This week in gluttony

Stockyards BBQ fest tops 5 best food events in Fort Worth this week

The Syndicate Smokedown & Music Festival arrives this week in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Photo courtesy of Ben Sassani

Two dozen pitmasters from around North Texas and beyond will convene on the Fort Worth Stockyards for a festival that combines barbecue and Texas country music. This takes place after a couple notable wine dinners and a pickle beer party, but before a Sunday afternoon spring tea to end the week.

Tuesday, April 14

April Wine Dinner at Caterina’s
The Stockyards destination for fine Italian cuisine will host its monthly wine pairing dinner. The menu includes asparagus and cucumber salad with anchovy vinaigrette; tuna with golden balsamic and caper berries; Italian ricotta dumplings with brown butter, rosemary, and sage; stuffed filet with prosciutto, asparagus, and cippolini onions; and raisin and date brioche cake with molasses and hazelnut. Italian wines are paired with each course. Dinner is $165 and begins at 6:30 pm.

Friday, April 17

Meet the Maker Wine Dinner at Hotel Vin: A. Rafanelli Winery
The Grapevine wine-themed hotel will host an intimate wine dinner featuring A. Rafanelli Sonoma wines inside its Bordeaux Ballroom. Menu highlights include Spanish octopus carpaccio, Texas Iberico pork, and apricot and olive oil cake. There are just a few tickets left, priced at $125. Dinner begins at 7 pm.

Saturday, April 18

Pickle Fest 2026 at Martin House Brewing Company
Of all the events at this Fort Worth riverfront brewery, Pickle Fest is one of the most popular. Don’t miss the sour soiree featuring five different versions of Martin House’s fan-favorite Best Made Pickle Beer. There’ll also be a pickle-eating contest (2:30 pm), live music, local vendors, food trucks, and a foam machine. A $20 wristband is good for a souvenir green plastic stadium cup and four 12-ounce pours. The event will run from 12-5 pm.

Syndicate Smokedown & Music Festival at The Fort Worth Stockyards
The fifth annual barbecue tasting and Texas country music concert – this year headlined by Whiskey Myers – will feature 20-plus pitmasters from across North Texas and beyond, including Panther City BBQ, Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, Smoke & Bone BBQ, and more. Tickets are $134 and grant access to the barbecue tastings from 12-4 pm, with live music playing all day. (Whiskey Myers will take the stage at 9:15 pm after Randy Rogers Band at 7:30 pm.) All net proceeds go to the Jim Bob Norman Scholarship fund, which benefits Texas FFA and 4-H youth pursuing degrees at Texas universities.

Sunday, April 18

Sunday Spring Afternoon Tea at Hao’s Grocery & Café
Hao Tran’s cozy shop known for its dumplings, unique gifts, and grab-and-go items will host Sunday afternoon tea service on vintage China with sweet and savory items. Tickets are $25 and include choice of fine teas. The tea will run from 2-4 pm.

barbecue festival bbq pickle beer party spring tea wine dinner food events

Hotel reno

Westlake Marriott near DFW Airport gets major refresh and new dining

Photo courtesy of Ricardo Marriott

House of Toro at The Ricardo Marriott

A longtime Westlake luxury hotel is ready to unveil a major renovation and rebrand to the public: The former Marriott Westlake has reopened as The Ricardo Marriott, named for famed Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the original designer of the hotel and its surrounding Solana Plaza.

According to a release, the 293-room property near DFW Airport recent underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that included several new dining concepts and social spaces, along with new design elements, guest room refurbishments, and a pool refresh.

Dallas-based Coury Hospitality led the overhaul of the Marriott, Bonvoy Collection hotel.

"The Ricardo Marriott represents an exciting new chapter for this property,” said Andrew Casperson, President of Coury Hospitality, in a statement. “This transformation goes beyond a renovation. It reflects an intentional effort to honor the building’s architectural significance while introducing a renewed identity that is bold, design-driven, and reflective of Westlake’s evolving character.”

The renovations aimed to honor and augment Legorreta's original, 1987 design for the building and its campus, featuring his signature bold geometry and vibrant colors. (Legorreta's other well-known local building is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which features similarly striking colors and shapes.)

"Legorreta’s architecture anchors the experience, creating a strong sense of arrival, while refreshed interiors introduce layered materials, contemporary furnishings and curated color that elevate the guest journey," says the release.

The centerpiece of the renovation are the food and beverage offerings:

A new restaurant called House of Toro Chophouse & Patio serves as the hotel’s signature chophouse.
Black Pearl Lounge offers cocktails, light bites, and tableside caviar service.
Solana Lounge & Kitchen provides all-day dining with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Café31 offers Lavazza coffees, fresh pastries, and grab-and-go options.

The hotel also features more than 15,000 square feet of updated meeting and event space, along with outdoor areas and a new-and-improved pool. The spaces are designed to accommodate a range of uses, from corporate meetings to weddings and social events, the release says.

The Ricardo Marriott is now open and welcoming guests, at 1301 Solana Boulevard, Building 3, Westlake.

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