Category Archives: Booze News

Dallas #BoozeNews: March 13, 2015

You better have your green ready … because this weekend is St. Patrick’s Day!  Check out some great recipes and local events to celebrate.

SPORK THIS
Apparently North Dallas has a new restaurant called Spork that they boast as “a chef-driven roadside eatery”.  I’m not even sure how to feel about the name … but I’m super curious to know what John Tesar thinks about it!  Visit this fast-casual establishment for burgers, salads, sandwiches, cocktails, and desserts.

TO THE MUSIC FACTORY!
The new music-centric lifestyle center in Las Colinas has announced two of the restaurants that will open once it’s complete–Gloria’s Latin Cuisine and Kabuki Japanese Restaurant.

THAI PIE
Fast-casual pizza spot Pie Five will now offer a Thai-inspired pizza.  It’ll have a “sweet chili sauce, sliced grilled chicken and a mix of fresh veggies, topped off with crushed red peppers, carrot sticks and cilantro.”

2015-03-12_11-09-35FORK & CORK, UNCORKED
Addison’s foodie festival, Fork & Cork, has announced the dates for this year’s event–March 15 & 16.  This year, they’ll have tastings from Chef Tim Byres, Eddie “Lucky” Campbell, Chef John Tesar, Chef Richard Chamberlain, and more.  See what they’ll have to offer this year and buy your tickets on their website.

NEW BUDA
Buda Juice will open at Mockingbird Station later this month!  Stop in for their nutritious juices and soups served in their 100% recyclable glass bottles.

Dallas #BoozeNews

HEAD ON TO IRELAND WITH BENNIGAN’S
Check out Bennigan’s St. Paddy’s Day promotion where you can check out Irish toasts and even submit your own.  Even better?  They’re giving one lucky person a chance to win a trip for two to have a whale of a time in Ireland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TX!
Texas Land and Cattle is celebrating Texas Independence Day with a special food & drink menu with options like Texas Stuffed Quail, Bison Burger, and Pecos Pecan Trout.  Drinks include a Border Gimlet and additional Texas beers.
Availability: March 2-31

THE SPICEMAN GO-ETH
Dallas became a little drearier this week after the news of Tom Spicer’s passing was released on Monday.  To learn about this amazing man and how he made Dallas a better (and healthier) place, click the image below.

HOP TO IT
Y’all know I love alcohol … and food … so when food is made with wine, I like it that much more.  Enter: Hopdoddy‘s Coq Au Vin Burger, a Chicken patty, field mushrooms, bacon, Swiss cheese, red wine reduction, tomato, dressed radicchio salad, and black pepper aioli on an egg bun.
Cost: $12
Availability: through March 8

PEEP SHOW
This just blew my mind and I couldn’t not share it … Peeps flavored-milk.  Chocolate, marshmallow, and Easter egg nog.  We can’t get it, which is sad, but at least you know about it.

FRY SNAPS
Mention @snuffersburgers in any pictures from a Snuffer’s location in March and you’ll be entered to win a $100 Snuffer’s gift card!  All this talk of Snuffer’s makes me really want some Cheddar Fries.  Details here.

START THE MADNESS
Plucker’s wants you to lose this March Madness.  (Seriously.)  They want diners to pick out the schools that will be the big losers this year and fill out a bracket on their website in their March Badness promotion.  Prizes include:
  • 2nd Round: Free Pluckers for a Year
  • 3rd Round: 1,000 Wings
  • 4th Round: $500 Gift Card to Pluckers

OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS:

TORCHY’S TACOS | they will open a location in Plano this April at 1855 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600.

TRULUCK’S | The new two-story building in Uptown is now open!

(AMSTER)DAM SHAME | Amsterdam Bar closed – Owner Mike Scheel had to give up his license in order to pursue his dream of making cider.  More on that later.

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 23, 2015

BOWLED OVER
Stop in and try some of the new menu items from Bowl & Barrel!  Enjoy dishes like Jumbo Crab Cakes, Green Chili Grilled Cheese, and new cocktails (pictured in image featured above)! Read more about the new items in Rico’s recap!

'Til Morning Cocktail

’Til Morning Cocktail from The Library

CHECK THIS OUT
New year, new cocktail and wine lists at The Library!  The cocktail list will feature classics along with new creations, and the wine list will have domestics and international selections. “Highlights include: ‘Til Morning, blending Woodford Reserve Bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, egg white and a Laphroaig Rinse and Warwick International, featuring Japanese whiskey, fresh ginger, honey syrup, Cointreau, lemon juice.”

