This week in gluttony

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Pull out your ugly holiday sweaters this week.

Photo courtesy of City Place Plaza

The culinary game is strong this week as multiple events feature elaborate menu items. From swordfish skewers and squid ink risotto to cranberry herb biscuits topped with fried chicken and Mexican chocolate butter sauce, dishes are downright drool worthy. Don’t miss the complimentary tequila tasting in the middle of it all, and get ready to don those ugly holiday sweaters.

Tuesday, December 14

El Chingon First Anniversary Fiesta
The West 7th-area “Bad Ass Mexican” restaurant and bar marks its first anniversary with a week-long fiesta. Events include a holiday party hosted by entertainer Kirill Bichutsky on Tuesday; a flight of three new holiday cocktails on Wednesday; a friends & family party 7-9 pm Friday; a charitable "Toys for Tacos" drive on Saturday and Sunday, 11 am-3 pm; and brunch with a "mimosa tower" Sunday. For more information, visit the website.

Wednesday, December 15

The Feast of the Seven Fishes at Grace
The annual Italian-inspired pre-Christmas dinner sells out, so inquire quickly for reservations. Seven luxurious courses range from swordfish spiedini to striped bass with squid ink risotto. Each course will be paired with fine Italian wines. Dinner is $175 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and a pre-dinner reception with passed canapes begins at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, December 16

Bubbles Wine Class at Chef Point Colleyville
This elaborate wine class comes with four courses paired with lots of bubbly, from Cava to Brut Rose. Menu items include pan seared scallops with saffron risotto, smoked salmon gravlax, and strawberry fried pie. Reservations are $62 per person (includes tax and gratuity) and the class begins at 6:30 pm.

Deck the Halls with Hall Wines at Hotel Vin
Journey through the Hall Wines portfolio in this exclusive tasting of the Napa brand with Dallas roots. Featured wines will include Hall Sauvignon Blanc, Walt Chardonnay, Walt Blue Jay Pinot Noir, Hall Cabernet, and Kathryn Hall Cabernet. Wines will be paired with light bites. The delicious and educational wine tasting event will take place in the Grapevine hotel's luxurious Riedel Room. Tickets are $125, and the event runs 6-7:30 pm.

Friday, December 17

Meet the Maker with Lalo Tequila at Toro Toro
Sample Austin-based Lalo Tequila during this complimentary tasting at the downtown Latin steakhouse, located inside the Renaissance Worthington Hotel. Visit any time from 5-7 pm. Also don’t miss Toro’s Toro’s Twelve Days of Cocktails, featuring a different festive cocktail each day through December 25.

Saturday, December 18

Santa Baby Brunch at Messina Hof Grapevine Winery
The downtown Grapevine wine bar will host a brunch buffet with Santa himself as a special guest. Menu items include an omelet bar, waffle station, carved ham, mimosas made with Messina Hof sparkling, and more. Reservations are $69.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids 6-13. Seating times are from 10 am-1 pm.

Christmas Party & BBA Bottle Release at Maple Branch Craft Brewery
The Foundry District's brewery and beer garden is throwing its first-ever holiday party and timing it to a beer release. The free festivities include visits with Santa, sweet treats, hot chocolate, Christmas music, and the release of this year's Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout: The Showman. A limited quantity will be for sale in in 22-ounce bottles, and they'll have a couple of kegs available on tap. Bottles go on sale at 11 am, and Santa will be in the taproom for pictures from 2-5 pm.

Annual Ugly Sweater Party at Cowtown Brewing Company
Don your gaudiest holiday sweater for this annual party, which includes visits with Santa starting at 2 pm. They're using the occasion to release their Barrel-Aged Always Be Flexin’, a Belgian-style Dark Strong aged for 12 months in V.S.O.P brandy barrels, coming in at 12.95 percent ABV.The event is free and lasts from 2-9 pm.

