Iconic restaurant set to join Buc-ee’s, others in new Terrell Market Center

The Dairy Queen^® system’s newest, most exciting Grill & Chill^® concept will open its doors today, Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. in Terrell Market Center at 1281 FM 148, Terrell, TX 75160.

Dairy Queenwill join the planned Buc-ee’s location and other anticipated developments in the Terrell Market Center, including Starbucks^® and Whataburger^® locations, with In-N-Out Burger^® and Chick-fil-a^® expected to build across the street near the intersection of I-20, Spur 557 and FM 148. DQ will add approximately 100 new jobs to the area, contributing to Terrell’s employment growth, tax revenue and restaurant sales.

            “We’re excited to be part of the great economic growth and development for Kaufman County and the city of Terrell,” said William (Bill) Spae, president and CEO of Vasari LLC. “For 70 years, DQ has been a long-time favorite where families and friends can gather to share smiles and stories over great meals and our iconic sweet treats. We’re excited to open our doors Dec. 29 and join the exciting things happening at Terrell Market Center.”

            The 2,680-square-foot DQ Restaurant follows the company’s Grill & Chill concept, blending the best of DQ’s iconic history with an updated and innovative interior customized with comfortable booths, large wooden tables, warm lighting, music and an overall inviting environment designed to modernize quick-serve restaurant dining. The restaurant can seat 72 guests inside with an open-air patio outside.

            Guests of the restaurant will enjoy lunch and dinner menu items from the Texas Country Food^® menu, featuring the half-pound Hungr-Buster^® made to order with premium flavor options, as well as other delicious items, including Texas T-Brand Tacos, Grilled and Crispy Chick’n Sandwiches and more. The new restaurant will also feature DQ’s soft-serve favorites, such as Blizzard^® Treats, MooLatte^® frozen coffee-flavored beverages, Blizzard^® Cakes and a wide variety of other soft-serve treats.

            Terrell’s new DQ will operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about Dairy Queen, visit DairyQueen.com.

About Dairy Queen – Terrell  

Dairy Queen has been serving customers ‘smiles and stories’ for more than 70 years with its iconic soft-serve treats and food items. The company behind the Terrell location is Vasari LLC, the second-largest DQ franchise in the U.S. with 76 locations in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Vasari is committed to delivering its guests the very best experience possible – the highest quality food and treats with friendly and fast service. DQ is committed to local community partnerships and charitable outreach initiatives, as well as providing stable, secure and opportunity-rich employment. Learn more at www.DairyQueen.com.

Texas-based Vasari LLC, the largest Dairy Queen franchise group in Texas and second largest in the U.S. recently announced all of its 74 DQ locations donated a combined $133,303 to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry^® Campaign.

Funds donated to the campaign will provide for more than 1 million meals for hungry children in Texas and beyond. Vasari presented the donation to Chuck Scofield, chief development officer for Share Our Strength, on Monday, Nov. 3.

“It has been very meaningful for our Dairy Queen locations to be part of this successful campaign to end childhood hunger,” said William (Bill) Spae, president and CEO of Vasari. “One in five children faces hunger in the U.S. each day, and we are incredibly humbled by the generosity of our guests and the success of our first year of participation.”

During the month of September, DQ restaurant guests were encouraged to donate $1 to No Kid Hungry in exchange for a free soft-serve cone. For more about the No Kid Hungry campaign, visit www.nokidhungry.org.

 About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry^® Campaign

No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through Cooking Matters. This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at www.NoKidHungry.org.

About Vasari LLC

Dairy Queen has been serving customers ‘smiles and stories’ for more than 70 years with its iconic soft-serve treats and food items. The company behind this No Kid Hungry effort is Vasari LLC, the second largest DQ franchise in the U.S. Vasari is committed to delivering its guests the very best experience possible – the highest quality food and treats with friendly and fast service. DQ is committed to local community partnerships and charitable outreach initiatives, as well as providing stable, secure and opportunity-rich employment. Learn more at www.DairyQueen.com or Vasarillc.com.

Tickets are on sale now for Flying Saucer Draught Emporium’s fifth annual beer festival, BeerFeast 2014, taking place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 7 p.m. at its location on Lake Ray Hubbard at 4821 Bass Pro Dr. in Garland.

