Gastrosleuth DFW - The Wolfpack

# ✨ Passport to Sparkle ✨

Hosted by Chef Irvin 📍 Lakewood, Dallas 📅 Tuesday, December 30 🕖 7:00–9:00 p.m. 🍾 BYOB – Bubbly encouraged! Guests will share their sparkling wine toasts with one another throughout the evening.

Grab tickets here: Passport to Sparkle | Wednesdays Angels

## 🥂 Five-Course Global Menu with Sparkling Pairings

### 1. French Appetizer – Cheese Soufflé

• Suggested Pairing: Brut Champagne (classic, crisp, elegant)
• Notes: Airy Gruyère soufflé sets the tone for French sophistication.

### 2. Italian Soup – Minestrone with Pesto Drizzle

• Suggested Pairing: Prosecco DOC (light, fruity, refreshing)
• Notes: Bright vegetables and herbs echo Prosecco’s lively character.

### 3. Spanish Salad – Ensalada Mixta

• Suggested Pairing: Brut Nature Cava (dry, citrusy, mineral-driven)
• Notes: Olives, roasted peppers, tuna, and egg bring bold Mediterranean flavors.

### 4. American Main Course – Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn Cream Sauce & Two Sides

• Sides: Garlic mashed potatoes with chive butter & roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta and balsamic glaze
• Suggested Pairing: California Sparkling Rosé (fruit-forward, full-bodied)
• Notes: Rosé’s depth complements the richness of beef and hearty sides.

### 5. Italian Dessert – Panettone Bread Pudding with Vanilla Custard

• Suggested Pairing: Moscato d’Asti (sweet, lightly sparkling, low alcohol)
• Notes: A festive, gentle finish to close the evening.

## 🎲 The Foodie Challenge

Throughout the evening, guests will collect “passport stamps” by completing playful challenges tied to each course. Expect trivia, sensory surprises, and cultural riddles revealed course by course. The full details remain a mystery until dinner begins—so come ready to laugh, learn, and toast together.

## 👗 Attire Theme: Jet-Setter Sparkle

Dress as if you’re boarding a glamorous flight to celebrate New Year’s Eve around the world. Think:

• ✈️ Jet-Setter Chic – scarves, sunglasses, travel-inspired accessories
• ✨ Sparkle & Shine – sequins, metallics, glitter to match the bubbly theme
• 🌍 Regional Flair – a beret for France, a red scarf for Spain, California casual, or Italian elegance

Your outfit may even earn you bonus stamps in the Sparkling Passport challenge…

## 🛡️ Viking Vittles: A Norse-Inspired Feast

Hosted by Chef Irvin 📍 Lakewood, Dallas | 🗓️ Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | 🕖 7:00–9:00 PM 🍷 BYOB encouraged — suggested wine pairings below 👥 Seating limited to 16 guests

🎟️ $39.95 per person — advance ticket purchase required
🛡️ Viking Vittles: A Norse-Inspired Feast | Wednesdays Angels

### 🥖 Appetizer: Smoked Trout & Horseradish Cream on Rye Crisps

Delicate flakes of Alderwood-smoked trout atop house-made rye crisps, finished with horseradish cream and pickled shallots. Suggested Wine: Dry Riesling — crisp acidity balances the smoky richness and sharp horseradish.

### 🥣 Soup: Creamy Celeriac & Leek Soup with Dill Oil

Silky celeriac and sautéed leeks blended into a velvety base, finished with dill-infused oil and toasted caraway seeds. Suggested Wine: Grüner Veltliner — crisp and herbal, it complements the earthy celeriac and aromatic dill.

### 🥗 Salad: Winter Greens with Lingonberry Vinaigrette

Frisée, kale, and shaved fennel tossed in a tangy lingonberry vinaigrette, topped with goat cheese and sunflower seeds. Suggested Wine: Rosé of Pinot Noir — bright and berry-forward, echoing the lingonberry tartness.

### 🍖 Main Course: Ale-Braised Beef with Herbed Barley & Glazed Root Vegetables

Chuck roast slow-braised in dark ale and herbs, served with a warm side of herbed barley and honey-glazed carrots, parsnips, and golden beets. Suggested Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon — bold and structured, perfect with the richness of ale-braised beef.

### 🍮 Dessert: Cardamom-Almond Cake with Cloudberry Cream

Dense almond cake scented with cardamom, topped with whipped cloudberry cream and a drizzle of birch syrup. Suggested Wine: Late Harvest Viognier — lush and aromatic, pairing beautifully with spice and nuttiness.

Cheers, Chef Gary W Irvin II, Richard George, Brad, Tiffany, & Amanda.

## 🎭 Fat Tuesday Feast — February 17, 2026

BYOB • Limited Seating • Costume Contest Grand Prize
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Join us for a five-course Mardi Gras celebration bursting with bold Cajun flavors, festive flair, and a whole lot of soul. From crispy hush puppies to briny seafood gumbo and bananas foster bread pudding, this is a night to indulge.
🎟️ Only 20 seats available — first come, first served! 🎭 Best dressed in Mardi Gras costume wins a Grand Prize!

Grab tickets here: "Fat Tuesday Feast" | Wednesdays Angels

## 🍽️ Five-Course Menu & Pairings

🧆 Appetizer: Cajun Hush Puppies with Creole Remoulade Golden cornmeal fritters with a kick of spice, served hot and crispy with a zesty Creole remoulade. Pair with: Pilsner • Sparkling Rosé • French 75
🍲 Soup: Seafood Gumbo with Gulf Shrimp, Crab & Okra A deep, roux-based gumbo loaded with shrimp, crab, okra, and the holy trinity—served over rice with soulful spice. Pair with: Amber Ale • Chenin Blanc • Sazerac
🥗 Salad: Muffaletta Salad with Olive Relish Vinaigrette A deconstructed take on the iconic sandwich—shredded lettuce, salami, provolone, and briny olive relish tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. Pair with: Blonde Ale • Pinot Grigio • Dirty Martini
🥩 Main: Smothered Cajun Seven Steak with Garlic Collard Greens & Corn Maque Choux Slow-braised chuck steak with Cajun gravy, served with collards and creamy corn maque choux. Pair with: Brown Ale • Zinfandel • Bourbon Old Fashioned
🍌 Dessert: Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce Warm, decadent bread pudding with caramelized bananas and a boozy rum drizzle. Pair with: Milk Stout • Tawny Port • Rum Old Fashioned
🎉 BYOB encouraged — bring your favorite drinks or try our pairing suggestions! 🎭 Costumes encouraged — feathers, beads, and flair welcome!
Cheers, Chef Gary W Irvin II & Richard George of Gastrosleuths DFW