Sunday, December 19

Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Brunch at The Bearded Lady
Keep that ugly Christmas sweater handy for this scrumptious brunch that comes with prizes and giveaways all day. Cleverly named menu items include the Festivus for the Rest of Us, with fried chicken and Mexican hot chocolate butter on a cranberry herb biscuit; and Rudolph’s Pre-Workout, featuring cream cheese, a sausage patty, bacon, fried egg, cheddar, and tomato on a toasted everything bagel. There’ll be special Christmas cocktails, too. Brunch will run from 11 am-3 pm.

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Taco News

Fuzzy's Taco Shop is one of 7 Texas chains ready to take on America

Photo courtesy of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Tacos from Fuzzy's Taco Shop

America is set to be on the receiving end of an explosion of Mexican chain restaurants — and Texas, God bless, is doing its part.

An eye-opening story on Mashed called "Mexican Chain Restaurants You're About To See Everywhere" finds 12 chains all on the verge of expansion.

Some are fast-food, some fast-casual; some serve Mexican, some Tex-Mex — but all are poised to make their nationwide entrance.

Out of the 12 concepts on the list, an impressive seven are based in Texas. And out of the seven from Texas, five are taco concepts. Our tacos are spreading across America.

One surprising fact the story reveals is how many Texas-based chains have been recently acquired by big hospitality groups, including Chuy's, Fuzzy's, and Taco Cabana, which will help further their expansion.

Here are seven Texas chains getting ready to blow up:

Chuy's
Tex-Mex chain founded in Austin in 1982 is known for its authentic, Tex-Mex food served in a fun, eclectic, irreverent atmosphere, with each location boasting its own unique, non-chain feel. They currently have 101 locations in 15 states including 10 locations in Dallas-Fort Worth. Expect more now that Darden Restaurants, Inc. (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakouse) acquired the chain in July 2024.

Fajita Pete's
Houston chain was founded in 2008 specializing in fajitas with choice of chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp. Tortillas are handmade, and the sides are from scratch. Thanks to a robust franchising program, they currently have 30 locations across Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, including one that just opened in Austin on September 1.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop
Fuzzy's was first founded in Fort Worth in 2001, specializing in Baja-style Mexican cuisine, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with burritos, tacos, and breakfast items, plus a full bar. They currently have more than 150 locations in 17 states with more on the way, since they were acquired in 2022 by Dine Brands (Applebee's Neighborhood Grill, IHOP).

Taco Cabana
Fast-casual favorite founded in San Antonio in the 1970s is noted for its good-and-cheap food including tacos, burritos, creative menu of frozen margaritas, and accommodating late-night hours. In 2021, they were acquired by Yadav Enterprises (Jack in the Box, Denny's, TGI Fridays), and Mashed says that owner Anil Yadav plans to streamline the restaurants with upgraded drive-thrus and an easier ordering process for take-out.

Taco Palenque
Fast-casual Mexican restaurant founded in Laredo in 1987 serves authentic Mexican food, including soft and crispy tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and chicken mole. While they are currently only found in Texas, the company was founded by Juan Francisco Ochoa Sr., who also founded El Pollo Loco in 1975 and he plans to expand the concept across the U.S.

Torchy's
Revered Austin taco chain started out as a taco truck in 2006 and now has 125 locations across 14 states with plans to keep expanding. Their tacos and queso are massively popular and they're never afraid to roll out new things: In fact, they just made a big menu change that included removing some menu staples entirely, replacing them with new items such as the Damn Good Tots, topped with queso and bacon.

Velvet Taco
What started out as one foodie-centric taco shop in Dallas in 2011 has grown to nearly 50 restaurants in seven states. They're known for their unique cuisine mashups such as the Chicken & Waffle taco or the Tikka Chicken taco with basmati rice. Future expansion plans include opening locations in airports.

Outside Texas
The five non-Texas chains also in expansion mode across the U.S. include:

Bubbakoo's Burritos, a Mexican joint on the Jersey Shore
BurritoBar, a Canadian chain with plans to expand into the U.S. market
Condado Tacos, founded in Columbus near The Ohio State University campus
District Taco, a small chain in the mid-Atlantic region
Surchero's, founded in Douglas, Georgia in 2007

It remains to be seen whether any will dare to enter Texas.

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