If you haven’t given the FW in DFW much attention, you’re missing out. Here are eight fresh reasons Cowtown is worth your time.
For a Food-Filled Weekend
The Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival (the first of what we hope is an annual event) starts Thursday and runs through the weekend. There’s a kickoff party at Billy Bob’s, a food truck rally, a mimosa morning at the Modern, an evening of burgers and beers with a side of blues, a pricey four-course lunch with wine and performing arts pairings, and other organized tastings with regional cuisine.
For American Gothic Dining
The latest well-designed restaurant on the scene is AF+B (pictured above), serving modern American food with Texas influences courtesy of Jeff Harris (Bolsa). Find specials on a mirrored surface up front before heading to the dining room with tough decisions to make (the protein du jour versus the nightly butcher’s cut steak). Or take a quick detour to the reclaimed walnut-and-cast zinc bar for a patriotic cocktail like the Old Hickory.
For Thoroughly Modern Art
The first collaboration between the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (pictured above) is happening this spring: a David Bates retrospective of nearly 50 paintings. Several self-portraits and other peopled depictions reveal Southern influences with a distinctly outdoorsy vibe. It’s on exhibit until May 11.
For Alfresco Everything
The new Bird Cafe from the folks behind Meddlesome Moth has everything we love but are too lazy to make at home: French press coffee, beet salad, deviled eggs, sweet pea guacamole, zucchini chips, mussels. The goods come from local farms, and the ginormous space (6,000 square feet inside; 1,300 square feet outside) overlooks Sundance Square.
For Bargain Browsing
Looking for vintage cowboy boots, an antique wedding gown, perhaps a Louis Vuitton pet carrier? ReVint Boutique opened in December and stocks everything from clothing and handbags to quirky accessories from the 1920s through the ’80s. Shop owners (and mom and daughter) Jeanne Crutsinger and Eleza Abdul favor Chanel, Valentino, and other high-end designers.
For Intercontinental Eats
Bite City Grill opened last week with a dinner menu that chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin (Pakpao) will tweak according to the seasons. Right now, the list of small bites, big bites, greens, and flatbreads (one of which is pictured above) span three continents (North America, Asia, and Europe) and countless tastes. The roasted eggplant dip with naan, tuna tataki, and flounder en papillote surprise your taste buds and dare your brain to guess what’s next.
For Dog Appreciation
Wag is where you load up on toys and treats for your poochy pals. The shop just started carrying raw dog food (Stella & Chewy’s and Primal), which can be hard to find around here. And the resident pups, a rescue named Roo, and a fox red lab named Sage, are happy to show newcomers around.
For Straight Shooting
The knife wielders at Clay Pigeon do their own meat and fish butchering, so they know exactly what they’re working with. Expect an always-changing (every four to six weeks, that is) menu of indulgent small plates like pork belly confit and roasted bone marrow, as well as larger portions of protein and house-made pastas.
Photo: Mei-Chun Jau / Courtesy of AF+B; David Woo / Courtesy of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; Courtesy of Bite
