Save the date for DFW Restaurant Week, Aug. 10 – Sept. 7! This year’s lineup includes over 175 participating restaurants offering incredible meals at a deal while giving back to the community.

The region’s largest annual culinary event is now featuring more than 175 restaurants, with several new additions since reservations first opened! Participating restaurants are across Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton and Rockwall counties.

Select restaurants are offering an early taste during Preview Weekend, Aug. 6-9. While the official Restaurant Week event spans one week, many participating restaurants extend their special menus through Labor Day, Sept. 7, giving diners even more time to savor exclusive prix-fixe meals while supporting two beloved North Texas nonprofits. Restaurants donate approximately 20% of the price of each Restaurant Week meal to either North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) in the Dallas area or Lena Pope in Tarrant County to help local families in need.

Restaurants offer at least one of the following dining options:

• Dinner – Three-courses for either $49 ($10 donated) or $59 ($12 donated)
• Signature Experience Dinner – $99 ($20 donated) – Exclusive VIP experience crafted for an especially memorable meal
• Lunch – Two-courses for $29 ($6 donated)
• Weekend Brunch – Two-courses for $29 ($6 donated)

Search restaurants and make reservations here.

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Hey, State Fair fans! Get your taste buds ready! From chocolate corn dogs to soft serve ritas and a LOT more new menu items, the State Fair of Texas just announced the finalists for the 22nd Annual Big Tex® Choice Awards presented by Karbach Brewing Company. Winners will be crowned on Tuesday, August 18, in the categories of Best Taste – Savory, Best Taste – Sweet, Best Taste – Sipper, and Most Creative. We’ll be covering the event, so be sure to follow us on social media (@dallasfoodnerd) and @StateFairofTX for live updates!

If you’re wondering how this all works…

The competition received a record-breaking 77 entries from 46 different concessionaires earlier this year. This competition is only open to State Fair of Texas concessionaires with at least two years of experience at the Fair. Concessionaires submitted their original recipes and creative work to the fair’s blind judging process. Keeping this process anonymous ensures each entry is judged on its own merits.

From the 77 entries, 15 finalists were just announced today by the fair to advance to the next round for the coveted culinary titles. On August 18, a team of 35 distinguished judges will evaluate each dish based on four key Fair-food elements: taste, value, creativity, and fairgoer appeal. We can’t wait to see who will be crowded in each highly anticipated category!

Drumroll please…here are the 15 finalists competing for the 2026 Big Tex® Choice Awards titles. 

SAVORY

Burger Chop Tater Tacos, Tom Grace. A fresh burger patty is seared to perfection, chopped, and combined with sautéed onions and jalapeños. Topped with mozzarella and American cheese, the mixture is placed atop a bed of cheddar cheese tater tots formed into a taco shell and finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tots, making for the ultimate Burger Chop Tater Tacos! 

Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos, Dickel’s Smokehouse. The Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos are a bold, delicious taco duo that brings pure backyard flavor to every bite. The first taco features a fire-roasted jalapeño stuffed with juicy pineapple pork sausage and melted mozzarella, tucked into a warm blue corn tortilla with rich, charred flavor. The second taco brings the smoke, with tender-sliced brisket wrapped around a roasted jalapeño, layered with melted mozzarella, and served on a heat-kissed yellow corn tortilla finished with crisp purple pickled onion and a drizzle of sweet, smoky barbecue sauce or house made Lone Star Habanero Fuego. 

Flamin’ Crunch Pizza, Tom Grace. The Flamin’ Crunch Pizza consists of hand-tossed, fresh-made pizza dough topped with a jalapeño cheddar queso base and covered with a freshly grated blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. After baking to perfection, the pizza is topped with handfuls of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®, a drizzle of jalapeño queso blanco and house-made buffalo buttermilk ranch dressing, and a hefty sprinkle of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® dust over the entire pizza!

Golden Crunch Melt, Tony & Terry Bednar. Get ready for the ultimate Texas fair-food crunch! A tortilla brushed in a signature seasoned butter oil and grilled to a crispy golden finish is packed with juicy marinated chicken pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, smoky chipotle mayonnaise, melted three-cheese blend, and crispy potato strings in every bite and finished with a signature smoky chipotle crema. The result is the perfect combination of crunch, creamy heat, and cheesy goodness – the Golden Crunch Melt! 

Nacho Wings, Cody & Lauren Hays. Get ready for the ultimate flavor explosion! Nacho Wings are crispy chicken wings tossed in zesty taco seasoning, smothered in creamy nacho cheese, and piled high with cilantro, green onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled red onions, and jalapeños. Served on a bed of hot, golden fries and drizzled with ranch, this larger-than-life creation brings together Fair-food classics: nachos, wings, and loaded fries in one wildly delicious bite! 