BOOK IT
Bad boy Dallas chef, John Tesar, will be releasing a book this spring, Knife: Modern Steak and All American Meats, written with Josh Ozersky.  The book will feature “full-color photography by Dallas photographer Kevin Marple throughout, KNIFE will be a celebration of American steak; an exploration into modern, self-sustaining Texas ranching; and a trip inside the mind of one of the most distinctive and acclaimed meat chefs in the world.”

WOOD IS GOOD
Woodford Reserve will release their Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a 100% rye this week!  Rico spent some time with the brand ambassador at their event in Dallas and said it’s some good s**t.  Check out the full experience here.

GET FLIGHTY
Malai Kitchen will now serve beer flights featuring their three house brews.  Flight will be “$8 and include a 5 ounce pour of Bia Hoi (light Vietnamese lager), Thai-P-A (medium bodied and brewed with Thai herbs), and the Thai 1 On seasonal rotator (this month’s rotator is a Belgian Tripel).”

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 18, 2015

Sunday is NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY and the Oscars.  Just sayin’.

TI ESREVER DNA TI PILF NWOD GNIHT YM TUP I
SĒR Steak + Spirits is going to get all Missy Elliott on happy hour and  … well … reverse it.  They’ll offer 15% off cocktails and beer along with $7-9 select wines by the glass and specialty shared plates and sweets every Thursday through Sunday, 10pm to close.

Honey Can Hi ContrastCIDER LOVERS, REJOICE
Austin Eastciders has released a  new hard cider, Texas Honey, that you can find in stores this week, and its Small Batch No. 2 will be out next week!  The Small Batch No. 2 is made with BLACK apples.  I’m not sure how I feel about that yet … but I know I’m intrigued.

MAKE ME BLUSH
The newest offering from the house of Francis Ford Coppola is the 2013 Sofia Red, a Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes all grown in California’s Paso Robles appellation, the Sofia Red is the first red wine to join the Sofia family of wines, which originated with the introduction of the Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine sixteen years ago.

NEW OPENINGS

TACO TIME
Addison and the Dallas Farmer’s Market will get La Ventana Taqueria outposts this year!  The Dallas Farmer’s Market in the Market can expect its taco shop to open early summer, complete with indoor seating and a patio.  The Addison location will feature a 2,344 square foot restaurant and bar, 945 of it will be patio!

S’NUFF SAID
Legendary burger and Cheddar Fry hot spot, Snuffer’s Burgers, will open two new restaurants in 2015–Addison (4180 Beltline Road) and Red Oak (132 E Ovilla Road)!

CHIN CHIN, KIN KIN
Kin Kin Urban Thai will open February 27 at 2801 West 7th Street in Fort Worth!  The coolest part? “February 27 – March 1, guests can enjoy all food at 50 percent off of normal menu pricing simply by checking in on their social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram.”

IN VINO VERITAS
Vivo 53 is now open in Downtown Fort Worth!  Stop in for Italian-style artisans pizzas, handmade pastas, and a pizza-flinging show.

Pizze (Sunny side up egg, bacon, Yukon gold potato & Bermuda onions)

Pizze (Sunny side up egg, bacon, Yukon gold potato & Bermuda onions)

 

 

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 13, 2015

GOSSIP

DUGG THIS
Dugg Burger, a kind of Bread Zeppelin for burgers, is set to open in Casa Linda Plaza.  Get this … they start with a hollowed-out burger bun, add the toppings, then top it with a fresh burger patty.  We’ll see if we digg it once it opens.

Henry's Majestic - Henry's Marrow Spiked Burger

Henry’s Majestic – Henry’s Marrow Spiked Burger

TUESDAYS WITH HENRY
Henry’s Majestic opens for lunch starting February 17!  Stop in 11am-4pm to enjoy new lunch options from Chef Adam Kovac and Roe DiLeo like the Red and Golden Beet Salad, Pork Belly Salad, and Grilled Kale & Ahi Tuna.  Oh … and ​Alex Fletcher giving you some new cocktails to up your lunch drinking game like the Black Tea Cardamon Collins and the Never Let The Boss Know.

