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Wine
Wino Events may have a terrible name, but their upcoming wine festivals in Arlington and Fort Worth sound like a blast, especially if you’re into Texas wines. Happening in March in Arlington and Fort Worth in April, the indoor Wino Festival showcases 40+ different wines from around the state, and you’ll get to sample them all. Price of admission includes a complimentary wine glass to sample wines of your choosing, along with a paper form that’ll allow you to keep tabs on the bottles you like. Festival organizers are quick to point out this is not a big, huge festival but rather a small, intimate outing that should allow wineries and wine lovers to learn more about each other. There will also be food vendors and live music. The festival is happening March 8-9 at Arlington’s Sky Event Center and April 19 at Fort Worth’s Southside Preservation Hall. winofest.com
Tim Love’s Gemelle Italian restaurant has launched a new menu, with brand-new spuntino options, an expanded pasta selection and a dedicated frutti di mare - fancy talk for “seafood” - category. New dishes include octopus carpaccio; sausage-stuffed olives with jalapeño pesto and pickled okra; white bean pesto ravioli with rabbit-rattlesnake sausage; Chianina skirt steak with charred onions; Gulf shrimp fra diavolo with polenta; lamb shank with potato-Swiss chard gratin; and blistered leeks with pine nuts. gemelleftw.com
Local chef Victor Villarreal has embarked on a new culinary adventure. The former chef and owner of the Bon Appétit-approved La Onda has launched a food truck that’s permanently parked at our city’s favorite dive bar, the Down N’ Out. Cleverly called the Up N’ In, the truck offers about a dozen or so small and large bites, from a unique rendition of chicken and waffles (chicken nuggets with waffle sticks drizzled in honey) to a chili cheeseburger to Frito pie served in a Fritos bag, fruiteria-style. Vic’ll be there 5pm-2am Wednesday-Saturday. 150 W. Rosedale St.
Likewise, another well-known local chef, Andrew Dilda of the late Eazy Monkey, has a new gig as the executive chef of Shoals Smokehouse, a new barbecue joint that recently opened next to the Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Dilda has told me time and again how much he loves barbecue. Matter of fact, as I’ve pointed out in previous stories about him, Dilda spent time in Beijing, where he helped open a brewery and barbecue restaurant called Jing A Brewery, and Estonia, where he consulted on another beer and barbecue concept called Pohjala Brewery & Tap Room. I know barbecue is his thing so I’m glad he’s landed in a place whose cuisine will be near and dear to him. His menu includes some cool surprises, like his rendition of steak fingers (short ribs disguised as the Dairy Queen classics), a tri-tip sandwich with chimichurri and giardiniera, and charro beans spiked with wagyu beef sausage. Of course, Shoals also serves brisket, ribs, sausage, burnt ends and other ‘cue staples. Can’t wait to try it. 340 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, shoalssmokehouse.com
Couple Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras parties happening early March. B&B Butchers & Restaurant is hosting its annual Mardi Gras Brunch 11am-1pm Saturday, March 1, with a special menu of gumbo, Cajun mac and cheese, and crawfish beignets; they’ll also have a live zydeco band. A few days later, on Tuesday, March 4, Walloon’s will usher in Fat Tuesday with beignets all day, specials on hurricanes and oysters, and live jazz. Resos are recommended. bbbutchers.com, walloonsrestaurant.com