SWEET

Berry Me in Matcha, Stephen El Gidi. Introducing Berry Me in Matcha — a luxurious flavor experience that fuses creamy cheesecake indulgence with bold Japanese-inspired flair. This rich New York-style cheesecake is hand-dipped in silky Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies for a delicate earthy crunch, then drizzled with luscious white chocolate and sweet strawberry jam. Finished with a fresh strawberry slice on top, every bite delivers the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, fruity, and sweet matcha bliss. 

Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar, Christi Erpillo & Johnna McKee. This espresso martini popsicle delivers rich, divine indulgence in a perfectly frozen form. Robust cold-brew espresso is blended with a spirited kick of Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail, creating layers of deep coffee flavors and hints of vanilla. Each Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar is artfully drizzled with ribbons of chocolate shell coating, hardening into a delicate, crackable bite, making for the ultimate pick-me-up on a stick! 

Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog, Beck Fletcher. The Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog consists of smooth milk chocolate fudge hand dipped in Fletcher’s famous Original Corny Dog batter and is deep fried until golden perfection. Topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing and served with raspberry compote for a sweet twist on the iconic Corny Dog. One bite and you’ll taste why this sweet treat is top dog! 

Holy Flan! Buñueloco, The Garza Family. Indulge in a sweet celebration of tradition and creativity with Holy Flan! Buñueloco. This sweet treat starts with a warm, crispy buñuelo bowl filled with creamy, homemade arroz con leche and a scoop of premium cinnamon Blue Bell® Ice Cream. The highlight is a decadent, deep-fried flan encased in a delicate puff pastry shell, topped with fluffy whipped cream topping and a rich caramel sauce drizzle for a perfect harmony of textures. 

Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone, Brad Weiss. A warm waffle cone fresh off the iron is dipped in white chocolate, rolled in buttery Texas pecan praline, crushed Biscoff® cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, and filled with homemade, creamy scoopable cookie butter cheesecake. The Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone is topped with a pinch of sea salt, whipped cream, Biscoff® crumble, warm cookie butter drizzle, white chocolate sauce, and finished with a signature Biscoff® cookie, making for one unforgettable State Fair bite. 

SIPPER

Corn Flake Shappé, Milton & Gracie Whitley. Forget the bowl and grab a straw — the creamy Corn Flake Shappé blends toasted corn flakes into a rich creation with silky dulce de leche, buttery Texas pecan notes, and a signature blend of warm spices. Finished with whipped cream, golden corn flake crunch, sweet strawberry crumble, and a dusting of powdered sugar, this creamy-and-crunchy sip is ready to cereal-ously two-step its way into your favorites. 

Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float, Tami & Josey Nevins Mayes. Feeling nostalgic? Revisit this childhood classic—now with a boozy twist! The Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float featuring rich, creamy peach bellini soft serve infused with sparkling wine, topped with sparkling sugar and grated frozen peach for the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and bubbly flavors. Finished with a sugary-sweet golden topping, this boozy float is a sophisticated spin on a childhood favorite that’s sure to raise a glass to Fair fun.

Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider, Rousso’s Concessions. Straight from Deep Ellum, the Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider is crafted with hints of apples, caramel, churros, cinnamon sugar, and a smoky bacon jam twist for bold Texas flavors that hit your sweet, salty, and smooth cravings all at once. 

Sunset Soft Serve Rita, Dwania Morris. The Sunset Soft Serve Rita combines a strawberry and mango margarita with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a bold Tajín® rim, rich chamoy drizzle, and a crunchy hot honey Tajín® topping for the perfect balance of sweet-heat indulgence. This over-the-top frozen creation blends creamy tropical flavors with spice and irresistible texture in every bite. 

Tropical Coco Fresca, Fruteria Cano. The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin® rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors, sure to keep you cool in the Texas heat! 

SEMI-FINALISTS

The State Fair of Texas also recognizes this year’s semi-finalists whose innovative entries will still make their debut at the 2026 State Fair, as new foods. Don’t miss out on these tasty bites and sips at the fair this year!

• All Shook Up 
• Butter-Dipped Toffee Crunch Nutty Bar 
• Deep Fried Thai Tea Tres Leches Cake 
• Dirty Dr Pepper® Do-Si-Do Float 
• Fried Gobbler Roll 
• Layered Mango Strawberry Shortcake 
• Limonata Fresca Float 
• Loaded Lone Star Rings 
• Love Me Jam Sandwich 
• Matcha Parfait 
• Midnight Ruby Rush 
• Soft Serve Smoked Peach Bourbon Smash 
• The Niece  
• Triple Chocolate Flautas 
• Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star 

The 2026 State Fair of Texas, themed “Stars, Stripes, & Howdies,” will open on Friday, September 25, and will run through Sunday, October 18. Tickets: BigTex.com/Tickets

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The post A delicious lineup of finalists announced for the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards appeared first on DallasFoodNerd.

