Tag Archives: Festival

FWFWF: Grand Tasting Event

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post however I did receive tickets to the event in return for the publication. As always, all opinions are my own. #FWFWF #GrandTasting #FortWorthTX

Everything is bigger in Texas, including quality. Where no holds bar, the Grand Tasting showcased the the most exceptional items at this year’s Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. Including presentations from some of the area’s most elite restaurants, local breweries and North Texas wines and spirits there was no limitation of the items that can be devoured. Lobster rolls, smoked salmon, bread pudding and jalapeño beer. (Yes, jalapeño beer and it was phenomenal.) This was the event to dress up a little and be ready for a evening of treating yourselves.

With as much wine as food (let’s be honest, I’m convinced there was definitely more wine), the first stop had to be a wine table. With wines companies from all over Texas and all over the world, we can all find something that we enjoy. A great sommelier always finds something that you would enjoy. Keeping up with the wine selection was something of a challenge for me, I prefer Malbecs but it was great to try some wines that were new to me and to expand my pallet.

TX Whiskey and Tito’s were available with areas for themselves. Enjoy the Tito’s bar room with specialty mixed cocktails or swing over to TX Whiskey (our favorite) for their delicious TX Whiskey Grapefruit Honey Water. Talk about something to cool you off this summer on a scorching day! If you are unfamiliar with TX Whiskey, they have a pretty unique distinction. Every bottle has a different leather top. Collect a few, display them. It’s a great characteristic to add to their label.

Then, I came across my favorite of the night. In fact, I’m just as surprised that I loved this beer as much as I did. Jalapeno beer by No Label Brewing Company. As soon as I had a sip, I couldn’t wait to be sitting outside with a beer in one hand and a great burger in the other!

To the food!
The food was amazing! With some of the best restaurants in Fort Worth gathered in one room, you are bound to just wear pants that are a little loser or for the ladies, just go with a dress. You will want to try everything! It’s even better to run into friends while you are there (or make new ones) and hear about their favorites. Here are a few of the finds that we found along the way with some of our favorites for the night!

Our Favorites
Let’s be serious and ask where do we even start with this?
Bonnells Pork and Jalapeno, Cafe Modern Pork Sandwich and one table had a great cornbread (we lost track of who but I’ll try to figure it out – if you know please comment).
Plus the following…

Pacific Table – Salmon

Smoked Salmon

Capital Grille – Lobster Roll

Whiskey and Rye – Bread Pudding with Whiskey Ice Cream

Honorable Mentions and Other Dishes From the Evening:

Seafood Tamale

This event was really fantastic. It not only brought together the elite fine dining restaurants of Fort Worth but exposes you to previously unaware options. The hard part is it’s created a new bucket list of places to check out. SO many choices, so little time. It’s a good thing we like to run at the parks!

What was your favorite option at the Grand Tasting? What would you like the most?

A full recap of our experience at the Fort Wort Food and Wine Festival as well as links to the other events can be found, here.

FWFWF: #LateNight Dessert After Dark

14 Replies

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post however I did receive tickets to the event in return for the publication. As always, all opinions are my own. #FWFWF #DessertAfterDark #FortWorthTX #LateNight

The second day of the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival consisted of the Grand Tasting and for those with a sweeter tooth, Dessert After Dark. Held at the astounding 802 Vickery venue, an evening of TX Whiskey based desserts and cocktails ensued.

Dessert After Dark held one rule constant, each item featured had to incorporate Fort Worth’s own TX Whiskey into the mix. With creativity and ingenuity, these chefs and bartenders stepped up to the plate and delivered some incredible items. Each guest was given two voting chips when they arrived to the event, one for a favorite beverage and the other for their favorite food.

Where to start? Let’s just start out with the food. Everything from ice cream, pies, macaroons, chocolate and pies. It’s a dessert heaven! There’s a key to all of these, take a small bite of each in order to experience them all! (My favorite? The whiskey ball featured above.)

