Taylor Swift tea tops 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

The Life of a Showgirl SwifTEA at Hotel Crescent Court

Hotel Crescent Court

A Dallas hotel is calling all Swifties for a Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea to celebrate the singer's new album release. But first, partake in a sip-and-stroll bourbon tasting, a Bishops Arts eatery's anniversary party, a fancy wine pairing dinner, and a time-honored fundraiser featuring burgers and burgundy. Red River Rivalry fans take note: there are pre-game tailgate parties on the list just for you. (Find a full list of all the TX-OU dining events here.)

Tuesday, October 7

The Whiskey Event at Al Biernat’s North
The inaugural event will showcase premium whiskeys and bourbons from distilleries around the country, including Buffalo Trace, Beam Suntory, and Garrison Brothers (to name a few) paired with hors d’oeuvres by chef Luis Rodriguez. Bourbon-inspired bites will include bourbon-cured salmon crostini, Lexington chicken sliders, smoked brisket sliders with bourbon barbecue sauce, pimento cheese bites, deviled eggs, Kentucky hot brown crostini, and more. Tickets are $75 and include one drink ticket, hors d’oeuvres, and access to eight tasting stations

Wednesday, October 8

Encina 5th Anniversary Party
Bishop Arts neighborhood eatery will celebrate five years in business with a parking lot party. Go for $5 burgers, $5 fries, and $10 martinis along with a band and flash tattoos. (Note the regular dinner menu will not be available.) The party will run from 5–9 pm.

Cosmic Cocktails at Vincent’s at JW Marriott Dallas Arts District
Rooftop lounge at JW Marriott Dallas Arts District is launching Cosmic Cocktails, a weekly sunset-to-twilight happy hour from 4:30-6:30 pm with skyline views, color-shifting drinks, and playful guest experiences. The series kicks off October 8 with complimentary tarot card readings and lip print readings as signature activations. Cocktails to try include the Cosmo Cosmic, a color-shifting cocktail that starts deep indigo and turns vivid pink, thanks to butterfly pea–infused vodka; tangy with citrus, subtle floral notes. They'll host complimentary tarot card readings and lip print readings, alternating each Wednesday.

Thursday, October 9

Vice Versa Wine Dinner at Dee Lincoln Prime
The Frisco fine dining destination will host a four-course dinner designed by Dee Lincoln’s culinary director Julian Rodarte to pair with California’s Vice Versa wines. Menu highlights include bluefin carpaccio, lobster and leeks, filet with shaved truffles, and a surprise dessert. Dinner is $550, plus tax and gratuity. The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with passed apps and champagne.

DIFFA Dallas Burgers + Burgundy
The 16th annual event created and hosted by chef John Tesar returns to The Village Dallas featuring 16 Dallas celeb chefs to present their unique take on the perfect slider paired with a glass of wine. Chefs include John Kleifgen of Nick & Sam’s, Sergio Gallardo of STK Steakhouse, Celina Gomez of Loro Asian Smokehouse, and Tesar himself. Tickets start at $95 and include burgers, wine pairings, plus an open bar and entertainment. The event begins at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, October 11

TX vs. OU at Happiest Hour
The downtown entertainment destination will host a pregame tailgate party sponsored by 818 Tequila and UberEats featuring DJ music, drink specials, games, and giveaways. Access is $25 (plus tax and a service fee) and the party will run from 9 am–noon. Stay to watch the game, which kicks off at 2:30 pm.

The Joule Tailgate Pop-Up with AB.Lino + LALO Tequila
Visit the lobby of The Joule before heading to the Cotton Bowl to partake in Texas and OU-inspired specialty cocktails from LALO Tequila at the Lobby Bar. Also snag exclusive co-branded keepsakes from The Joule and AB.Lino, including bandanas and polaroid photo inserts. The pop-up will run from 10:30 am–2:30 pm.

The Life of a Showgirl SwifTEA at Hotel Crescent Court
The luxe hotel has debuted a Taylor Swift-inspired tea that combines culinary creativity with nods to some of the singer’s most beloved songs in celebration of her new album launch. Menu items include Everything “Bagel” Has Changed (Song: “Everything Has Changed”) featuring a mini everything bagel with caper and herb cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumber, and smoked salmon belly; You’re On Your “Scone” Kid (Song: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”), served with clotted cream and house-made jam; and Loving Him Was “Red” (Song: “Red”) featuring red velvet cupcakes. Tickets are $100 for adults and $45 for children, plus tax and fee. Add bottomless bubbly for $40 more. Seating times are 11 am, 12 pm, and 1 pm Saturdays-Sundays through November.

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Omakase News

Downtown Dallas restaurant Sauvage expands with new dining twist

Sauvage

A downtown Dallas restaurant famous for its multi-course tasting experience is letting its hair down: Sauvage, the high-end mom-and-pop restaurant near the Statler Dallas hotel, has a new dining option that gives a smaller, more casual taste.

The restaurant opened in September with a set menu featuring 16 to 18 courses — wild game, seafood, vegetables, and dessert — all cooked via grill and smoker.

While 16 courses might sound like a lot, the courses are mostly small bites. However, owners Casey and Amy LaRue received feedback from diners wanting a smaller option.

"We were getting a ton of messages from guests who want to stop by just to try one dish, a bite, or a specific pairing without committing to the full tasting — so we built something for exactly that," Casey says.

They've introduced a new three-course "Cocktails & Bites hour" featuring three dishes, each paired with its own cocktail, served from 5–6 pm on weekdays.

Last week’s menu consisted of:

dry-aged red snapper crudo with La Chinola Way, a cocktail featuring passionfruit, mezcal, lime, and ginger
foie gras & truffle on house-baked croissant with Pendennis Club, a gin sour with apricot liqueur bitters
jerk-spiced shrimp with Clarified Paper Plane, a bourbon cocktail with Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice

The new offering continues their pattern of pairing courses with cocktails rather than wine — an approach they've embraced since opening. "Limiting pairings to wine can get boring — it so often ends up being one expensive red after another," Casey says.

You can make a reservation on Tock, or just walk in and grab a seat.

Caviar
They've also added a new version of their classic menu: no caviar.

"Some love having caviar integrated into the menu, but others prefer to skip it, whether for taste or dietary reasons, but still want the full value of the experience," Casey says. "With such a small counter, this put us in a strange position: do we give everyone caviar whether they want it or not, or do we remove it entirely and lose a core part of our menu?"

Thus, a new menu without caviar, priced at $195, with an optional caviar course available for those who want it for $245.

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