Zest 2024
It’s time for our annual deep dive into our local culinary scene, and why not now? With patio season upon us and all the openings and closings that peppered the previous 365 days or so possibly behind us, we thought we might as well take our temperature. Spoiler alert: Things are looking up, and I’m not just saying that as just another pollyannish annoyance. Read more about it on pg. 9. No matter what’s happening in the board rooms, which are probably more like casual bars these days, there’s still a ton of foodstuff action to be had in town. And there are recipes to tackle (pg. 29). And bands to see when filling our bellies (pg. 41). And Easter brunches to enjoy (pg. 27). And, well, the list goes on. Just tie on your bib and jump on in. As my old man used to say, mangia! —
Anthony MarianiSealed
With
a Kiss
Dixie and her Tupperware return for a party at McDavid Studio next month.
BY ELAINE WILDERThose of us who grew up down here are pretty familiar with the concept of Tupperware parties. Avon, Herbalife, and Mary Kay Cosmetics, the godmother of all product peddlers, are among the home-based businesses that cropped up in the 1950s and ’60s with products that appealed to Southern ladies looking for a way to make money “outside
Everyone’s favorite Tupperware Lady brings her wit, charm, and sass to Bass Hall April 11-14.
the home” by inviting friends, family, and neighbors to parties. Hell, you still see pink Cadillacs on the roads to this day! Laugh all you want, but these concepts were quite liberating for women back then.
One “Tupperware Lady” in particular is laughing all the way to the stage. Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit owner and operator of Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280), is bringing the sensational off-Broadway show Dixie’s Tupperware Party to McDavid Studio
for a limited, five-show engagement ThuSun, Apr 11-14, as a special addition to the hall’s Popular Entertainment Series lineup.
As the “fast-talking, gum-chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal bringing your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century,” Dixie Longate tells funny stories, imparts homespun wisdom, and demands audience participation. Part drag, part variety show, and all fun, Dixie’s Tupperware Party “leaves your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher.”
According to her somewhat facetious backstory, she began selling Tupperware as part of her parole conditions in 2001 and became one of the country’s top sellers within a few years. Friends told her she should turn her living room parties into a theatrical show, and she did just that starting in 2007. continued on page 17
During the pandemic, Dixie started streaming her show “while refilling her breakfast vodka as she was trying to homeschool her kids.” This experiment resulted in the 26-city tour Dixie’s Happy Hour in early 2021. Now she’s back doing a tour of Dixie’s Tupperware Party. Lucky us! For her future adventures, follow Dixie on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the Farmers Only dating app.
Tickets are $55 at BassHall.com, but you can also order by phone. Call the box office at 817-212-4280 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or 10am-4pm Sat. For group sales discounts, visit BassHall.com/groups.
And if you’re wondering, you can actually buy Tupperware products from Dixie. See more at DixiesTupperwareParty.com. You can even make your grandmother proud and host a party. l
To this day, you can still purchase the Vintage Servalier® 5-Piece Bowl Set, which was a staple in many Southern homes in the 1970s.
MUSIC
Tasty Licks
There are still plenty of primo spots for a bite and some sounds in town.
BY STEVE STEWARDGiven the closings of Lola’s, the Post, and Twilite Lounge over the past six months, coming up with a list of Fort Worth places offering bites along with live music seemed daunting at first, but that just meant I had to look beyond my tried-and-trues. While the days of grabbing a chopped beef sandwich from Dayne’s BBQ in between bands at Lola’s are long gone, there’s still plenty of great options to grab a nosh while you fill your ears.
On weekends and during special events at the Bearded Lady (300 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-349-9832), performers set up beneath a covered stage in the corner of the
Southside craft beer-and-burger emporium’s expansive, dog-friendly patio. You’ll hear a nice mix of covers and originals, as well as a wide range of genres from “singer who plays an acoustic guitar” to jazz, hip-hop, and “person who makes lo-fi beats.” Of course,
Turns out the World’s Largest Honky Tonk can also boast about some pretty great grub! While you’re at Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117) waiting on sets from big acts like Whitey Morgan, Band of Heathens, and Dylan Wheeler, grab a bite from the Honky Tonk Kitchen — I recommend the salt-crusted baked potato, the Funky Town Hawt Chicken sandwich, and the Cowboy Crunch burger, as well as the Travis Tritt concert on April 6.
