Articles about Festivals
Brews News: Untapped Festival, Pairing Dinners, Brewery Tours, and the New Denton Beer
Armadillo Ale Works Quakertown Stout
Festival in Fort Worth: The biggest brews news surrounds this weekend’s Untapped Festival in Fort Worth. It’s a truly remarkable array of offerings from breweries around the world. They’ve brought out some seriously sexy guns for this shindig as well as some dope tunes. Is that the cool way to say it? Besides my totally hip vernacular, this festival is a monstrous celebration of amazing beer, music, art, and beer culture. Be safe, and never go thirsty.
Taking Tours: The saison (hehe, that’s French for season, jokes!) for brewery tours is on, and the weather is still quite friendly. Deep Ellum Brewery offers tours on Thursday evenings from 6-8:30 with live music, and the Si Tapas food truck, The Spanish Lunch Box, was in attendance last Thursday with chorizo, serrano ham, manchego and many other delicious Spanish bites to partner with the beers. Four Corners Brewery also does tours on Thursdays, but I have yet to find a beer to rave about over there. They’re good, just not great. Peticolas, Lakewood, and Community all host tours on Saturdays. Tickets usually average $10 and get you a few full pours. Celebrate our local beer and tour your body down.
Beer+Food: There are also a few interesting beer dinners coming up this month and in early May. Deep Ellum Brewery is hosting its first pairing dinner with Park Tavern this Friday night. Tickets are $60. They are also releasing a new Barley Wine at the untapped festival called Numb Comfort. Somehow they’ve summed up my dream life in two words. Yes, please. Also, Brew Riot is coming in May, and I cannot wait.
Big Beer From Little D: The last bit of news comes down from Denton. Armadillo Ale Works is the new brewer on the block, and their first release is called the Quakertown Stout. With the help of the folks at Deep Ellum Brewery, they’ve been able to get their beer out and in our faces. I decided to run by one of my favorite beer bars, Strangeways, and try out this new stout just for you. I will keep this short: It is absolutely beautiful. Try this dark, brooding stout right away. You’ll find a warming dark roast with sensuous chocolate notes and, with more than 9% ABV, it’s remarkably easy to drink. I would actually say gulp, which is what I did. It’s a buttery, deep dancing beauty and should not be missed.
1 Comment »What To Drink Now: Savor Dallas Reserve Tasting and International Grand Tasting
Gallo Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (left); Grand Tasting (right) photos by Louie Solomon
Each year Savor Dallas continues to grow, bringing residents from all over North Texas together for a weekend of wine and food celebration. This year, in its ninth, Savor added evening events at Trinity Groves, the Perot Museum, and a special evening at the Dallas Arboretum, bringing Dallas Blooms and wines from all over the globe together. However, the original tasting opportunities still remain the best, pairing some of the best chefs in the city together with wines and a plethora of spirits from all over the world at the big International Grand Tasting. This applies to the the special Reserve Wines tasting just before. I had a chance to attend both Saturday night as a guest of Savor Dallas.
Neyen Espiritu de Apalta – Colchagua Valley Red
Blend (being poured from decanter)
Held for the second year at the spacious Irving Convention Center, the Reserve Tasting started at 5 p.m. with representatives from Moet-Hennessy, Numanthia, Cheval des Andes, and The Puzzle from Newton. Diageo poured incredible Rutherford dust filled BV Georges de Latour Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; Duckhorn offered its incredible Howell Mountain Cabernet;, and Wrath Wines poured a crisp and luscious, wax-capped San Saba Chardonnay. Some special spirits included a four-year aged Casa Sauza XA Limited Edition Gran Anejo Tequila. Comfortably spread out guests easily meandered from table-to-table, sipping and enjoying, while having the opportunity to talk about the wines with the representatives with ease.
Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Savor Dallas Reserve Tasting and International Grand Tasting"
2 Comments »Second Annual Big Texas Beer Fest is Happening on April 6
As the weather gets warmer, there are only two words you need to think about: cold beer.
Thanks to Chad Montgomery, you’ll have your cold dreams come true on April 6 at Fair Park, when the Big Texas Beer Fest hosts beers from all around the state of Texas. It’s going to be the beeriest event of the summer. Read the press release if you don’t believe me.