GET PINNED
Another badass bowling alley, PINSTACK, opened its doors on January 30 up in the great white north … err, well, in Plano, that is.  PINSTACK offers 28 lanes, a ropes course, laser tag (I’M IN), bumper cars, rock climbing walls, a game room, and a full-service restaurant.  Oh … and a full “Bowl Bar” featuring craft cocktails, 24 beers and 6 wines on tap, and a gelato bar.

THIS VODKA?
You should try this vodka.
Academy Award-winning actor and restaurateur (wait, what?), Robert De Niro, has a new vodka brand, VDKA 6100.  I guess he didn’t want Dan Aykroyd to have all the fun.

The De Niro Martini:
4 ounces of vodka
1 ounce of dry vermouth

Add ice in a cocktail shaker. Stir. (Don’t shake.) Strain into a martini glass, then pour back into the shaker and strain again into the glass. Finish with a lemon twist.

Read more here: http://www.winemag.com/February-2015/A-Drink-with-Robert-De-Niro/

LET’S GET ROMANTIC

CHOCOLATE LOVE
Stop into one of Dallas’ newest restaurants, Eureka!, for Valentine’s Day and order a Raspberry Chocolate Kiss ($11) featuring Prichard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon, raspberry gimme syrup, and red grapefruit juice.

TWISTED ROMANCE
Twisted Root is offering a “Lovers Table” at each of its locations on February 14, complete with tablecloth, rose petals, flowers, candles, and an especially special waiter.  Better wear comfy shoes and be ready to Venmo the sitter some extra cheese, because these table will be first come, first served.

Valentine's Rob


CHECK OUT MY OTHER VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS

 

NON-BOOZE

During February, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will “share the love” by offering $5 admission through February 27 for tickets purchased at the gate.

Dallas #BoozeNews: February 11, 2015

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner!  Don’t have plans yet?  Singles … check this out.  Couples … check this out.

OPERATION: #RESERVATIONRESCUE
The Capital Grill is going to save a procrastinator’s butt this week … February 11 and 12, they’ll pick one user who comments on their FB page with one word to describe their S.O. (and mentions their local TCG location) to get a last-minute reservation.  The winner will get a reservation on 2/14 for 2 at 6pm (valued at $150)!

IT’S ALSO TIME TO LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!  Mardi Gras is a bit early this year, so make sure you celebrate Fat Tuesday in style!

“You’re Too Kind” by Thomas Arvid

“You’re Too Kind” by Thomas Arvid

PAINT BY VINTAGE
Artwork by Thomas Arvid, American painter of all-things-vino, will be on display at the Milan Gallery in Fort Worth March 3-29.  If you like wine, you’ll love his work.  Along with the exhibit, there will be two special complimentary events to meet Arvid and see a live painting presentation (March 7 & March 8).
(Featured image on post is “Just in Case” by Thomas Arvid)

HERE’S FRANKIE!
Frankie’s Sports Bar is coming back to Dallas!  The much-missed sports bar will open by the end of April on Main Street in Downtown Dallas!

THE BALVENIE + THE BOURDAIN
Anthony Bourdain and The Balvenie are teaming up for a multifaceted collaboration “that will bring attention to some of America’s finest craftspeople.” Bourdain will take a leading role in a series of short films featuring makers from around the country titled, Raw Craft, select the next two Fellows for the American Craft Council Rare Craft Fellowship Awards in association with The Balvenie, and curate The Balvenie 2015 Rare Craft Collection.

image001-3

TWIST THIS
Twisted Root Burger Co. is hosting is Twisted Cookie Scout-Out again this year!  They’ll buy their 500 boxes of cookies for their March shake of the month from a local troop who makes a video and gets the most votes. Girl Scouts and Brownies … warm up your video cameras!
Entry period: through 2/15 at 4pm
Voting period: 2/15 at 4pm – 2/20 (vote daily)

SHAKE IT UPThin Mint Shake_Hopdoddy
Hopdoddy will offer a Thin Mint Shake featuring the Girl Scout Cookie favorite!  (Thin Mint Cookies mixed into house made vanilla ice cream with sweet mint white chocolate sauce. A generous mound of whipped cream and Thin Mint Cookie pieces, provided by local Girl Scout Troop1294, top off this craving-buster.)
Available: through 2/15
Cost: $6

Dallas #BoozeNews: January 26, 2015

GOSSIP

OAK-IE DOKIE
Chef John Tesar (of Dallas restaurants Knife and Spoon) will join forces with Richard and Tiffanee Ellman in the kitchen at Oak as a Chef Partner.

