come with each course. The dinner is $145, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.

Thursday, December 21

Yippee-Ki-Yay Holiday Beer Dinner at On Rotation
The Lemmon Avenue brewery and kitchen will channel Die Hard vibes during this four-course beer pairing dinner. Start with a rock shrimp cocktail and mixed greens salad before moving to a roasted pork chop with cornbread dressing and green beans. Finish with cinnamon roll bread pudding. Tickets are $60, plus tax and a small fee, and dinner begins at 7 pm.

Sweet Holiday Truffles at Peticolas Brewing Company
Learn how to roll decadent chocolate truffles during this hands-on class at Peticolas Brewing Company. Get creative with mix-ins like caramel, nuts, dried fruit, crumbled cookies, chili powder, and more. The class is $55 and begins at 6 pm.

Saturday, December 23

Jingle Bell Brunch at Commons Club
The chic bar and restaurant inside Virgin Hotels Dallas will kick off three straight days of holiday brunches starting Saturday, featuring beats by a vinyl DJ and live music performances of Christmas classics. Specials include $7 mimosas and $10 bloody Marys. The brunch will run from 11 am-2 pm.

Craft Coffee & Culture at Dilla Coffee Roasters
Visit the Ross Avenue coffee roastery for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and learn about the origins of Arabica coffee. The complimentary event (donations are welcome) will run from 10 am-3 pm.

wine holidays brunch news-you-can-eat

Burger News

New Dallas restaurant Cleaver & Co. has burgers and chicken sandwiches

Cleaver & Co.

Cleaver & Co. burgers

There's a brand new burger in town: It's from Cleaver & Co, a fast-casual restaurant offering elevated burgers and chicken sandwiches, which will open its first location in Dallas at 4438 McKinney Ave. #100, in the space previously occupied by Origin Kitchen + Bar.

According to a release, it'll open on February 15.

Cleaver & Co is a joint venture from restaurateurs Pat Garza and Pardeep Sharma (Roti Grill, India Palace), whose business relationship and friendship dates back to their early collaborations in 2016.

It was founded by Garza first as a concept for food halls across the U.S., featuring "elevated" burgers, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes.

In a statement, Garza calls this their next step.

“We’ve built Cleaver & Co with an unwavering commitment to quality, and we’re excited to introduce Dallas to our signature premium burgers, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, and indulgent, hand-spun milkshakes,” Garza says. “This location is the next step in our journey, allowing us to bring our brand’s passion for high-quality, flavorful comfort food to a larger audience.”

The location is a 2,400-square-foot space with seating for 75, is designed with a blend of a sports bar atmosphere and rustic butcher shop aesthetics.

But wait: Cleaver & Co will operate from this location for a limited time. What? It's true. The lease is only available for a short period. However, they hope to use the opportunity to prove the concept is success and expand to additional locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

“We see a significant opportunity in the premium burger and chicken sandwich segment here in Dallas,” said Pardeep Sharma. “With our experience in various restaurant concepts, we’re excited to bring something new and compelling to the area.”

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