802 Vickery, Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, FWFWF, TX Whiskey

Dude, Sweet Chocolate

We can’t forget our beverages can we? The the desserts, each mixed cocktail must feature TX Whiskey. This is where everyone became really creative and where we realized that grapefruit is the perfect addition to a whiskey beverage (and it can be used in so many ways!). If there’s grapefruit, that means we can just have one of these for breakfast, right?

Our favorite drink of the evening!

The event was a fantastic way to end the evening. With plenty of room, an amazing outdoor venue, friendly people – if this sounds like your kind of party, this is the event for you. Our only fore-warning is the beverage lines took a little time as drinks were being prepared fresh. On the flip side, drinks were being prepared fresh!

Did you attend the #LateNight Desserts After Dark? If so, what was your favorite?

A full recap of our experience at the Fort Wort Food and Wine Festival as well as links to the other events can be found, here.

FWFWF: BBQ at Billy Bob’s

7 Replies

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post however I did receive tickets to the event in return for the publication. As always, all opinions are my own. #FWFWF #BBQBillyBobs #FortWorthTX

What better way to start the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival with BBQ at Billy Bob’s. Capturing what everyone first comes to Fort Worth to experience (BBQ and live music) in the World’s Largest Dancehall. The night wouldn’t have been complete without a little live Texas country. With sufficient room, great pairings and BBQ plates to choose from, every taste bud was satisfied. I was even convinced to try pig cheek…

Billy Bob’s is iconic in every Texas way – an in-house rodeo, a restaurant, bedazzled saddle hanging above the dance floor, artist memorabilia and of course the stage where every country artist dreams of performing. It was only appropriate that the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival started here bringing the best BBQ and beverages from the area for everyone to experience.

The event was held in front of the main stage providing us with the opportunity to say “When have we ever had the chance to stand in front of the stage without any of the tables being in the way, let alone a concert later?!”. With restaurants, breweries, wine companies among many of the local vendors set up throughout we had plenty of room (including tables) to sit and savor the first event of the weekend.

The biggest problem we faced, “Where do we start?” So we started with a little TX Whiskey (and I think a few others did too.).

Mingling around, we tried a few BBQ restaurants that we’ve tried and a few that were new to us. My personal favorite was top on my list. You can never go wrong with Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ. I heard people complimenting the savory pulled pork all night.

Other local vendors such as Black’s BBQ, the Reata, Del Norte Taco and the Woodshed Smokehouse (among many others) brought their goods to the table.

Black’s BBQ

Del Norte Tacos

Del Norte Tacos

It wasn’t just the locals. The event brought in Perini’s Ranch Steakhouse from Buffalo Gap, Texas. Famous for their steaks, Buffalo Gap Wine and Food Summit and Mr. Perini himself. Now I just need to make it a priority to get out there and try their steaks and bread pudding.

Great food goes hand in hand with cold, refreshing beverages. Am I right? With plenty of options, our pallets were beyond satisfied. Brennan Vineyards, Deep Ellum Brewing, Revolver Brewing, TX Whiskey, and Tito’s Vodka were on hand. Tito’s even prepared us a couple cool cocktails perfect for the summer heat that’s sure to be upon us. A little pineapple jalapeño with your vodka. Take it like a true Texan!

If you enjoy vodka, Tito’s is the way to go.

My most interesting moment of the night goes to Lockhart Smokehouse. If you have a cow and pig head sitting on the table, you’re bound to get some attention. At least this is what happened in my case and they noticed. After taking a photo I began to walk away and I heard “Not so fast there picture lady. Come here.” I approached the table where he pulled a piece of meat from the pig’s cheek, placed it in my palm and said “This is the best piece of meat that you’ll ever taste.”.
Did I do it?…
Didn’t I have to?…
Verdict: It was pretty damn good. Kind of questionable to think about where it came from but if you have the chance, you should do it too.

Yes, I had to throw in a picture to go with the story.

Was that the end of our night? Come on folks, is it a party without some live music?! Thank you to Wade Bowen and his band for playing some of their hits for us on the main stage. Up close in Billy Bob’s, no chairs and tables in the way and a concert that feels like he’s playing just for you. It is a concert at Billy Bob’s just for you! That’s the only way to start off the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival.