Get Ready to Eat

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

Paint and sip during Dia de los Muertos this week at Miriam Cocina Latina.

Raynor Brumfield

Halloween howls on Thursday, but this week also celebrates Dia de los Muertos, a tradition celebrated in Mexico that honors deceased loved ones with food, music, and elaborate costumes and decor. In addition, there are two festivals to take note of by week's end: an annual food and wine event in Plano on Saturday, and Chefs for Farmers on Sunday. (And here's a list of restaurants doing Halloween specials.)

Thursday, October 31

Cocktail & Flower Crowns Master Class at Mexican Sugar
Create a La Catrina cocktail and a one-of-a-kind flower crown while learning about the significance Day of the Dead traditions during this hands-on class taking place at all Mexican Sugar locations. The class is $45 and begins at 6 pm at the Uptown, Plano, and Las Colinas locations. The Day of the Dead festivities will continue Friday and Saturday with tableside cocktail experiences, complimentary tequila tastings, tequila smoke show margaritas, tattoo artist, photo ops, and DJs spinning Latin beats from 6–9 pm.

Murder Mystery Dinner at Southfork Ranch
The former home of the iconic TV show Dallas, Southfork Ranch in Parker will host a three-course murder mystery dinner with a masquerade theme on Halloween. Menu items include sweet spring greens salad with praline pecans, Granny Smith apples, blue cheese and pomegranate vinaigrette, choice of Angus beef kebobs or ginger habanero glazed chicken, and peach pie or chocolate lava cake for dessert. The $125 ticket price plus tax includes a glass of wine. Doors open at 6 pm for a 7 pm dinner start. Masquerade attire is encouraged.

Saturday, November 2

Dia de los Muertos at Wild Salsa
Downtown Dallas taco restaurant and bar will host an all-day Dia de los Muertos celebration. Specials include half-off appetizers, $3 tacos, $5 margaritas and select cocktails, and discounted beer, wine, and pitchers along with face painting for the family. Open 11 am–10 pm.

Dia de los Muertos at Black Agave
Located at Mercer Boardwalk in Farmers Branch, Black Agave will mark its first anniversary with a Dia de los Muertos blowout. Visit for mariachi music, stilt walkers, costume contest, and specials including $10 frozen margarita flights, $10 cocktails, and $3 Mexican candy shots. Street corn will be served in festive Day of the Dead cups for $5. The specials will run Friday-Sunday.

Plano Food and Wine Festival
Back for its 7th year, the annual tasting event boasts bites from 26 restaurants along with more than 100 wines. The lineup includes Lombardi Cucina Italiana, Toulouse Café & Bar, Taverna Pizzeria & Risotteria, KAI Restaurant & Lounge, Tommy Bahama, Truluck’s, Fogo De Chao, Suburban Yacht Club, Taverna Rossa Plano, Union Bear, and more. Tickets are $80, or $45 for wine only and $55 for food only. The event will take place at Legacy West from 12–6 pm. (Note that food tastings end at 4 pm.)

Dia de los Muertos Paint & Sip at Miriam Cocina Latina
Klyde Warren Park eatery will celebrate Dia de los Muertos with a Casa Noble paint and sip party. The $45 price includes a Casa Noble Tequila flight duo of silver and reposado, or two Casa Noble margaritas with choice of cucumber or strawberry. A ceramic calavera skull and paint supplies are also included, along with appetizers and light bites. The party begins at 6 pm.

Sunday, November 3

Chefs for Farmers – The Main Event
The 14th annual event will highlight Dallas chefs and restaurants and local farms with an afternoon tasting festival. Taking place at Old City Park, the event will feature bites from Mirador, Quarter Acre, and Georgie as well as out-of-town eateries like New York’s Restaurant Benoit and San Antonio’s Cured at Pearl. Tickets are $145, with $25 going to The Seed Project Foundation. The event will run from 3–6 pm.

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Skewer News

Vila Brazil to bring affordable Brazilian steakhouse to Cedar Hill

Photo courtesy of Vila Brazil

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A Brazilian steakhouse known for its low-for-steak prices is coming to Garland: Called Vila Brazil, it's part of a small local chain and will open in Cedar Hill, at 305 W. RM Rd. 1382 #316, in the former Crab & Bar space, in late 2025.

Vila Brazil was founded by restaurateur Roberto de Sa, who opened the first location in Irving in 2011, as a home-grown rendition of churrascaria-type restaurants such as Fogo de Chao. A second location opened in Garland in 2024.

According to co-owner Gabriel de Sa, the Cedar Hill location will feature the same menu, including rotating chef specials at the buffet.

Vila Brazil features a lower-cost version of churrascaria, a Brazilian style of serving cuts of grilled meat from giant skewers onto diners’ plates. They offer eight cuts of meat including picanha steak, sirloin, chicken, lamb, and pork.

There’s also a salad bar buffet featuring rice, salads, vegetables, and Brazilian-inspired dishes such as cheese bread rolls and cinnamon-grilled pineapple.

Weekday lunch is $25 and dinner is $40 daily. For the buffet only, it’s $18-$21.

They own other restaurants including VB's steakhouse in Arlington and Casa Pollastro, a Brazilian-Italian concept in North Dallas. But Gabriel says they take a different approach with Vila Brazil than some of the other more expensive churrascaria restaurants in town.

"Instead we offer homemade food at an affordable price with great quality and flavor,” he says. "Our guests on average visit our store three times a month — much more frequently than your typical churrascaria."

The Cedar Hill location will be fairly large, in a 6,528 square-foot space, with an approachable casual dining atmosphere.

“We choose the Cedar Hill community for the same reason we opened in Garland, to serve an underserved community,” Gabriel says. “A fusion between a fast casual buffet and a Brazilian Churrascaria Vila Brazil is accessible to all members of the community with high value.”

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