Dallas, TX – March 10, 2013 – The Big Texas Beer Fest returns to Dallas’ Fair Park on April 6 after a highly successful inaugural event last year, which drew more than 4,000 attendees. The event will be held in the Automotive Building at Fair Park, and feature more than 100 breweries from around the world, including 20+ from the state of Texas. Montgomery indicated, “Craft beer is really growing in Texas right now, last year we didn’t really even have that many breweries to invite.”
In addition, where last year’s event featured mostly Texas brewers from the immediate area, this year brewers from Austin, Houston and other parts of the state will be on hand to showcase their wares.
“We were fortunate to have really unique beers last year,” said Chad Montgomery, who founded the festival with his wife, Nellie, after visiting the Great American Beer Fest in Denver. “The lineup at this year’s festival will be even better. We’re really pulling out all the stops. Fortunately, we know a lot of these brewers personally because we’re craft beer folks ourselves, so we have special commitments from nearly every Texas brewer on our list.”
The success of the 2012 festival, which was named one of the Top 14 craft beer and spirits festivals in the United States by foodrepublic.com, also gained international attention. Montgomery said Chris Bauweraerts, brewer at Brasserie d’Achouffe in Belgium, will be attending this year.
Continue reading "Second Annual Big Texas Beer Fest is Happening on April 6"
Upcoming Opportunities To Taste
If you are in the mood to try some great wine the opportunities are endless the next few weeks in and around Dallas. Here are some great upcoming opportunities to taste.
Tonight Maguire’s Restaurant hosts Eric Titus, of Napa Valley’s incredible Titus Vineyards for a 5-course tasting dinner . I am a huge fan of the wine, founded by Eric’s parents in 1967 who ultimately left the winery to Eric and his brother, winemaker Phillip, who have won great acclaim for their expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, and maintained the philosophy that great wine starts in the vineyard and great working relationships require friendship, compromise, and in this case, brotherly love. Reservations required – 972-818-0068. Continue reading "Upcoming Opportunities To Taste"
The Booze and Music at Untapped Festival Made Our World Go ‘Round. Here’s Why.
Lakewood employees keeping it fun in the booth. (photos Melisa Oporto)
Even with the Trinity Groves “entertainment destination” still unfinished, a sold-out crowd happily showed up promptly for the music, alcohol, and mercifully cool weather at Spune Productions’ Untapped Festival in WestDallas this past Saturday. Food truck supplies were already heavily depleted just past 4 pm and multiple craft breweries ran out of the most coveted batches early on as well, but such issues are merely indicative of a successful party.
Maui Brewing Company’s Coconut Porter came up in multiple conversations and the Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA was a personal favorite, as it came off like something of an anti-IPA. GhostIPA? Whatever you want to call it, the surprisingly light and grapefruit-rich taste was the perfect balance for someone who is not exactly an IPA fan. Unfortunately we were told that it won’t be available locally until October, so perhaps “Ghost IPA” can be used as a seasonal marketing promotion.
Jump for Melisa’s great photos.
Continue reading "The Booze and Music at Untapped Festival Made Our World Go ‘Round. Here’s Why."
4 Comments »Ticket Giveaway: A Pair of Tickets to Untapped Festival on September 8
I just got off the phone with Corey Pond, one of the organizers behind this whole Untapped Festival shebang that’s happening on Saturday, September 8 from 1 to 11 p.m. Not only is there going to be an incredible lineup of Indie rock bands (The Burning Hotels, David Dondero, The Eastern Sea, etc.) at Trinity Groves, but there’s also going to be 50 different breweries with well over 100 beers at this thing. Holy cow. And 20-30 beers are rare and limited editions. Some of them have been brewed especially for this event, like Deep Ellum Brewing Co.’s green tea and sriracha ace (of the hop variety), Peticolas’ vanilla bean velvet hammer, and Rahr’s barrel-aged chile beer.
If you’d like two free tickets to the Untapped Festival, tell us what your favorite local beer is down below in the comments. The ticket winner gets two concert + beer tickets (each valued at $30), which includes a 2 oz. glass so you can sample 12 different kinds of beer. I’ll pick the random winner at 5:30 p.m. today, and that person (with a legit email address) will find out how to claim his or her tickets.
