This week in gluttony

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

The Feast of the Seven Fishes special at Meddlesome Moth.

Raynor Brumfield

Let’s call this week “Feast of the Seven Fishes Week.” Multiple Dallas restaurants will celebrate the traditional Italian dinner – typically held on Christmas Eve. Why the number seven? Symbolic representations range from the seven days of creation to the seven days it took Mary and Joseph to reach Bethlehem. Regardless of religious background, everyone is welcome to enjoy various versions of the dinner at multiple eateries all week long.

Wednesday, December 21

Watercolor & Wine at Ellie’s
Learn the art of watercolor with a glass of wine in hand at the Hall Arts Hotel restaurant. This artist-led workshop will teach different techniques to create an original masterpiece based on a theme. The $75 ticket includes wine, light bites, paint supplies, and valet parking. Class will run from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Thursday, December 22

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Meddlesome Moth
An Italian-American celebration typically held on Christmas Eve, the tradition features many dishes of seafood and fish. Meddlesome Moth’s version will offer a Feast special ($59) of lobster with cognac cream, fried smelts, colossal shrimp, mussels, little neck clams, diver scallops, and black bass over a bed of linguini. The special will run Thursday through Saturday.

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Sassetta
This version of the Italian Christmas traditional dinner does indeed feature seven courses. Taking place at Sassetta inside The Joule, the dinner will offer scallop crudo, cioppino with mussels, clams, white fish, and calamari, two kinds of seafood pasta, branzino al forno, and cannoli with ricotta cream filling. The dinner is $130, plus tax and gratuity, and includes a cocktail upon arrival. Reservations are available both Friday and Saturday beginning at 5 pm.

Saturday, December 24

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Urban Crust
The Plano pizzeria and Italian eatery will feature three specialty courses to celebrate the Italian Christmas Eve tradition. Dinner is $49.90, plus tax and gratuity, and seating is first-come, first-serve beginning at 3 pm. Wine pairings will also be available.

Feast of the Seven Fishes at The Kimpton Pittman Hotel
The Deep Ellum hotel will host the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner inside Elm & Good, along with live acoustic music. The multicourse menu will include octopus carpaccio with fennel, grapefruit and pumpkin seeds, mussels in saffron broth, linguini with clams, shrimp cocktail, and much more. Dinner is $95, and reservations are available between 5-10 pm.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day dining
Christmas will be a two-day dining extravaganza, with celebratory meals served from Christmas Eve through Christmas night. Check this list for restaurants serving brunches and dinners both days, along with some to-go options for at-home celebrations. Looking for restaurants to take out-of-town guests throughout the week? Find some great options here.

holidays dinner wine news-you-can-eat

Stir Fry News

Mom-and-pop Asian chain from Austin makes Dallas debut in McKinney

Fire Bowl

A small Asian chain from Austin has entered the Dallas market: Called Fire Bowl Cafe, it's a small chain that has opened its first DFW location in McKinney, at 4060 W. University Dr. #300, in a new shopping center west of US-75.

Fire Bowl Cafe was founded by husband-and-wife Gigi Lee and Daniel Pao in 1996 with a focus on customizable bowls prepared in sizzling woks. They have four locations in Austin and one in Colorado.

Bringing the concept to McKinney is Dallas-based hospitality group DLC Restaurant Holdings (Firo Pizza, Craft Pies Pizza, Desperados), according to a release.

“We are thrilled to bring Fire Bowl Café to McKinney and introduce our unique dining experience to the wonderful community here,” says CEO Mike Daniel in a statement. “Our mission is to ensure that every customer leaves satisfied and happy, and we can’t wait to share our passion for fresh, customizable Asian cuisine with our new neighbors in North Texas."

To give it local flavor, they've partnered with Julian Rodarte, who co-founded Beto & Son, the Mexican restaurant at Trinity Groves in west Dallas, and also served as Trinity Groves' CEO. He was briefly executive chef at COSM at Grandscape and is currently culinary director for Dee Lincoln Concepts.

The menu has a Pei-Wei vibe, featuring a mashup of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, with favorites like edamame, spring rolls, crab rangoon, pad Thai, pot stickers, and lettuce wraps.

There are noodle and rice bowls, topped with vegetables and choice of protein; and a make-it-your-way stir-fry where you choose from proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, tossed in a wok with vegetables, then combine it with your choice of "carb" — noodles, brown or white rice — and a wide selection of sauces, from teriyaki to spicy peanut to classic Chinese.

Prices are $12-$14. They do not currently serve alcohol, but have plans for it at a future date.

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