When Lola’s moved to the Southside, it was replaced by Birdie’s Social Club (2736 W 6th St, Fort Worth, 817-888-8914), flipping the script from its predecessor’s rowdy melange of rotating food trucks and beer-fueled, cowpunk iconography into a college crowd-pleasing, day-drinking dreamland of pastel hues and craft cocktails. The change might have been jarring for some, but for those who gave it a chance, they were rewarded with a solid menu full of stuff like Drunken Queso (made with Shinerbraised barbacoa), wings, and quesadillas. Cover bands rock the outdoor stage, but indoors, in Birdie’s Bourbon & Shine bar, singer-songwriters and live bands play their original tunes to enthusiastic young crowds.
the beer and bites are the main reasons why you go to the Lady, and, on both counts, there’s plenty to love. A quick convo with your server about new brews and the grilled cheese of the month will point you in the right direction.
Eddie V’s (3100 W 7th St, Fort Worth, 817-336-8000) is a longtime favorite because of its upscale surf and turf and its très chic happy-hour scene, where you’ll find good conversation, Oysters Eddiefeller, steak continued on page 42
tataki, yellowtail sashimi, and a bevy of topshelf craft cocktails, set to a score of mostly straight-ahead and pop jazz performed by a cavalcade of seriously skilled players.
The beer selection at Fort Brewery & Pizza (2737 Tillar St, Fort Worth, 817-923-8000) gives you a lot of great choices — if you like IPAs, you need to add Lady of the Haze to your list post-haste — and the food menu is as inventive as it is tasty. There is typical beer-pairing fare like wings, soft pretzels, and pizzas (the Pan de Campo is my favorite), but there’s also stuff like the whipped feta dip, Eggs Benedict on homemade focaccia, and live music by local performers and touring acts alike — Sir Mixalot played here once, and Ian Moore is coming in June.
Lots of people fretted about the move to the traffic circle, but by now Magnolia Motor Lounge (3803 Southwest Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-332-3344) has gotten comfortable in its new home in what used to be the Royal Falcon pub. Live music — primarily of the country, rock, and singer-songwriter varieties — still goes as good as ever with cold beer, cheap shots, and food-truck fare. Currently, that post is held by El Buey de la Barranca, specializing in Mexico City-style street food. Mags might have relocated, but it’s just as fun as you remember.
ago, the food-truck operation of Aaliyah Zo, who serves up big burgers, tasty wings, and other booze-padding delights.
Shaw’s Patio Grill (1051 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817-926-2116) has been around since before Magnolia was cool, and it has stood the test of time on its selection of flavorful comforts like their big ol’ burgers, a badass brunch BLT that comes with a fried egg in it, and their signature housemade potato chips. And for the past decade or so, its patio has been home to a variety of open mics, karaoke nights, and even the occasional original rock band ready to get loud and rowdy.
There was a recent ownership change at McFly’s Pub (6104 LT JG Barnett Rd, Fort Worth, 817-744-8272), but you can still expect a very casual neighborhood-spot vibe (cheap drinks, local bonhomie), an eclectic mix of live music (singer-songwriters, cover bands, local rockers), and, as of a week or so
The menu at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall (122 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817900-9300) features flavors as big as the acts rocking its stage — when you consider that the Stockyards venue’s upcoming calendar includes shows from the likes of Chris Isaak, Taking Back Sunday, and Paul Cauthen, you ought to eat there even if you aren’t going to watch Waxahatchee play. Tannahill’s is a Tim Love joint, after all, so you’ll find fare ranging from oysters (grilled and raw) and chicken and cauliflower nuggets to a tasty fried bologna sandwich and an amazing cowboy ribeye.
Full disclosure: WineHaus (1628 Park Place, Fort Worth, 817-887-9101) is a gorgeous place to sip vino, enjoy conversation, and mellow out to live jazz jams on the patio, but if you’re hungry, your best bet is to order a pizza from the nearby iFratelli’s location and bring it over to your table. If you ask me, a few slices of tasty ’za, a bottle of red, and a nice mood soundtracked by some tastefully played straight-ahead and smooth jazz outdoors is one of the best date nights you can have in Fort Worth. l
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