Taste of Dallas 2012 at Fair Park: July 13-15

Last year I rode the train for 1.5 hours to the Taste of Dallas at Fair Park – sweating my glands out – only to eat froyo from Yogurtland (my mother’s idea), which is only a five-minute drive from my house in Carrollton. So, this is all just to say: Don’t do what I did. Eat other stuff.

Since there’ll be over 60 Dallas restaurants reppin’ their food at Taste of Dallas from July 13-15, I’m sure you’ll find plenty else to fill your stomachs. Make your money worth your while by attending one of  the chef demonstrations. The new execuchef of Sēr (the steakhouse that’s replacing Nana’s), Anthony Van Camp, is showing you how to make short ribs at 7 p.m. on July 13. I wonder if that’ll be on the Sēr’s menu?

Anyways, I digress. Here’s what’s new this year: The Taste Tavern is the beer and wine tasting section where more than 30 breweries are gathering inside a 40,000 sq. ft. air-conditioned space. There’s also going to be a brunch thingamajig at Taste of the Town, which is hosted by the Observer‘s City of Ate. (Yo, Scott Reitz, does this mean you’ll be there to sign autographs?) Tickets for sampling dishes from 15 different restaurants are going to cost you $20.

But, if you decide to skip all that, tickets are only $8 to get in the door. Children 12 and under are free if they’re with an accompanying parent or adult. There’s also a special Kids’ Taste Town area for the little ones to enjoy bounce houses, giant slides, a petting zoo, and more. Parking costs a whopping $12 at Fair Park unless you go green and ride the DART. That is all.