Museum News

Fort Worth's elegant Cafe Modern is back – with new menu and celeb chef

It's one of Fort Worth's most elegant dining experiences.

Photo courtesy of Modern Art Museum

One of Fort Worth's most elegant dining treasures is making a comeback with a little celebrity ka-pow: Café Modern, the acclaimed restaurant at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, will reopen on May 18 under new management, with a new menu and a famous new chef.

The restaurant changed management hands in January when it was taken over by Wolfgang Puck Catering, a national company that manages dining at facilities and museums across the U.S. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the company already oversees programs at AT&T Performing Arts Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, Perot Museum, Theater at Grand Prairie, and Union Station in downtown Dallas.

But Café Modern scored a big name in Jett Mora, a Wolfgang Puck Catering veteran who is actually moving to Fort Worth to lead the culinary team at the Modern, which is kind of a big deal.

Mora is a native of Los Angeles who began working for Wolfgang Puck Catering in 2011 in the company's flagship Hollywood kitchen, creating menus for weddings, special events, corporate galas, and some of the country’s premier events, including the Oscars Governors Ball. He also served as executive chef at Puck's West Hollywood restaurant Red Seven, before cooking inside Wolfgang's Test Kitchen, a culinary incubator.

Café Modern, which has been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic, was previously managed by Bon Appetit; they parted ways in January.

The new menu features comfort food with global influences and a beverage program showcasing local spirits.

Lunch menu highlights include:

Sicilian Melt featuring eggplant, portabella, and fontina cheese on sourdough
Chicken paillard with warm local rainbow chard salad
Mahi mahi with Bengali curry, sugar snap peas, and zucchini
Charred kalbi beef bowl with chili garlic rice and kimchi pickled vegetables

Brunch menu highlights include:

Birria beef migas with toasted corn tortilla omelet and guajillo chile-braised beef
Southern fried chicken biscuit sandwich

They'll be open for lunch Tuesday-Friday, 11 am-2:30 pm. Brunch is served both Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-3 pm.

Beverages and Light Bites will be available Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm, and Friday from 10 am-10 pm.

Dinner service is coming soon on Fridays, 5 pm-8:30 pm.

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Events You Can Eat

Beignets top the 7 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Dusty Biscuit Beignets/Facebook

French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and Cowtown King Cake beignets.

Indulgent fall flavors will be found at every single event on the list this week, from handmade pastas with cream sauces to spicy jambalaya, smoked turkey, and rich red wines. Save room for hot beignets made to order at a brewery by the weekend.

Tuesday, November 19

Cask & Barrel November Bourbon Dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill
All outlets of the Italian dining chain, including Hurst, Plano, and Addison, will host a five-course Friendsgiving Feast Tuesday and Wednesday. The menu includes wild mushroom soup, grilled Calabrian wings, rigatoni with garlic rosemary cream & fennel sausage, prime strip with gorgonzola walnut butter, and bourbon cinnamon panna cotta. The $70 price, plus tax and gratuity, includes bourbon pairings. Seating time is 6:30 pm both nights.

Wednesday, November 20

Sushi & Cocktails: Holiday Cocktail-Making Class at Hush
Keller sushi restaurant and bar will host a holiday mixology class paired with hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner. Guests will shake up vodka, whiskey, and tequila concoctions. The $75 price, plus tax and a small fee, also includes a take-home cocktail kit and recipe guide. The event will run from 6-8 pm.

Thursday, November 21

Pasta Making Class at il Modo
Italian restaurant on the ground floor of The Kimpton Harper hotel downtown hosts hands-on pasta-making classes in their dedicated pasta-making room every month. Light bites are provided to enjoy with your pasta creations. Class is $70, plus tax and a service fee, and starts at 6 pm. Optional wine pairing is $19.

FnG Eats Red Wine Festival 2024
Wine, whine, or unwind during this sip-and-stroll tasting event at the popular Keller restaurant. The $75 ticket, plus tax and gratuity, includes several red wines, bites, and a raffle ticket for prizes. The event will run from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Saturday, November 23

TurkeyU at Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Learn how to smoke the perfect turkey just in time for Thanksgiving. The Backyard Pitmasters team will walk participants through pit management, tools and equipment, and how to select the right bird. Class is $139 ($129 for additional participants) and will run from 9 am-12 pm.

Friendsgiving: Make & Share a Holiday Meal Together at Central Market
This hands-on class at the Central Market Cooking School will culminate with a seated lunch. The menu includes apple salad with cider-sesame vinaigrette, herb-roasted turkey breast with sage sausage dressing, and sweet potato casserole with sorghum roasted cranberry sauce. There’ll also be pie and ice cream for dessert. The $95 price includes a glass of wine paired with the meal. Class will run from 11:30-2 pm.

The Dusty Biscuit Pop Up at Martin House Brewing Company
Visit the riverfront brewery for jambalaya and beignets from The Dusty Biscuit during this special pop-up. Martin House will tap their Dusty Biscuit beignet beer for the event. Wristbands good for four 12-ounce pours are $20 and the party will run from 12-5 pm.

wine cocktails event-planner