3rd Annual Veggie Fair: Meat Free and Fried
October 21st the 3rd annual Texas State Veggie Fair will return to Dallas, boasting their continued vegan fried foods competition where all things fried are good, and all things meat are bad.
The family friendly event will move to Reverchon Park near downtown this year starting at 11am with vendors selling everything from vegan corn dogs, vegan Frito pie and funnel cakes, as well as live music, games and activities. Last year the event drew about 2,500 attendees.
Sponsored by DallasVegan.com to promote the growing vegan trend in Dallas while giving attendees the opportunity to learn about living in a cruelty (to animals)-free lifestyle.
This year promises a fun-filled day of cooking demos, guest speakers (including Gene Baur, nationally renowned vegan activist, author, and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y.,) carnival games and lots of fried food. Even if you’re a meat eater who doesn’t celebrate a the beauty of anything fried?
Craft Cocktails Texas is Happening This Weekend: June 14-17
Hendricks Gin (photos by Melisa Oporto)
Dozens of guests sipped specialty cocktails from mainstream and artisan spirit sponsors last night at the Kick Off Party for the inaugural Craft Cocktails Texas festival on the penthouse floor of The Stoneleigh Hotel. While listening to melodies sung by crooner Ricki Derek, guests sipped on 18-year-old single malt from Balvenie & Glenfiddich, tiki punch from Sailor Jerry Rum, jam-infused drinks mixed with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, and a new product from Maison Lillet (Lillet Rose) served over ice with a refreshing slice of grapefruit.
Craft Cocktails, the brainchild of Mixologist Brian McCullough and Nico Ponce, is a four day festival developed to highlight the art of creating fresh, innovative and delicious cocktails using artisan spirits – often with a nod to the classics -taking place throughout Texas. If you have any love of artisan cocktails, this was the place to be last night, and will be the place to be through Sunday.
Continue reading "Craft Cocktails Texas is Happening This Weekend: June 14-17"
Craft Cocktails Texas Brings Creative Concoctions and Artisan Spirits To Dallas
Over four days from June 14-June 17 a new spirits festival will take Dallas by storm, celebrating all things boozy and including some of the best mixologists in the city and the state, Craft Cocktails Texas. The growing interest in high-end cocktails created with whimsy using quality spirits and fresh mixers inspired the event, sure to introduce guests to creations, flavors, presentations and ideas they would have never imagined before. The educational cocktail party will also give back with a portion of proceeds from Craft Cocktails Texas will benefit the Youth Foundation of the American Heart Association. Founded by Brian McCollough and Nico Ponce, Ponce notes:
The event is a four day festival featuring seminars, tastings, and cocktail parties, and is a celebration of the growing movement of craft cocktails, prohibition and pre-prohibition cocktails, and the utilization of artisan spirits in cocktail dens and restaurants across our state. 3 years ago there were only two or three true mixology programs in Texas and now we’re getting close to 50. This is changing the way that people are drinking across our state and we’re celebrating and embracing the new (old) direction that cocktails are headed.
Most events will take place either in and around downtown or at The Stoneleigh. Great to see what a few spirit loving Dallas guys can do for the city, help bring recognition to the incredible mixologists we have in town and teach people a little bit about their favorite distilled libations. Full details available here.
28 Comments »
Taste Addison is This Weekend. You Should Go.
It’s summer. This means there’ll be tons of foodie things to do this season, starting with the Taste of Addison from May 18-20. Over 60 Addison restaurants will be serving samples and light bites while bands like Rhett Miller & The Serial Lady Killers rip up the stage. There’s a flair bartending competition, taste showcase with cooking demonstrations, carnival, and overall, good family-friendly fun. If I wasn’t going to be in Houston this weekend, I’d be in Addison batting my eyelashes at Mat Kearney while he croons Closer to Love.
Head South To the Punta Mita Gourmet and Golf Classic
Ahi Tuna Tacos (Photos courtesy of Frankey Dey)
Celebrity chefs, tasty tequila, great golf, five star resorts and plenty of sunshine….each is a perfectly good reason to journey south of the boarder to luxurious Punta Mita, Mexico. Why not enjoy them all in a festival bringing each of these together in one fabulous weekend of food, wine, tequila and golf, playing Jack Nicklaus’s designed courses Bahia or Pacifico.
