This Week in Gluttony

These are the 5 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Amedei chocolate, Central Market Fort Worth cooking class

Taste Amedei chocolates from Tuscany at a Central Market class.

It’s the end of rodeo season and the beginning of Valentine’s season, and there are events to commemorate both this week. Also, trade tacos for tamales this Tuesday, enjoy a taste of Carmel cuisine and wine, and save room for corned beef by week’s end. January detoxes are over; it’s time to indulge.

Tuesday, January 30

Tamale Tuesday at The Collective Brewing Project
Who needs tacos on Tuesday when there are gourmet tamales to be had? Patrons of the Near Southside brewery can enjoy elevated takes on the husk-wrapped Mexican delicacy for just $2 each. Varieties include chipotle beef barbacoa; green chili pork; mushroom, kale, and cheese with hibiscus masa,;and tequila-lime chicken with spinach masa. Save room for Mexican-style popcorn with spicy mayo, cotija cheese, lime, and cilantro, as well as mole-spiced chicharrones. Wash it all down with Collective’s craft brew. The menu will be available from 4-10 pm.

Thursday, February 1

Carmel Valley Wines & Comfort Foods at Local Foods Kitchen
Chef Katie Schma draws inspiration from her Carmel, California upbringing for this four-course dinner, which will feature wines from the same region. Stick-to-your-ribs dishes include Valencian seafood paella, lamb curry, and chocolate angel pie, and wines will range from rosé to Pinot Noir. Arrive at 6:30 pm. for tray-passed appetizers before dinner at 7 pm. The $85 per person price does not include tax or gratuity.

Friday, February 2

Cornbeefapalooza at From Across the Pond
It’s a weekend of corned beef bliss at this North Richland Hills English-inspired pub and restaurant. Patrons can order specials like corned beef hash, Irish eggs Benedict with corn beer, and corned beef Reuben sandwiches and tacos, Friday through Sunday. Corned beef lovers will want to mark their calendars for the second weekend of each month, because Cornbeefapalooza is now a regular monthly event.

Saturday, February 3

Michaels Cuisine Saturday Stock Show Brunch
Kick off the last day of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo with brunch at one of the city's most popular pre-rodeo hangouts. Chef Michael Thomson’s ranch-inspired menu includes green picadillo enchiladas with eggs, smoked prime rib and eggs, and a jumbo sticky bun with ancho chile pecans and bourbon cream cheese icing. Drinks range from a TX Whiskey peach and apricot iced tea to the “Paloma-mosa” with champagne, tequila, habanero syrup, and pink grapefruit juice. Brunch will be served from 11 am-4 pm.

Monday, February 5

Italian Chocolate, Italian Dessert with Amedei Tuscany at Central Market
Life is short, so eat dessert first. Sample chocolates from Amedei Tuscany, one of Italy's finest chocolate brands, and then learn how to prepare decadent chocolate desserts, including white chocolate-pistachio tiramisu and chocolate cake with strawberries — all while you sip Moscato d’asti. The class is $50 per person (worth it alone for a taste of Amedei's Porcelana, one of the most expensive chocolates in the world) and begins at 6:30 pm.

craft-beer brunch dinner

Authentic Fort Worth Mexican restaurant El Minero spreads its wings

El Minero

El Minero mixed tacos

An authentic Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth is spreading its wings: Called El Minero, it's a family-owned restaurant that debuted in Fort Worth in 2018, and has now opened a second location in the former Los Jimadores space at 8216 Bedford Euless Rd., in the Crossroads Centre.

El Minero is from chef Daniel Rios, who's been cooking since he was 14, using family recipes from Pachuca, Hidalgo in Mexico.

The menu is a mix-up of classics like quesadillas and flautas, with creative dishes such as grilled salmon and pollo a la plancha — chicken breast cooked on a flat grill, served with steamed vegetables.

There are tacos with traditional fillings ranging from al pastor to lengua (beef tongue), and gorditas — corn pockets stuffed with fillings such as potato & chorizo, beef picadillo, and cactus leaves.

House specialties
The biggest draw is mole, the rich sauce made with spices, dried chiles, and chocolate. El Minero does both a red and green mole, as well as dishes like enmoladas, featuring corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken and covered with mole sauce.

There is also a category called pastes — similar to empanadas, and available in both sweet and savory options such as the Hawaiano, filled with ham, pineapple, cheese, and jalapenos; and the arroz con leche, filled with rice pudding.

El Minero now open in NRHEl Minero

They also serve a big breakfast daily with more creative options such as huevos estrellados, consisting of eggs with beans, cream, plantains, and tortillas; and "Mexican-style eggs" featuring scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños.

Prices are cheap: $2.25 for tacos and topping out at $14 for the most expensive entrees.

“My grandma is the one who passed on the recipes and had us working in the industry since we were little,” Rios says. “I worked my way up to being a chef. I also worked for Tim Love for a few years in the catering department."

The original Fort Worth location is at the La Gran Plaza mall. Rios says the vibe at North Richland Hills is a little different, with a more lively atmosphere.

“We don’t have a full bar yet, but it’s coming into place, and we’ll have a margarita machine,” Rios says. “There are quite a few TVs hanging up to show the games on the wall and once we get the ball rolling, we’ll have some live music. It’s not just an authentic Mexican restaurant, you can also have fun and even come sing and dance.”

tex-mex openings

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