This week in gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Make and take your own kolaches this week - no road trip required.

Central Market

This week brings the fall debut of a popular springtime Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival event featuring global flavors. But first, take part in one of two wine pairing dinners, then save room for whiskey and kolaches. Also, now that the holiday season is here, Santa is making regular brunchtime appearances around town.

Tuesday, November 28

Chef’s Table & Cellar: Peju Winery featuring Chef Jen Williams at Fort Brewery
This weekly wine-pairing dinner at Fort Brewery features chef and caterer Jen Williams of JayCee Hospitality, who’ll create a four-course menu to pair with Napa’s Peju wines. Dinner is $90, plus tax and a small fee, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, November 30

Belle Brise Pomerol Wine Dinner at Paris 7th
Belle Brise owner and winemaker Henri-Bruno de Coincy will be in attendance during this elaborate five-course French wine pairing dinner. Fine French dishes on the menu include smoked duck confit in a savory galette crepe; Roquefort leek tart with veal jus, black truffle, and foie gras stuffed quail in puff pastry; and braised lamb shoulder roulade. Save room for Champagne and pavlova for dessert. The dinner is $250, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 5:30 pm.

Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation Night Market
From the organizers of the annual Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (taking place April 4-7, 2024), this street market-inspired tasting event will feature global flavors from more than a dozen local chefs, including Juan Rodriguez of Magdalena’s, Gigi Howell of JD’s Hamburgers, and Andrew Dilda of Eazy Monkey. It will also include crafted cocktails from 14 local mixologists, from Tarantula Tiki Lounge, The Usual, Don Artemio, and more. Tickets are $65 and the event will run from 6:30-9 pm at The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion.

Saturday, December 2

Holiday Brunch with Santa at Bacchus Kitchen + Bar
Among Santa’s many appearances around town are Saturday morning stops at Bacchus in Grapevine starting this week. The big guy in red will visit Hotel Vin’s restaurant for brunch and photos on Saturdays through December 23, from 10 am-2 pm. Fill up on a la carte brunch items like lobster biscuits and gravy, ricotta pancakes, and brioche French toast, along with mimosas and brunch cocktails. (Don’t miss the coconut-infused White Christmas margarita.) Reservations are required to ensure seeing Santa.

Make & Take: Czech Kolaches at Central Market Cooking School
No need to take a road trip to West, Texas to indulge in authentic Czech kolaches. Learn to make your own during this hands-on class at Central Market Cooking School. Participants will shape kolache dough then use a variety of fillings, including fruit, cheese, and sausage. Take the treats home at the end of class, which is $75 and begins at 11 am.

TX’s Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Oak Release Party
Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. will release the seventh edition of its experimental series – TX Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Oak. Available only at the distillery’s retail store, the twice-barreled spirit offers bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla, and spices. VIP tickets ($50) for the release party include a welcome cocktail, a tasting while meeting the maker, a VIP tour, and an exclusive gift not available in the retail store. Or purchase a general admission ticket for $10, which includes admission and a cocktail. Entry is at 12 noon for VIP ticket holders and 1 pm for general admission.

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TikTok News

TikTok critic Keith Lee visits Dallas spinoff of Fort Worth steakhouse

TikTok

Keith Lee

A TikTok critic paid a visit to a surprisingly fancy DFW restaurant: Viral critic Keith Lee, whose online restaurant critiques generate millions of views, bestowed a visit upon Wicked Butcher, a local steakhouse that started in Fort Worth.

Wicked Butcher is a fine-dining spot from hospitality group DRG Concepts that debuted in Fort Worth’s Sinclair Hotel in 2020 with a menu of steaks, seafood, and wine. Lee visited the Dallas location, which was originally known as Dallas ChopHouse, then reopened as a Wicked Butcher spinoff in early 2024.

According to a spokesperson for the restaurant, Lee visited on December 29, and gave no warning he was coming. He wasn't invited or compensated for the review; he just showed up as a guest and ordered food to go.

But he seems to have been recognized, since a general manager approached him and asked for his feedback on the food. The spokesperson, however, states that they ask for feedback from all their guests regardless of status.

A steakhouse is a little more highbrow than some of the small, independent spots Lee has favored in the past. In a four-minute TikTok video, he shares what he ordered, along with his ratings and comments.

Items he ordered along with his notes include:

Green Curry Salmon. "It's seasoned really well, it's not super spicy, but it does have a little kick," Lee says. "The rice has the perfect texture, too." 8.6 out of 10.
Steak Frites. He gave the fries and steak separate ratings. He liked the parmesan cheese on the fries, but wished they were more salted. The steak was medium rare. Said it was “very well-seasoned and extremely tender” and that it was “cooked perfectly.” Fries 7.5 out of 10; steak 8 out of 10.
Salmon tartare and rice crackers. Commented that the cracker is "seasoned perfectly, in my opinion," with a chili lime seasoning. 9 out of 10
Bread was described as “pillowy, layered, and flaky.” 7.5 out of 10.
Blackberry basil lemonade. He enjoyed it so much that he ordered two. “Another blackberry mint lemonade, please!” 9 out of 10.

He gave customer service a rating of 9 out of 10, remarking that customer service in downtown Dallas is usually good.

The total bill was $142.89.

“One thing I do love about the Dallas food scene— we’ve been here about a month, a month and a half— they do got some nice fine dining restaurants,” Lee says in the video.

Lee recently relocated to Texas from Las Vegas in November, after visiting Dallas on a number of house-hunting trips as well as roundups of Dallas-area restaurants. Wicked Butcher is not the only DFW-area restaurant he's explored; he recently visited Hutchins BBQ.

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