This week in gluttony

These are the 8 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Fred's burgers and beers are finally ready in West Fort Worth.

Photo by Nancy Farrar

This week bring the highly anticipated return of one of Fort Worth’s most iconic burger joints with a grand opening celebration in a new location. Also returning are wine dinners at a popular Keller chef-driven restaurant. Save room for a beer-pairing dinner on Monday that’s sure to bring on the “meat sweats.”

Wednesday, May 18

Crocker & Starr Wine Dinner at Grace
Napa Valley winemaker Pamela Starr will visit the downtown fine dining destination for this five-course wine dinner from chef Blaine Staniford. Starr will guide guests through each pairing. Dinner is $195 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Arrive at 6:30 pm for a bubbly reception followed by the seated dinner at 7 pm.

FnG Eats Wine Dinner and Communal Gathering
It’s been a while since this popular Keller restaurant has hosted a wine dinner, so they’ll have two in a row to make up for it. Make reservations for Wednesday or Thursday for a four-course dinner, featuring an array of fan-favorite wines (like Alexander Valley Chardonnay). Menu highlights include Oaxaca cheese-stuffed pupusas, steak frites, and salted caramel ice cream. Dinner is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm both nights.

Thursday, May 19

Bar Ilegal at Tulips
Visit the Near Southside bar and live music venue for a pop-up mezcal tasting. Guatemala-based Ilegal Mezcal will bring its traveling tour to Tulips for mezcal cocktails, flash tattoos, and a show by the female rock band SUSU. The fun begins at 7 pm.

Saturday, May 21

Grand Opening of Fred’s Texas Café on Camp Bowie West
After the decades-old original location of the time-honored burger joint closed its doors on New Year’s Eve, fans have been waiting hungrily for Fred’s reincarnation in West Fort Worth. A grand opening celebration will feature live music all day from 12-10:30 pm, a throwback beer special that “harkens back the year Fred’s opened” (which was 1978), and an inaugural food challenge at 4 pm. The new Fred’s is located at 7101 Camp Bowie West. (Don’t forget that Fred’s also has a location on Western Center Boulevard in far north Fort Worth.)

Fort Worth Fried Chicken & Craft Beer Fest at Panther Island Pavilion
Tributary Café, Gus’s World Famous Chicken, and Hooters are just some of the participants during this fried chicken festival presented by Four Corners Brewing Co. The $45 ticket includes fried chicken from 10 restaurants and six tastings from Four Corners. There’ll also be live music, axe throwing, a photo booth, spirits tastings, a wine bar, and Colonel Sanders costume contest. The event will run from 12-5 pm.

Military Appreciation Month Event at Whiskey Ranch
The folks behind TX Whiskey will celebrate Military Appreciation Month with a commemorative Stars and Stripes edition bottle, available for purchase at the Ranch Store, and an evening concert benefit event. The $35 per-person ticket includes two TX Whiskey cocktails, one dish from either Texas Mac & Cheese or Rollin’ Stone food trucks, and live music by King George, a George Strait tribute band. All ticket proceeds will go toward Boot Campaign, an organization that aims to restore the lives of veterans and military families through individualized programs. The event will run from 5-9 pm, with the concert to start at 7 pm. There’ll be free bottle engraving, too.

Sunday, May 22

Pop-Up Brunch at Rancho Loma Vineyards
The South Main Street wine bar is back with another Sunday Funday pop-up brunch, this time featuring tenured chef Blythe Bridges and her new mobile barbecue concept, Bark Tacos & Smoke. Reservations are available from 12-3 pm and menu items will be sold a la carte.

Monday, May 23

Meat Sweats Beer Dinner at Funky Picnic Brewery & Café
Garland’s Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery will visit the Near Southside brewery for a collaborative beer and barbecue dinner. Chicken, beef, and pork will be represented on the menu. Highlights include beef cheek ragu on pappardelle pasta and Asian-style brisket with kimchi and cucumbers. Save room for smoked banana pudding. All courses will be paired with a beer. Dinner with pairings is $90 per person, including tax and gratuity. Arrive by 7 pm.

wine news-you-can-eat craft-beer barbecue burgers

More Than Turkey

The 5 best food and drink events in Fort Worth on Thanksgiving week

laloteriaftx.com

It's tea time at Tim Love's La Loteria.

Thanksgiving finally arrives this week, and we've provided plenty of notice for making reservations with our list of open restaurants here. But there are other tasty event on the schedule; most involve taking a break from relatives with a stiff drink. Also note that a popular holiday afternoon tea service returns this weekend for the season.

Tuesday, November 26

Make & Take: Pumpkin Roll at Central Market Cooking School
Need to bring a sweet treat to Thanksgiving dinner? Book a spot in this hands-on cooking class at Central Market and make a quintessential pumpkin roll – pumpkin-flavored cake that’s rolled with a lightly spiced concoction of cream cheese, mascarpone, and whipped cream. Participants will also make a quick caramel sauce take-and-serve with the delectable dessert. Class is $85 and runs from 12–1:30 pm.

Wednesday, November 27

Drinksgiving at The Cajun Market at Bourbon Street
New Orleans-inspired eatery in Bedford will host the unofficial holiday of “Drinksgiving” with an all-day happy hour. Take a break from family drama with specials like $3 well drinks, $5 frozen cocktails, $3.25 domestic bottles, $3 Miller Lite drafts, and $5 snacks including chips and queso, boudin balls, cheese curds, crawfish pies, and chilled peel-and-eat shrimp. Open 11 am–10 pm.

Friday, November 29

Drinksgiving at Fish City Grill
This made-up holiday is typically marked on the day before Thanksgiving, but Fish City Grill locations will keep the party going all weekend. Visit locations in Mansfield and Burleson for all-day happy hour specials including half-price bottles of wine, $5 gold margaritas, $2.50 chargrilled oysters and East Coast oysters, and $2.25 Gulf oysters. Open 11 am–10 pm.

Black Friday Barrel-Aged Stout Drop at Martin House Brewing Company
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, Martin House breaks out some special stouts to help combat the Black Friday madness. This year brings four versions of their Hey You Guys 15 percent ABV whiskey barrel-aged stout: original, cherry cordial, cinnamon roll, and dulce de leche. Each will be available in 16-ounce cans for $16, and they’ll be on tap, as well, while supplies last. Open 12–10 pm.

Afternoon Tea at La Loteria
Chef Tim Love brings back his afternoon tea service for the second year in a row to La Loteria, his members-only private club in the Stockyards. The general public can access the club (located atop Paloma Suerte with mezzanine access to Tannahill’s next door) by making reservations at least 24 hours in advance. The sweet and savory menu includes an array of tea sandwiches, scones, macarons, and more. Pricing starts at $70, plus tax and gratuity, and service runs from 2:30–4:45 pm Wednesday through Saturday now through December 21.

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