This week in gluttony

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

Blackland spirits are the star of one big event this week.

Photo by Heather Essian

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas-themed events can officially commence. This week begins with a holiday sweater party that comes with a chance to win cool prizes for the best get-up. There’s also a winter menu tasting, Christmas-themed beer run, and a five-course dinner featuring cocktails from a local distillery. Craft beer enthusiasts will also appreciate the free history lecture at the downtown Fort Worth Public Library on Fort Worth’s beer-brewing roots.

Wednesday, December 1

Sweata Weatha Party at Southside Cellar
There’ll be swag and goodies for the “most baller holiday sweater” during this winter weather party featuring Shiner Bock’s Brewer’s Pride series of beers. Visit the South Fort Worth beer and wine bar and market to taste the brews on tap and storm into the holiday season well-stocked. The event begins at 6 pm.

Thursday, December 2

Winter Menu Tasting at Taste Community Restaurant
The menu changes seasonally at this South Main Street restaurant, which typically allows patrons to pay what they feel is fair. But for this multi-course menu tasting, seating requires a pre-paid ticket, and only tables of four are left for $120 per table. Dinner starts at 6 pm.

Saturday, December 4

Most Wonderful Time for a Beer Social Run/Walk at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
Kick off the holiday season with this three-ish mile untimed run-walk at Rahr & Sons, known for hosting festive races. The $25 fee includes the run, three brew samples upon completion, a pint glass, and a hot breakfast from Holy Frijole food truck. Check in anytime between 8 and 9 am for a rolling start. Last call is at 11 am.

Untapped: Another Round of Fort Worth Beer History
Hosted by the Center for Texas Studies at TCU, this free history lesson explores the hardships, handshake deals, and backstabbing that shaped more than 150 years of beer brewing and drinking in Fort Worth. Join in-person at the Fort Worth Public Library downtown or watch from home via Zoom. The lecture will begin at 10:30 am.

Monday, December 6

Blackland Distillery Dinner at Pinstripes
The folks from Fort Worth’s own Blackland Distillery will visit the Shops at Clearfork dining and entertainment destination to collaborate on a five-course dinner. Each course will come with a cocktail featuring Blackland spirits, including vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye whiskey. Menu highlights include bourbon tea-infused sea bass and pork saltimbocca. The dinner is $80 per person (which includes tax and gratuity) and begins at 6:30 pm.

craft-beer dinner news-you-can-eat

Pizza News

Mr Gatti's Pizza returns to home turf Fort Worth with new location

Mr. Gatti's

Mr. Gatti's pizza is important but so is the ranch dressing.

A Fort Worth-based pizzeria concept has opened a location in Fort Worth: Mr Gatti's Pizza has opened a restaurant off Camp Bowie at 2812 Horne St. #100, a space previously occupied by Helen's Hot Chicken, where they're open with pizza, pizza rolls, and their signature ranch dressing.

The location is a franchise owned by Kirk Jefferies, who also owns and operates franchises of Jason’s Deli and Chicken Express. This is his first Mr Gatti’s, but he has more locations planned.

“When people talk about Mr Gatti's Pizza, you can see a spark in their eyes. We love being able to bring that 'excitement' and combine it with our passion for pizza,” Jefferies says in a release. “Mr Gatti's Pizza has been satisfying cravings for over 50 years. It truly is an honor to be a part of this legacy brand that people cherish."

Menu favorites from about a dozen pizza options include The Sampler, The Deluxe with sausage, pepperoni, & smoked provolone, and BBQ chicken. A basic 12-inch cheese pizza with one topping is $12.

There are lunch specials from 10:30 am-3 pm including pepperoni rolls and salad for $10; 8 wings and salad for $13; and a medium pizza with 2 salads for $15.

The chain was first founded in Stephenville, Texas as The Pizza Place, in September 1964. In 1969, founder James Eure moved to Austin and opened the first Mr Gatti’s Pizza, named for his wife's maiden name.

They have a major presence in South Texas but only two in the DFW area: Plano and Allen.

There was a location that opened in Fort Worth in 2016, at 3280 W. Seventh St. in Museum Place, which at the time, was the first to use the Mr. Gatti’s name; the chain had been going by "Gatti's." So many name changes! It closed in 2018. There was also a location in North Richland Hills which opened in 2016 and closed in early 2019; and a location in Richardson that closed in 2018.

Back in the day they had a big buffet as well as a big game room, two features for which many longtime fans are nostalgic. But this location is just about the pizza.

There are now more than 70 locations in states across the Southeast, including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

pizza openings