Henry's Tavern

Well, goodness. We've been wasting the week and we only just realized it. Hopefully you got good sleep last night because the rest of the week just might be a tad on the busy side.

Henry's Tavern in Plano is celebrating a grand opening with ... wait. Grand Opening? They opened back in October, right? Yeah.

Turns out they've renovated the place, with a new emphasis on "tavern" side of things and less on the restaurant. There's a new game room, and while the menu is the same, it has less of a sit-down restaurant feel.

Good news is they're rolling out this concept with penny beer. Yes, penny beer. All week.

Here's the wording exactly so there's on confusion on the details.

ALL BEER FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK IS ONE CENT. MONDAY 6.17 - SUNDAY 6.23.

Bribe a friend with penny beer on you next week somewhere, anoint them the designated driver and have fun.

FOX

Not in a million years would we have ever guessed the words "Hell's Kitchen" and "Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill" would be in the same sentence. Alas, FOX and chef Gordon Ramsay are casting a wide net over Dallas for new subjects for the next season of the reality cooking show, Hell's Kitchen.

The casting company is specifically looking for candidates who are outspoken, competitive and can "stand the HEAT." Passion and skill are also token qualities.

From the production and management company:

"HELL'S KITCHEN will follow the chefs 24/7 through the perils of working in Chef Ramsay's pressure-filled restaurant, capturing the wrath, emotion and adrenaline rush that comes with cooking in a top-notch restaurant. Contestants will have to prove they have the endurance and skills to work with Chef Ramsay as they are pushed to their limits."

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Sara Kerens

The Holy Grail Pub in Plano is hosting a bourbon event this week that craft beer fans (or just straight bourbon fans) should note. Last year the Holy Grail had a day dedicated to all things bourbon, including both whiskey tasting flights and special tappings of limited release bourbon-aged beers. The event went so well they decided to extend it to an entire week. So, for the past year or so they've been collecting barrels of beer and are now ready to share their loot with the world.

Each day they will tap a keg of bourbon-aged beers, starting with Oskar Blues bourbon barrel-aged Dale's Pale Ale, today (Monday, June 10).

Tuesday they will tap North Coast Brewing Co.'s bourbon barrel-aged Old Rasputin XV, which they expect to go rather quickly.

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Katy Trail Ice House Outpost

The Katy Trail Ice House Outpost in Plano at 4700 W. Park Ave. has been dabbling with a soft opening the past week, however they're now ready to go all in. This second KT Ice House location, in the old Bandito's spot, is an off-shoot of the popular Uptown restaurant with the same outdoor-oasis feel, replete with lots of trees (they brought them in), cold beer and barbecue.

The major differences are no quibbling with neighbors about noise (hopefully), nor passing joggers on the actual Katy Trail.

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Alaskan Brewing Co.

Matt McCallister on the Copper River

Scott Romano of Nick & Sam's, Kent Rathbun of lots of things and Matt McCallister of FT33 are getting together for a little Copper River salmon dinner tomorrow night, June 6, at Rathbun's Blue Plate Kitchen. Good news, you all are invited. It's a five-course meal, including appetizers, all of which are paired with beer from Alaskan Brewing Co.

For years Alaskan Brewing Co. has partnered with Alaska Seafood and Copper River fisherman to bring a taste of Alaska to the lower 48. McCallister and Romano recently went up for a little fishing trip at the Copper River and then roped Rathbun in to help them with this dinner.

Dinner and the beer is $60, which is actually a fantastic deal. You'll need to call 214-890-1103 for reservations. Here's a look at the menu:

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The Common Table

The Common Table turns 3 years old this week, and they certainly need some spankings to celebrate the moment. When this spot opened, it was perched on the crest of the local craft beer scene and has since earned a solid spot in the center of the movement.

This week the Common Table has a bevy of events and tappings. Tonight (BrewsDay Tuesday) they'll have DEBC's Wealth and Taste and Numb Comfort, Peticolas' Alfred Brown and Community's Trinity Triple.

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WikiCommons

Tonight, local barkeep Chris Furtado, former president of the North Texas chapter of Bartender's Guild, is holding a little clinic at the coolest dive in town (this is a verified fact), The Windmill Lounge. Furtado will explain the meaning and importance of the Italian liquor amaro, and specifically how it can enhance the value of our lives.

See also:
Where and How to Drink Fernet in Dallas

There are lots of different types and styles of amaros, the most popular brand being Fernet. The rather strong drink was originally created as a digestion tool and is commonly an after-dinner digestif. But what if dinner is drinking? See, that's the kind of question you need to put in your pocket and take to the Windmill tonight.

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The quirky kosher craft brewer that all started out as a Chanuka experiment back in 1996, Shmaltz Brewing Co., will be in town later this week to promote their latest beer, chat about old ones and, in general, get acquainted with the locals. As a bonus founder Jeremy Cowan will also give lessons in how to say hops in Hebrew.

This New York-via-San Francisco brewing company was a long-time contract brewer, but more recently got its own digs in the form of a 20,000-square-foot brewery, in Clifton Park, New York. The brewers enjoy extensive use of both historic and modern storytelling puns, which make for good bottle-label reading.

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foodbitch

Meeters, tasters, reviewers and voters at 3015 Trinity Groves

Last night, Kitchen LTO opened its doors (well, 3015 Trinity's doors, technically) to the $25-per-ticket-paying-public for a sold-out night of tasting, schmoozing and drinking. The event was all in the name of introducing the chefs and designers who are in the running to create the very first Kitchen LTO concept, slated to open later this summer.

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DUG

You could use a little sun. And some dirt under your fingernails. And some fresh air. We're not saying you spend too much time inside, but rather your pastiness just doesn't go well with the wall paint.

Gardening is a great way to make all that happen. The small community garden, Deep Ellum Urban Gardens (DUG) is taking the lead here. They're hosting three classes this summer all designed to help you along in your quest to, well, just be more colorful.

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