BeerFeast will feature 40 breweries and 65 craft beers carefully selected by Flying Saucer’s own resident beer gurus. In addition, rare and limited-release beers will be tapped one at a time throughout the fest, including 512 Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter 2012, Firestone Walker Agrestic Ale, New Belgium Lips of Faith Peach Porch Lounger, Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer 2011 and more. Taster cards will be available to sample any of the 80 brews on the tap wall inside the Saucer. Food trucks, including The Guava Truck (TheGuavaTreeTruck.com)and SoCal Tacos (EatSoCalTacos.com), will be at the event for food purchases. Live music for BeerFeast will kick off with The Paychecks at 4 p.m., following the entertainment of DJ Robertson from noon until 3:30 p.m.

Tickets to BeerFeast 2014 are $35 and available to purchase now at Flying Saucer or online at www.BeerFeast2014.com. Members of Flying Saucer’s UFO Club and members of the American Home Brewers Association can purchase tickets at the discounted price of $30 at any time prior to the festival. Ticket price will increase day-of-event to $45 at the door (if not sold out). Ticket purchase includes admission to the festival; a 2014 BeerFeast tasting glass; and a tasting card good for 12 samples of any of the festival beers.

A very limited number of VIP tickets are also available for purchase online only prior to the festival for $65. In addition to the tasting card and glass, VIP tickets include early admission to the festival at noon; access to an indoor VIP room with food buffet; a 2014 BeerFeast T-shirt; and a pair of BeerFeast Brew Caddy. Also, all VIP ticket holders will have access to a VIP-only line for the rare-brew tappings to sample beers before general ticket holders.

Additional 12-sample taster cards will be available for purchase by all ticket holders for only $3 on the day of the festival. Designated driver tickets can be purchased for $15, and include admission to the festival and complimentary soft drinks.

This year’s BeerFeast fun is only for those 21 and older who have purchased a ticket to attend. For more information, email info@beerfeast2014.com or visit www.beerfeast2014.com.

Flying Saucer has been a pioneer on the craft beer scene since we opened the doors of our original location in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1995. This family-owned beer joint has 16 locations throughout Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Missouri. Flying Saucer offers more than 250 beers with a full spectrum of brewing styles handpicked for each unique market. We do not franchise because we want it done right. Learn more at www.beerknurd.com.

Mexican restaurant Urban Rio Cantina & Grill, located in Historic Downtown Plano in the original Plano Ice House, will feature a Mexican Independence Day Dinner, Monday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at its location at 1000 E. 14^th St.

Featuring a menu created by Urban Rio’s executive chef Fernando Torres, the Mexican Independence Day Dinner will celebrate the notable Mexican holiday with traditional dishes commonly served during celebrations, including:

• First course
• Pozole, soup made with pork, corn and traditional Mexican spices
• Paired with the Spicy Prickly Pear Margarita 

• Second course
• Molletes, a housemade bolillo roll with refried black beans and Chihuahua cheese, topped with pico de gallo
• Paired with the Cilantro Lime Margarita  

• Third course
• Chile En Nogada, a roasted poblano pepper filled with a mixture of crabmeat, cheese and corn topped with a pecan salsa and pomegranate seeds
• Paired with the Pomegranate Citrus Margarita 

• Fourth course
• Barbacoa Tamales, barbacoa enchilada tamale topped with Urban Rio’s Mexican sour cream sauce
• Paired with the Mint Margarita with ginger mandarin 

• Fifth course
• Arroz con Leche, a traditional, sweet, Mexican rice pudding served with buñuelos
• Paired with the Caramel Cream Margarita 

• Fifth course
  • Arroz con Leche, a traditional, sweet, Mexican rice pudding served with buñuelos
  • Paired with the Caramel Cream Margarita 

Tickets are $34.90 per person (excluding tax and tip). This dinner will sell out quickly; to make reservations, please call 972-543-8911 or email elana@urbanrio.com. For more 

information about Urban Rio, visit www.urbanrio.com.

About Urban Rio

For diners looking for a restaurant that offers a fun night out with their family and friends, Urban Rio offers Next-Mex – a refreshing and inspired chef-driven menu created by executive chef Fernando Torres, under the leadership of World Master Chef Salvatore Gisellu, highlighting Mexican and Spanish influences from the Rio Grande Valley. Opened in 2012 by restaurateurs Nathan and Bonnie Shea, Urban Rio is located in the original Plano Ice House in Historic Downtown Plano. The menu offers authentic, fresh and innovative items with heavy focus on quality produce and items made from scratch – down to grinding corn for tortillas, freshly muddled fruit for cocktails and homemade, flavored marshmallows for the signature s’mores dessert.

