Food Events Time

9 best (non-Valentine's) food and drink events in Dallas this week

Barbie Pop-up Cookie Truck is coming to DFW.

Sweet Loren's

Valentine's is here, and now's the time to make a date, with our list of best spots for the occasion here. Or maybe Galentine's Day, a time to celebrate gal pals, takes precedence - that list of celebrations is here. As for the rest of the week, save room for a tequila pairing dinner, a big chili cook-off, a farmers market debut, Barbie cookie truck tour, and two sip-and-stroll wine tasting events. Single and ready to mingle? There's a Valentine's night party just for you.

Monday, February 10

Girl Scout Cookie Pairing at Flying Saucer
The Cypress Waters location of Flying Saucer in Coppell brings back popular Girl Scout cookie-paired flights this week, Monday through Sunday. Enjoy the classic cookies with a flight of craft brews. Cost is $25 for four 5-ounce pours and paired cookies.

Thursday, February 13

Silk Art Sweethearts at Ellie’s
The terrace level restaurant inside Hall Arts Hotel invites ladies to sip rose and enjoy light bites while creating a custom silk scarf using marble art. The $60 price, plus tax and a small fee, including a glass of rose, hors d’oeuvres, and lesson by Dallas Silk Art plus the one-of-a-kind scarf. The event will run from 5:30–7:30 pm.

Friday, February 14

Stoplight Party at Scout
Mingle and meet new people during this interactive party at Scout inside The Statler hotel. But dress accordingly: attire is part of the game. Wear green if single, red if taken, and yellow if it’s complicated. The $10 ticket includes a stop light-themed specialty cocktail. The party will run from 8 pm–1 am.

Saturday, February 15

Barbie Pop-Up Cookie Truck
The iconic Barbie brand has teamed up with Sweet Loren’s, makers of allergen-friendly cookie dough and treats, to bring a decked-out cookie food truck to Dallas. The pink mobile will showcase Sweet Loren's pink heart-shaped cookie dough and give away free cookies plus a chance to win a year of free cookie dough. Find the truck Saturday at Whole Foods in Plano (2201 Preston Rd.) from 11 am-2 pm and at H-E-B in Plano (6001 Preston Rd.) from 4-7 pm. On Sunday the truck will visit Whole Foods in Addison (5100 Belt Line Rd.) from 11 am-2 pm and H-E-B in McKinney (8700 Eldorado Pkwy) from 4-7 pm.

Valentine's Chocolate & Wine Walk in Downtown McKinney
Tickets are going fast for this Valentine’s-themed sip-and-stroll around the square in historic downtown McKinney. Tickets start at $30, plus tax, good for 12 tastes of local wines plus a souvenir wine glass and a bonus taste at Lone Star Winery. The $35 tickets also includes a Lindt chocolate truffle to pair with each wine. Or pay $50 for 15 wines, 15 truffles, a VIP glass lanyard for hands-free shopping, plus a flexible check-in time. Non-VIP check-in times are 12 pm or 2:30 pm.

Texas Harvest Wine Tasting at the Dallas Farmers Market
Sip more than 20 wines from a dozen-plus Texas wineries at the Dallas Farmers Market. There’ll be live music, charcuterie boards for purchase, and a silent auction featuring winery gift baskets. A few participating wineries include Brennan Vineyards, OG Cellars, Bull Lion Ranch & Vineyards, and Lost Oak Winery. Tickets are $55 plus tax and fee, and the event will run from 1–4 pm.

Suerte Tequila Dinner at Cantina Laredo Addison
The Addison outlet of the modern Mexican chain will host a four-course tequila pairing dinner featuring cocktails by Suerte Tequila. Start with ceviche tostadas, asparagus soup, then choose between grilled redfish with red pepper salsa or ribeye with mushroom sauce before a dessert of apple crepes. The dinner is $79.99, plus tax and gratuity. Arrive by 7 pm for a Suerte Tequila flight during a cocktail reception.

Sunday, February 16

Lakewood Tower Farmers Market Opening Day
Shop fresh, local producer-only vendors, including farmers, ranchers, bakers, and makers during the first day of Lakewood Tower’s Farmers Market. The market is located at 6301 Gaston Ave. and will run from 9 am–1 pm.

Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cook-Off at Stan’s Blue Note
The 13th annual event will award cash prizes to chili cook-off winners in two categories: people’s choice and judges’ choice. Entry is $25 and chilis can be of any variety, from beef and beans to vegetarian. Guests can pay $10 to judge all entries. A Busch Light draft is included in both the judging fee and the entry fee. The event will run from 2–6 pm and proceeds will benefit Foundation 45 mental health awareness group.

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Steakhouse News

High-profile Palladino's Steak & Seafood heads to Preston-Royal Dallas

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Filet Mignon will be on the menu.

A high-profile new steakhouse is coming to North Dallas: Palladino’s Steak & Seafood, an eponymous concept from Dallas restaurateur Joseph Palladino, will open at 5959 Royal Ln., in the former Spec's space.

Palladino is the larger-than-life ex-NYPD police officer-turned-restaurateur known for concepts such as Nick & Sam's Steakhouse and the Coal Vines pizza chain.

Palladino's Steak & Seafood is a newly created concept, which will combine steakhouse, Italian dishes, and seafood, particularly sushi. The first location is already penciled in for New York, opening in the former Michael Jordan Steakhouse at Grand Central Terminal, which closed in 2018.

The New York location is being designed by the international design firm Rockwell Group and according to a spokesperson, is slated to open in early summer. The Dallas spinoff will open in winter 2025.

Palladino first landed on the Dallas restaurant scene in 1998 to partner up with the equally larger-than-life restaurateur Phil Romano, and went on to have a hand in the creation of Nick & Sam’s, the swanky steakhouse on Maple Avenue (now run by Sam Romano, son of co-founder Phil Romano), Nick & Sam's Grill, Dos Jefes, and more. He created Coal Vines as an homage to the casual neighborhood restaurants reminiscent of his upbringing in New York.

Joseph Palladino and Troy Aikman Joseph Palladino and one of his many celebrity pals, Troy Aikman.Instagram

Palladino was approached by Preston Royal's landlords to open a restaurant at the center. Given his local following and celebrity draw, as well as the large local appetite for steakhouses, Dallas made sense as a second location, particularly at the highly desirable intersection of Preston and Royal.

On the culinary side, Palladino is partnered with veteran chef Sam Hazen, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America as well as an instructor there. His star-studded resume includes La Côte Basque, the Quilted Giraffe, Quatorze, Michelin three-star Le Gavroche, Terrace in the Sky, Cascabel, and Tavern on the Green. He was most recently at Tao, the glitzy Asian concept from Tao Hospitality, where he worked for a decade, giving him sushi expertise.

Palladino is busy getting the New York location open first, and the menu has yet to be revealed.

"But it'll have high-quality steaks and seafood, along with some of my trademark specials and Italian dishes," Palladino says.

However, Hazen previewed a dish on Linked In, consisting of a slice of toast with a cut-out center of pate, with accompaniments that included cornichons and mustard — like a pate version of the classic "egg in a hole."

The hospitality will match the cuisine and ambience. “I intend to bring a very special steakhouse to the city, one that the locals can embrace," Palladino says. "They’re going to receive a good experience — that’s important to me.”

"Pate in a hole" dish shared by Palladino's chef Sam Hazen.Sam Hazen

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