BARTERING FOR MORE
Beloved Uptown foodie (and drinkie) spot, Barter, closed last week while I was at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference … this is what happens when I go out of town. 🙁

KIN KIN
Kin Kin Urban Thai will expand to North Texas with three locations.  James Beard-recognized chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin (of Fort Worth’s Bite City Grill) will open Kin Kin Urban Thai in Fort Worth’s 7th District in February, followed by an Oak Lawn location in April and Preston/Forest this summer.

C’VICHE ME
Get the beach, seafood, and beer experience … ya know … that whole Corona commercial shit awesomeness at the soon to open fresh casual concept, C’Viche.  Starting February 10, enjoy fresh seafood from chef and owner Randall Warder.  The part I’m most excited about?  The “creative tequila , artisan rum, pisco and cachaca cocktails using all fresh ingredients. Sangria, Texas craft beers and Mexican and South American draft beer round out the beverage mix.”  Bring it.

NEW OFFERINGS

Ranch Hand Dan

Ranch Hand Dan

HOPDODDY’S BOTM
The Ranch Hand Dan is an all-natural chicken patty, bacon, Swiss cheese, field mushrooms, caramelized onions, tomato, red leaf lettuce, buttermilk ranch on an egg bun that you can get for a cool $9.00.  It’ll be available through Sunday, February 8.  Get your (ranch) hands on it now.

SAINT SAUSAGE
We like a good sausage, but we love a good beer.  Double down with Saint Arnold Brewing Co.‘s Amber Ale Bratwurst and Santo Bratwurst, the results of a partnership with Farmland Foods.  Get it at HEB and Central Market stores throughout Texas.

SNUFFER’S BOTMBacon Lovers & VIP Table Tent 4 x 6_25
I’m glad to hear that a restaurant finally made a BOTM just for me.  2/2-2/28, Snuffer’s will offer a Bacon Lover’s Burger (100% fresh ground chuck, bacon crumbles, two strips of Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo) for $9.49 … and you can get in line behind me.

 

 

EXTRA GOODIES

SOFA-KING COOL
Pie Five will crown a President of Pizza next month … seriously.  Check out the Facebook promotion for details and find out how you could win all of this awesomeness: “free pizza for a year, put your picture and presidential bio on our website, setup photo bomb opportunities at grand openings if you show up, and get this…you’ll get to pay off 25 of your top campaign supporters with Cabinet appointments that entitle them to FREE Pie Five for a year, too!”


SUPER BOWL PARTIES AND THINGS

VALENTINE’S DAY MEALS AND DEALS

Dallas #BoozeNews: January 19, 2015

CHEESE ME
The Dallas Grilled Cheese Company opened Monday in the Bishop Arts District.  They’re dedicated to bringing Dallasites comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Hell to the yes.

PIZZA
Popular local pizza company, Campisi’s, opened its 10th location in the SMU Hughes-Trigg Student Center January 16.  Students now have yet another easy way to knock out that freshman 15.

SAVED BY THE BELL
West Village’s newest tenant will be Public School 214, set to open January 29 at 11am. The 200-seat gastropub promises “An Education in the Art of Food and Beer” and will offer items like Bacon Cheddar Tots (uhh yum) and Temptress Stout Short Ribs.  Offerings will include brunch, an outdoor patio, 24 craft beers with the promise of rotators and seasonals, and happy hour, which they’re dubbing “Recess” ($4, $5, $6 & $7 items).  The coolest promise? They’ll hold cocktail and beer classes every 2 months!
In other news … Public School 972 will open this fall in Addison.

GET MOD
Preston Hollow’s Modmarket will open February 4! Join them for a VIP happy hour to check out their goods on February 9 — RSVP required.

 

UNCANNY
Houston brewery and oldest brewing company in Texas, St. Arnold Brewing Company, had a great year … so great that they’re extending their offerings to cans!

HOPDODDY
Hopdoddy beer braises Beeler’s Brats and set them atop their fresh ground beef patty. Sandwiched between the two meats are in-house Roasted Red Peppers and Caramelized Onions and melty provolone cheese holds it all together. To (literally) top it off, Hopdoddy has a special Poppy Seed Bun made just for this feature is smothered with Sweet Grain Mustard.
AVAILABLE: through Sunday, January 25
COST: $10