Our food nerds crew is growing! I hosted a baby shower this season to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our little baby boy. What’s more fun than a little new foodie on the way?

First off, the big announcement

Before planning the party came the big social media announcement (and as social media fanatics, this post was a non-negotiable!). I took the photo at a local pizza shop and featured this adorable onesie that was fitting for the theme. Click here to order your own or to surprise a friend for their big announcement!

The stunning cake from London Baker!

Located at The Realm in Lewisville, TX, The London Baker brings a taste of London to DFW with exquisite cakes, a full coffee / tea bar and more gourmet pastries. The London Baker is run by Elizabeth Rowe, award-winning cake designer and Netflix’s Is It Cake? Season 2 winner, in addition to being a Food Network winner. The bakery is voted one of the most illustrious cake shops in the DFW Metroplex, specializing in stunning wedding cakes, amazing celebration cakes, and fancy treats!

We worked in trade with the bakery for the baby shower cake and were amazed by the artistic work and artistic skills to bring our inspiration photo to life! We went for a teddy bear theme paired with dusty blue / sky blue colors. The top tier was a delicious strawberry flavor made with real strawberries, while the bottom was a gourmet chocolate, plus buttercream on the exterior of the cake. This adorable cake was almost too pretty to eat! Elizabeth and her team truly mastered this request, and we absolutely loved it.

We added vanilla buttercream cupcakes for our little party guests, too.

Check out The London Baker at The Realm at Castle Hills in Lewisville (4440 State Hwy 121, Lewisville).

The bakery is also rolling out a refreshed menu with new coffees, pastries and more yummy goodies this season. Be sure to stop by to grab a treat!

Catering from Market Street

I’ve ordered catering platters from Market Street for years, and they do not disappoint. For this party, we went with casual bites that were not messy and could fill up our guests’ appetites! A variety of tea sandwiches, small croissant sandwiches and cheese platters were served. Easy to eat and clean up!

Check out the catering guide here.

Decorations

Here are the items I purchased from Amazon in case they’re helpful for a future party!

It’s A Boy Door Cover Gender Reveal Banner Backdrop

6ft Metal Arch Stand with Fitted Spandex Cover (in Dusty Blue)

We Can Bearly Wait (felt texture sign)

Table Runner – We Can Bearly Wait

4-Piece Teddy Bear Boxes

We Can Bearly Wait Glitter Banner

60-Piece 7-Inch We Can Bearly Wait Cake Plates

30-Pack Bear-Themed Thank You Cards with Envelopes and Stickers

100-Piece 5-Inch Sugarcane Cocktail Short Straws (Compostable Biodegradable Drinking Straws)

50-Piece Heavy Duty Baby Blue Plastic Forks

150 Pack 8-oz Coffee Cups

100-Piece 9-oz Clear Plastic Cups with Gold Trim

Disclaimer: This post uses Amazon affiliate links.

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Nashville is world-renowned for its neon lights and country tunes, but for us, the real headliners are the cute brunch spots, unique cocktails, and hidden gems. Whether you’re there for a mid-life mom vacation, a bachelorette getaway or just a quick weekend escape, Music City is packed with places that make a “Food Nerd” heart happy.

One thing you’ll notice before you even land: the “Nashville Uniform” is real. We spotted groups of women in the DFW terminal already rocking the signature boots-and-hats combo—the vacation vibes start at the boarding gate!

Blue Aster (at The Conrad)

We visited for both dinner and brunch, and it’s a must for the atmosphere alone.

• The “Nerd” Find: Go for the Blueberry Pie Pancakes at brunch. They are massive, fluffy, and basically a dessert masquerading as breakfast.
• The Vibe: Sophisticated but welcoming—perfect for a long, slow girls’ trip brunch.

Assembly Food Hall

When you have a group with different cravings, this is the ultimate win. It’s a massive collection of Nashville’s best local eateries all under one roof. It’s a great place to try a little bit of everything without the stress of multiple reservations.

EAT

Sixty Vines

We know, we have them in Dallas! But we love visiting familiar favorites in new cities. It’s our go-to for a reliable menu, easy-to-split appetizers, and a very allergy-friendly kitchen. Plus, you can’t beat the wine-on-tap system.

Late Night & Caffeine Hits

• Velvet Taco: Sometimes the best find is the one that’s open at 3:00 AM with a menu you already know and love.
• Frothy Monkey & White Bison: We definitely noticed a “caffeinate” trend this trip. Both spots are great for a midday reset between shopping stops.

Food Nerd Note: We were so sad to hear that Nada on Music Row has closed since our last visit. We’ll always have the memory of those margaritas, but we’re officially on the hunt for a new Music Row taco spot to fill that void next time!