Last night I was an invited guest of Chef Andrew Ormsby, who hosted a gathering at his studio with St. Regis Punta Mita General Manager Carl Emberson and Four Seasons Punta Mita G.M. Michele Grosso, along with their Executive Chefs Sylvain Desbois from Carolina at the St. Regis and Claudia Fossa from The Four Seasons, to introduce the flavors, flair and splendor of this magnificent place located just a short plane ride away. Continue reading "Head South To the Punta Mita Gourmet and Golf Classic"
6 Comments »Chefs for Farmers Announce Mixin’ it up on the Boulevard Line-Up for May 6
If you ever wanted to see a burger showdown, it might behoove you to attend this outdoor foodie fest where chefs like John Tesar and Jack Perkins will be joining over thirty amazing chefs to celebrate the local farm movement. Chef Matt McCallister, Iris McCallister, and Christina LaBarba are organizing this showcase for May 6 from 1-5 PM in Lee Park, where guests can bring their own picnic blankets and wine glasses to enjoy some of the most talented chefs’ creations.
Participating chefs include: Abraham Salum, Al Havens, Anastasia Quiñones, Andre Natera, Andrew Bell, Andrew Ormsby, Blaine Staniford, Brian C. Luscher, Bruno Davaillon, Chad Houser, Dan Landsberg, David A. Temple, David Gilbert, Franchesca Nor, Garreth Dickey, Graham Dodds, Greg Bussey, Hollie Dorethy, Jack Perkins, Janice Provost, Jason Maddy, Jeff Harris, Jeffrey Hobbs, Jill Bates, John Tesar, Jon Stevens, Josh Black, Katherine Clapner, Matt McCallister, Nathan Tate, Randall Copeland, Sarah Green, Scott Gottlich, Scott Romano, Tiffany Derry and Tre Wilcox.
Tickets are $60 per person or $110 for two. Mixin’ it up on the Boulevard is giving away 100% of its proceeds to Meals on Wheels, Inc. and Water for Chizavane. Buy your tickets here.
Drink Beer, Eat Sausage at the German Fasching Fest this Sunday
SAT analogy lesson for the day:
New Orleans : Mardi Gras ::
Germany : Fasching Fest ::
If you didn’t understand that, retake the SATs and jump below. Continue reading "Drink Beer, Eat Sausage at the German Fasching Fest this Sunday"
1 Comment »ZestFest 2012: Spice Up Your Weekend
Anyone who appreciates sizzling flavors should head over to the 10th year of ZestFest, a food festival featuring some of the spiciest exhibitors and products from all over the country. Celebrity chefs like Jon Bonnell (Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine) and Lou Lambert (Lambert’s) will be answering those burning questions of yours during their cooking demonstrations. Heck, what beats a weekend full of crazy people participating the Wing Stop Atomic wing competition or the jalapeño eating competition? Nothing. (Except maybe drinking tea with the Queen of England.) The blood, sweat, and tears from participants should be a pretty close second.
Jump for details.
Continue reading "ZestFest 2012: Spice Up Your Weekend"
Food Truck Winter Festivals in Dallas
Randy Wolken and Dain Pool, the operators behind Gandolfo’s NY Deli and The Butcher’s Son, have engineered a coalition of Food Trucks called “DFW Street Foods.” Their intent is to be able to provide a more unifying voice among the many new business owners. Besides advancing their political agenda in order to make it easier for food trucks to operate, they have put together several food truck events in Dallas.
Truckin’ Through The Holidays Food Truck Rally
The first coming up is “Truckin Through The Holidays Food Truck Rally” at 3309 McKinney in Uptown Dallas on Saturday, December 10. That’s the parking lot across from Primo’s. They’ll start at 4pm and trucks include Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe, The Butcher’s Son, and Gandolfo’s NY Deli, and The CupCakin Machine.
Big D NYE at Victory Park
Multiple food trucks, including City Street Grille, Nammi, Ssahm, Gandolfo’s, and The Butcher’s Son will be in attendance directly in the venue for Big D NYE. Multiple bands, fireworks, and the food trucks will entertain and feed the thousands of party-goers. The food trucks will be serving from about 6pm until well after midnight. In the past, there has been only one vendor, but now the 5 trucks will provide a nice variety for those out on the streets.
