Wine and dine

Tamales top 5 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

It's tamale time at Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery/Facebook

Christmas arrives this week and if you're looking to dine out on the day itself, find our list of open restaurants here. For those who can't take another minute of holiday chaos, there's a frenzy-free Festivus event at a local brewery just for you. Read on for details on a post-Christmas tamale and beer pairing, and classes on cocktails, winter brunch dishes, and kid-friendly pasta making.

Monday, December 22

Miracle Deep Eddy Holiday Mixology Class at Miller Tavern
Head to the Miracle holiday pop-up bar inside the Miller Tavern at Texas Live! in Arlington before it ends for this hands-on mixology class featuring Deep Eddy Vodka. The $41 ticket price includes everything needed to prepare three cocktails, plus some holiday swag. Class begins at 7 pm.

Tuesday, December 23

8th Annual Festivus for the Rest of Us at Celestial Beerworks
Acclaimed Dallas brewery invites guests for a party themed after a popular episode of Seinfeld where George Constanza declared his disdain for holiday chaos. Go for Seinfeld trivia, the “airing of grievances,” and feats of strength competitions including arm wrestling, four-pack can hold, keg toss, and more. Puffy shirts, 90s attire, or ugly Christmas sweaters encouraged. The event will run from 4–9 pm.

Saturday, December 27

Tamale & Beer Flight Pairing at Tupps Brewery
Downtown McKinney brewery will offer homemade tamales paired with Tupps beers. The “flight” includes one red chile chicken tamale, one green chile chicken tamale, and one red chile pork tamale, along with three beer samples for $18. Available all day starting at 11 am until sell-out.

A Winter Brunch at Central Market Cooking School
The Lovers Lane location of Central Market will host a hands-on cooking class featuring flavors of winter. Learn how to make shrimp, orange, and avocado salad with champagne vinaigrette, roast beef benedict with horseradish hollandaise, garlic and chive roasted potatoes, and panettone bread putting with braised fruit amaretto sauce. Tickets are $85 and include wine for those over 21. Start time is 11:30 am.

Monday, December 29

Family Fun: Gnocchi Ricotta al Pomodoro Class at Eataly
For a kid-friendly activity to help fill the Christmas break, try this hands-on class at Eataly at North Park Center and learn how to make gnocchi ricotta with pomodoro sauce. Tickets are $85 plus tax and fee, and include wine for those 21-and-up. The class is suitable for children five and older; those under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Start time is 11 am.

holidays event-planner

Taco News

New baseball-loving restaurant Taco Base opens in North Dallas

Courtesy

Tacos from Taco Base

There's a new family-owned taqueria in Dallas that has a thing for baseball: Called Taco Base, it'll open on December 22 at 4043 E Trinity Mills Rd. #122, at Midway Road, in what was previously a short-lived restaurant called Krab Kingz.

Taco Base is from chef Patricia Acosta and her husband Nahum. Patricia grew up in the restaurant industry, helping at her parents' restaurant El Paisa Taqueria, the well-regarded local chain that just opened a location in Carrollton, starting when she was 10 years old. Nahum, who is originally from Veracruz, also worked at El Paisa for years.

“It is now time for us to have our own place with the knowledge that our parents left us, and for us to leave something for our kids," Patricia says.

Their menu is large, featuring Tex-Mex basics with some authentic Mexican touches including fajitas, nachos, quesadillas, and burritos. Entree-style meal plates include enchiladas, gorditas, and flautas, ranging from $10 to $15.

Street tacos come in varieties such as tripe, fish, chorizo, tinga, barbacoa, chicharrón, and al pastor street. They offer choice of three kinds of tortillas: corn from a local producer; or else housemade tortillas in choice of corn or flour for $1 extra.

One signature dish they offer that you do not see everywhere is the pambazo — the Veracruz sandwich that's like meat-and-potatoes on bread, a sloppy delight featuring chorizo and potatoes on a roll that's been dipped in guajillo sauce and fried.

They also make aguas frescas in-house with sugar cane, in an assortment of flavors including tamarind, horchata, and lemonade.

The name Taco Base celebrates their love of baseball, including their two sons who are big baseball fans; their logo features a baseball bat. The restaurant's interior features posters honoring big baseball personalities such as Mexican player Hector Espino, alongside Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Nolan Ryan.

But they also liked the idea of their restaurant serving as a base or meeting spot, just like corner street tacos in Mexico, where people meet regularly and enjoy good food.

“We aim to be part of the community, with a home feel where tacos are always there — we want to be there for our customers," Patricia says.

tacos openings

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