The Spread.

Hopdoddy Fans Get Tatted Up, And Lockhart Gives Up Its Brisket Secrets.

Welcome to The Spread, our weekly feature that aims to share all the area restaurant, food and beverage industry news that's fit to print. Except, this is the Internet, so space isn't a concern. Also: Good thing, because this is Dallas and this town always has breaking restaurant news going down like whoa.

The semi-recent wave of tattooing food stuff on one's body has shown the world new meaning of what it means to really love something. But in case you're not 100 percent committed to a permanently wearing your cheeseburger obsession on your sleeve, Hopdoddy is offering customers temporary tattoos as a part of its new #Hopdoddylove campaign.

“Our Hopdoddy team can be known to have some ink, so one of our not-so-inked team members came up with the idea, thinking this would be a great way to get in on the action,” says a Hopdoddy spokesperson about the concept. “We thought this would be a fun, unique thing for all our guests — it's just another way we share that Hopdoddy love!”

Currently there are 10 temporary tattoos designs that include things like milkshakes, margaritas and the chain's signature truffle fries. The promotion is an ongoing addition, with a variety of designs expected to be available as gifts to Hopdoddy fans. On top of making mealtime a little more fun, Hopdoddy is now featuring a new poutine burger made with Tillamook cheddar, Kennebec fries and a farm egg.

Meanwhile, the Food Network-approved Afrah is expanding to Irving. In addition to the second outpost, located near I-635 and Beltline, the original Richardson location is upgrading to include more parking and dining space. Both restaurants are slated to open next month.

Over on Greenville Avenue, The Blind Butcher has debuted its spring menu. Notable menu items include pastrami eggrolls, served with creamy mustard; a Ratatouille tower made with crispy Texas eggplant, roasted zucchini, mushroom goat cheese and tomato; as well a salad simply called the “Hempster,” made with chia balsamic dressing, Texas pecans, super grains and toasted hemp.

On the education side of things: Plano's Lockhart Smokehouse outpost will be hosting a brisket cooking class on Tuesday, April 28. Likewise, Central Market is also hosting classes along with Texas Parks and Wildlife on grilling burgers, shrimp and tacos on April 13 and 14 for Dallas and Fort Worth.

Elsewhere, the Metroplex has once again made national news, as Greenville's HG Supply Co. was ranked one of OpenTable's 100 hot spot restaurants list, and East Dallas favorite Hypnotic Donuts was mentioned on Huffington Post's list of unique Dallas stores.

In craft beer news: Victor Tango's will be hosting its inaugural beer class on Saturday, April 18. The event will be hosted by Matt Ragan, the man behind VT's bar program, as he teaches beer history with 10 various niche beers from around the world, while guests enjoy food courtesy of chef Kirstyn Brewer.

In the latest edition of its Hopped Up Cinema series, Alamo Drafthouse will feature an exclusive Peticolas brew during its showing of Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof on Tuesday, April 21. The cost of admission ($25) includes a ticket to the showing, a commemorative class and a flight of five beers.

And in cider news, Oak Cliff's Bishop Cider Co. is expanding with a second location in the Medical District. The new space will allow for future bottling of ciders and brewery tours. Look for a possible June opening.

Cover photo courtsey of Hopdoddy's Facebook. Got a tip for The Spread? Email us!