Urban Rio features a full-service upstairs bar, On the Rocks Cantina that on beautiful days and nights, features opened garage doors and panoramic views of the city. On the Rocks features 14 beer taps, eight frozen liquor taps, handcrafted cocktails and wines. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the Rocks is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Learn more at www.urbanrio.com. 

Urban Crust, a wood-fired Italian pizza restaurant located in Historic Downtown Plano, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with its Grazie for Five Years Celebration benefiting North Texas Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids – Plano Initiative Sunday, July 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at its location at 1006 E. 15^th St.

Residents of North Texas are invited to this free, celebratory event, hosted by owners Bonnie and Nathan Shea along with owner and Master Chef Salvatore Gisellu, that will benefit NTFB’s Food 4 Kids – Plano program, an innovative partnership with Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere and NTFB to provide chronically hungry children in Plano with a weekend backpack filled with shelf-stable, kid-friendly food. Guests will be encouraged to make a donation in exchange for raffle tickets for prizes throughout the event. Urban Crust will match a portion of proceeds collected that night to support NTFB.

Attendees will enjoy wood-fried pizza, adult beverages (for those 21 and up), and a live DJ in the restaurant’s upstairs 32 Degrees rooftop bar, featuring their refreshing signature Urban Crush, along with draft and frozen beer. Throughout the event, there will be a photographer on the red carpet for fun photo opportunities. Special guests include Plano dignitaries, Mayor LaRosiliere; mayor pro tem Lissa Smith; city manager Frank Turner; along with council members Pat Gallagher and Pat Miner. Members of the Texas Revolution Indoor/Arena Football team and dance squad will also be in attendance.

Guests who make a donation to the NTFB will be entered into the event’s raffle for a chance to win great prizes, including gift certificates to Urban Crust, season tickets for Texas Revolution’s 2015 season and other prize packs. The grand prize, to be given away at the end of the night, will be an Urban Crust Mobile Pizza Oven Soiree for 20 people at the location of the host’s choosing.

“For the past five years, we’ve seen Urban Crust flourish and thrive on the buzzing East 15^th Street in Historic Downtown Plano,” Nathan Shea said. “Along with Chef Salvatore, Bonnie and I are excited to celebrate our love of pizza and to have chosen the North Texas Food Bank to help in our efforts of supporting the families in our community.”   

The Sheas worked on the concept for a year before settling on an approachable artisan pizzeria, which opened in the summer of 2009. The heart of the bustling pizza eatery is a massive, wood-fired oven that crackles while cooking the creations of Chef Salvatore. His objective at Urban Crust is to create a menu that brings guests to Italy to get the same taste of pizza and experience as if they were visiting his home on the island of Sardinia themselves.

Colleen Brinkmann, NTFB chief philanthropy officer, will be in attendance to offer information about the Food 4 Kids – Plano program throughout the night.

“NTFB is thrilled to be a part of Urban Crust's fifth anniversary celebration,” Brinkmann said. “We are proud to have them join us in the fight against hunger in Plano, Collin County and North Texas. We hope this partnership will serve as a model for how small businesses can unite for a common goal to support social services, specifically children in need in our own neighborhoods.” 

 For more information about Urban Crust, please visit www.urbanrio.com, call 972-422-4466, or email info@urbanrio.com.

About Urban Crust

For diners looking for a restaurant that offers a fun night out with their family and friends, Urban Crust is a savory Italian experience not to be missed. The beautiful restaurant in Historic Downtown Plano centers around a custom-built wood-burning oven in an open kitchen, filling the restaurant with delicious notes of artisan-crafted pizza, as well as choice steaks and seafood dishes created by World Master Chef, Savatore Gisellu. The restaurant’s third floor features the 32 Degrees rooftop bar, pouring select draft and craft beer at 32 degrees and liquor shots at 5 degrees below freezing – a hit any day or night of the week. The restaurant and the rooftop ice bar are open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at www.urbancrust.com.

About North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit relief organization, and the largest non-profit organization in North Texas. The NTFB works to improve the quality of life in North Texas by eliminating the hunger gap.  Today the Food Bank provides access to more than 175,000 meals per day to hungry children, seniors and families through a network of more than 1,000 feeding programs and 262 Partner Agencies in 13 counties. In fiscal year 2013, NTFB provided access to 62 million nutritious meals. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization chaired by NTFB CEO Jan Pruitt (feedingamerica.org).

For additional information about NTFB please visit ntfb.org