More Events, More Venues
Going forward, the DFW Street Foods coalition will be organizing more events at the Primo’s parking lot location. They’ve also secured use of the old Hard Rock Cafe location for events over the next few months. Stay tuned for more details.
1 Comment »What to Drink Now: Flavor! Napa Valley
Chef Jeffrey Jake, Chef Scott Contant, Charles Henning of the CIA at Greystone, Chef Cindy Pawlcyn and Chef Masaharu Morimoto
I just returned from the Thanksgiving holiday Napa Valley style. I had traveled out to the picturesque Napa Valley on November 17th (on my own plane ticket) to start the holiday week at the inaugural Flavor! Napa Valley. I was an invited guest of the festival, attending a few of the events throughout the weekend, which quickly established itself as being a celebration of big names and big wines, coming together to celebrate Napa Valley. Continue reading "What to Drink Now: Flavor! Napa Valley"
1 Comment »Chefs for Farmers and Dallas Uncorked Present Mixin’ It Up On the Boulevard 2012
Last night the organizers for Mixin’ It Up On the Boulevard 2012, announced the details of their upcoming event. The outdoor food, wine, and spirits festival will feature an A-list of celebrity chefs, local farmers, and award-winning wine and spirits.
The event, co-created by Dallas Uncorked and Chefs for Farmers, will take place at Lee Park on May 6, 2012. Dallas Uncorked was founded by Hayley Hamilton, who is also a featured contributor on SideDish. Chefs for Farmers was created by Chef Matt McCallister and Oh*Brownie founder Iris McCallister. Together they have pulled in a load of talent and the event will benefit Charity: Water and Meals on Wheels Inc.
Jump for the glorious details.
Continue reading "Chefs for Farmers and Dallas Uncorked Present Mixin’ It Up On the Boulevard 2012"
7 Comments »Special Report: Media Gets a Preview of Taste of Greenville Avenue
Sushi cone from The Blue Fish.
D Magazine intern Jessica Melton attended a press preview of the food that will be featured at Taste of Greenville Avenue (TOGA) this weekend.
We’ve all been there before. The age-old looping conversation of “I don’t know, what do you want to eat?”
Every now and then we get a break from having to make these awkward decision and pick an event like Taste of Greenville Avenue to satisfy everyone in our group. TOGA is taking place this Saturday from 10AM to 8PM at 4925 Greenville Ave. TOGA is a lot like Taste of Addison and Taste of Dallas, only it localizes the event by focusing on the businesses on Greenville Avenue. About 30 Greenville eateries will pick their best dishes and offer smaller portions—that cost about $3-$6—giving everyone the chance to try as many restaurants in one outing as they want.
Jump for food porn.
Continue reading "Special Report: Media Gets a Preview of Taste of Greenville Avenue"
Texas State Veggie Fair: Food Fun Without Meat
D Magazine intern Jessica Melton attended yesterday’s Texas State Veggie Fair. She files this report.
The Texas State Fair is renowned for its vast array of weird, interesting, and just plain crazy fried foods. The same could be said about this weekends’ Texas State Veggie Fair—minus the meat.
Yesterday, the 2nd Annual Veggie Fair ground, otherwise known as Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, was filled with vegan, vegetarian, and perhaps a few meat lovers like myself. (I was a vegetarian for a brief stint, but one day I woke up with a hankering for a T-bone steak—medium rare, if we’re being specific—and I haven’t looked back.) But diners are demand for vegan and vegetarian food is skyrocketing and the folks who hosted this event, DallasVegan.com, now have two successful day-long events to prove it.
Pictures and more galore.
Continue reading "Texas State Veggie Fair: Food Fun Without Meat"
3 Comments »Texas State Veggie Fair Set for October 23
The 2nd Annual Texas State Veggie Fair will take place on Sunday, October 23, from 11AM-6PM at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake. The host, Mercy for Animals, promises tons of vegan-friendly food, guest speakers, carnival games and prizes, music, and other entertainment. And it’s free. Get vegucated! Details here.
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