This week in gluttony

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Dine cheaper at some of Fort Worth's priciest restaurants, like Del Frisco's and Del Frisco's Grille, during DFW Restaurant Week.

Photo courtesy of Del Frisco's Grille

August means Hatch chile season is here, and one gourmet grocery chain is ready to celebrate the piquant pepper with a month-long festival. This week also marks the beginning of DFW Restaurant Week, where nearly two dozen Tarrant County eateries will offer specials to benefit a good cause. Also on the schedule: a four-course supper club dinner, social run with post-race brews, and a brisket-smoking class led by one talented pitmaster.

Wednesday, August 4

Annual Hatch Chile Fest at Central Market
Hatch peppers are here, and the gourmet grocer will feature the popular pepper in everything from crab cakes and brioche to mac and cheese and tortillas. Named for their origin of Hatch, New Mexico, the pepper is harvested only a few weeks out of the year and more 250,000 pounds will make their way to Central Market stores across Texas. The festival will run through August 26 at all locations.

Friday, August 6

DFW Restaurant Week
The 2021 edition of the annual dine-out fundraiser kicks off its preview weekend on Friday, with the official “week” running August 9-15. Patrons can indulge in a pre-set, multicourse dinner for either $39 or $49 per person — a bargain for some of Fort Worth’s priciest establishments like B&B Butchers & Restaurant, Del Frisco's, Grace, and Wicked Butcher. A two-course lunch option is available for $19. There are nearly two dozen restaurants in Tarrant County participating in the 24th annual event, which benefits Lena Pope Home and the North Texas Food Bank. Note that some restaurants are extending their specials through September 5.

Supper Club at Magdalena’s
August dates for chef Juan Rodriguez’s popular weekend supper club events are now live, and seats will go fast. The outdoor dinners, set to take place in Magdalena’s newly renovated garden, include an appetizer and four courses. (Indoor seating available by request.) This month’s menu features squash blossom quesadillas, octopus ceviche, charred vegetable ravioli, and Molokai coffee chocolate cake. A welcome cocktail will be included, but guests may also BYOB. Seats are $75 per person and dinner begins at 7 pm.

Shannon Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at Grub Burger Bar
Head to Grub Burger Bar in Alliance for a four-course dinner paired with beers from nearby Shannon Brewing Co. Courses include barbecue chicken satay with chipotle slaw; marinated tomato bruschetta; slider trio with parmesan truffle fries; and vanilla honey porter spiked shake. Tickets are $50 per ticket or $90 for 2 tickets, and seats are limited. The dinner begins at 6:30 pm; call the restaurant at 682-204-0111 to reserve a space.

Saturday, August 7

Rahr & Sons International Beer Day Social Run/Walk
In honor of International Beer Day, the Fort Worth brewery will host a “three-ish” mile social run — all levels welcome. The untimed, self-guided route around the Near Southside will finish with three pint-size brews for participants. A pint glass to keep is included in the $25 per person price. Check in and start walking, jogging, or running any time between 8 and 9 am. The Holy Frijole food truck will be on site for breakfast starting at 9:30 am. Last call is at 11 am.

Drive-In Sour Beer Launch & New Tunes at Martin House Brewing Company
Martin House regularly releases new beers, but this Saturday's the biggie for fans of sour beers. The so-called "Drive-in" series is back in the taproom, featuring the following fun sour flavors: Orange Cream, Pacific Waves (blue coconut), Lemon Berry, and Watermelon Candy. They'll have a limited number of kegs of each on tap, and two food trucks will be on site for sustenance. Wristbands are $15 and include four pours and a souvenir pint glass, 12-5 pm. (Non-drinkers are free at the family-friendly event.) Matt Nestor will provide live music, 1:30-4 pm.

Smoking with Paul at Jambo’s BBQ at The Arlington Steakhouse
Jambo’s pitmaster Paul Lovato will share his secrets to smoking the perfect brisket. Tickets are $40 and should be reserved in advance. The demonstration will run from 3-4 pm. Call 817-275-7881 for reservations.

chefs news-you-can-eat dinner supermarkets

Closure News

Tropic Lady restaurant-bar on Fort Worth's Race Street says aloha

Tropic Lady

The dip trio at Tropic Lady.

A chill restaurant and bar in Fort Worth's River East district has closed: Tropic Lady, which opened in the former Fuzzy's Taco space at 2719 Race St. in 2023, has closed.

The restaurant, which closed in mid-December, was a sibling to Bearded Lady, the popular gastropub in Near Southside; their last Facebook post was on December 10. Their phone number is not working, and their website is no longer active. Owner Shannon Osbakken was unavailable for comment, but a Bearded Lady employee confirmed the closure.

Tropic Lady was a tropical-themed gastropub opened by a trio of friends: Bearded Lady owner Shannon Osbakken, her business partner Sarah Allen, and general manager Amanda Yunger. It offered a similar menu as Bearded lady but with more tropical-inspired fare, including shrimp tacos, bacon-wrapped grilled pineapple bites, and guacamole dotted with mango.

For a gastropub, they did interesting food with dishes like watermelon salad with feta and cucumber; or their Dip Trio, with mango guacamole, tomatillo salsa, and queso blanco served with house-made tortilla chips. Definitely not run-of-the-mill. They also had great lunch specials like a smashburger with curly fries for $10.

Food did not seem to be the problem.

Decor featured artwork and murals created by local artists. A beautifully landscaped patio wrapped around the building’s facade. So the setting did not seem to be a factor.

It's tempting to point the finger at its location on Race Street, which has witnessed a round of closings in the past two years including buzzy birria taqueria Caliscience, which closed in February 2024; as well as The Post at River East, a restaurant and live music venue that shut down the same month.

In 2023, three other restaurants on Race Street closed: Tributary Cafe, the Bon Appetit-lauded La Onda, and vegan burger spot Zonk Burger. But separate reasons can also be found for each of those closures, whether that be inexperience or lease issues.

For years, the city and neighborhood advocates have been trying to turn Race Street into a trendy hotspot. As part of the city’s Urban Villages program, the city of Fort Worth invested $5.6 million in revitalizing the area, making improvements to traffic flow, sidewalks, landscaping, and outdoor lighting.

When Osbakken opened the bar, she said she loved the area, stating "it reminds me of Magnolia when were first were on it 10 years ago in our old location. It's a great community and the neighbors have been friendly and reaching out."

And there are still restaurants along the street, including a popular Mexican restaurant called Tesoro, the Dough’d Up doughnut shop, and Kingyo Sushi & Ramen House, as well as a coffee shop, Race Street Coffee.

The Bearded Lady continues to flourish. Osbakken originally opened the popular gastropub on Magnolia Avenue in 2013. Six years later, she moved it to the South Main, where it’s still going strong.

closings

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