DRINK

Thistle & Rye

Located on the 3rd floor of The Conrad, this rooftop bar has some of the best views in the city.

• The “Nerd” Drink: Look for the cocktails featuring house-made cotton candy. Watching the sugar dissolve into the drink is such a fun “photo-op” moment before your first sip.

The Honky Tonk Trail

• Graduate Nashville (Rooftop): You have to go for the photo with the oversized Dolly Parton floral likeness. It’s Nashville branding at its finest.
• Losers Bar & Grill: A classic for a reason—great for people-watching.
• Wild Beaver Saloon & Second Fiddle: Perfect for those late-night adventures when you want loud music and high energy.

STAY

The Conrad Nashville

This was our home base for the trip, and it perfectly suits a mid-life mom vacation. It’s sleek, centrally located in Midtown near Music Row, and feels like a calm retreat from the Broadway noise.

THE “NERDY” DETOURS

We spent a fun afternoon on Nashville Bcycles exploring 12 South. It’s the best way to hit a lot of ground while being a tourist.

• Shopping: Don’t miss Stoney Clover for custom pouches, Buck Mason, and United Apparel Liquidators (the ultimate spot for high-end designer deals).
• Amelia’s Flower Truck: Usually parked outside White’s Mercantile, this vintage truck is the most aesthetic way to grab a bouquet.

On Our Wishlist (For upcoming trip!)

Our Uber driver, David, gave us a list of local spots we’re dying to try: Urban Grub, Halls Chophouse, and the legendary Fried Bologna Sandwich at Robert’s Western World.

We were bummed to see that The 404 Kitchen (another David recommendation) recently closed its doors, so we’ll have to find a new “modern classic” to add to the list!

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If you’re searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day dining experience in the Dallas area, Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab has rolled out a special Valentine’s menu, and it’s ONLY available this weekend.

Their exclusive Love of Lobster menu elevates their already incredible dishes—and trust us, you do not want to miss these specials. 

Lobster Lovers, This One’s for You

Alongside their classic menu, Truluck’s is spotlighting the Love of Lobster with two showstoppers. These meals are rich, decadent, and perfect to share with someone you love. 

The Allure — indulgent Lobster Rockefeller

The Prize — crispy, buttery Lobster Frites

Don’t miss pairing your entrees with the TRU Temptation Cocktail.

More tasty bites

A visit to Truluck’s wouldn’t be complete without what they’re known for: hand‑cut steaks and incredible seafood.

This is peak season for their famous Fresh Florida Stone Crab Claws, and biting into one feels like a true treat—one claw is all you need! 

We also enjoyed:

Filet mignon with parmesan mashed potatoes

Brie mac & cheese (a must for creamy‑comfort‑food lovers)

TRU Temptation cocktail – the perfect pairing with both steak and seafood.

Save room for dessert! Since Valentine’s weekend is all about indulgence, dessert was non‑negotiable. We ended the night with:

Sweet Devotion — silky flourless chocolate bar

Affogato — espresso poured over sweet, dreamy ice cream

Romantic Atmosphere Worth Experiencing

The restaurant was filled with couples celebrating everything from first dates to decades‑long love stories—you can feel the romance in the room. 

Truluck’s nails the elevated ambiance, and their staff makes every guest feel like they’re celebrating something special.

This special menu is weekend‑only (Feb. 11-15, 2026), so book your table now via their website.

Disclaimer: our meal was hosted and all opinions are our own.

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Fresh Florida Stone Crab straight from the coast has landed at Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab. Get crackin’ at any of Truluck’s three locations in DFW with the world-class, fresh, never frozen, Florida Stone Crab. We made reservations at the Plano location, which has been open for just two years at The Shops at Legacy.

Truluck’s serves the claws fully cooked, chilled, pre-cracked (at your table) and ready to devour. Enjoy the unique texture and sweet flavor profile, and you’ll see why there’s a cult following for these delicious bites! Based on a commitment to sustainable crabbing practices, Truluck’s Florida Stone Crab season runs from October 20 through May 1. Beyond freshness, Truluck’s is also committed to sustainable fishing. Stone Crabs can regenerate lost claws, which makes it possible to harvest their meaty claws without killing the crab. Truluck’s crabbers capture crabs in humanely designed wooden traps, delicately remove a single claw and gently return each crab back into the ocean.

Come for the stone crabs but stay more delicious menu items such as the Cold Water Lobster Tail, Ora King Salmon from New Zealand, fresh oysters (both raw and baked), a savory lobster bisque and more. To top it all off, we shared the highly popular Baked Alaska with flaming rum and their World Class Carrot Cake.

See our Reel here from our visit. Book your resys now for this splurge meal!

We were invited to Truluck’s, and all opinions are our own.

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