I’m having a party and I hope you’ll come — if you’re a woman of a certain age, that is. On Saturday, October 11, an idea I’ve wanted to put together is coming to fruition. It’s a dance party called the Hot Flash Rave for women in perimenopause and menopause, where everything, from the temperature to the playlist to the drinks, is fine-tuned to the necessities of this particular season of life.
Crispy shrimp toast.
Since this is a food newsletter, let’s start with the food and drinks. Chef Misti Norris has a permanent pop-up at Saint Valentine (4800 Bryan Street in East Dallas), where the Hot Flash Rave is going down. Her regular menu will be available, which has several new fall items, including an interpolation of crispy shrimp toast that is incredible. I asked if she could bring back her chicken nuggets, which are made in the style of McDonald’s with ground-up chicken thighs for the perfect bite and that crisp, crunchy exterior (and they’re served with a scallion ranch sauce).
Chicken nugs.
The king trumpet mushroom melt sandwich from Black Swan will be an option for the night, a vegetarian dish filled with mushrooms, pastrami spice, hot mustard, and Swiss cheese, served on a baguette with a side of chips. And her new dessert, a take on the Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie with no chocolate, just peanut butter, will also be available. It’s a magical, nostalgic bite.
Bar co-owner Gabe Sanchez developed some new cocktails that will be exclusively available during the Hot Flash Rave, all with NA spirit versions. Having non-alcoholic drinks was an important part of the planning, because it's more challenging for women’s bodies to process alcohol during this part of life, but they still deserve something great to drink. Order the Aquanet Pink Can (Weber Ranch vodka, shiso cordial, and bubble water) for $13, Let It Linger (blanco tequila, matcha, sour pineapple, coco, and strawberry puree) for $13, Lilith Rises (pineapple amaro, bubble water, and Champagne) for $14, No Scrubs (London dry gin, vermouth blanc, and strawberry Campari) for $15, or Whitney MF Houston (blanco tequila, adid adjusted tangerine, and bubble water) for $13.
Saint Valentine’s wine program is all natural and biodynamic bottles, thanks to some hot tips Sanchez and co-owner Ryan Payne got from Jennie Kelly at Fond, who is among the city’s biggest cheerleaders for natural bottles. I personally strongly prefer natural wines, which are made using methods that are low-intervention and involve putting less preservatives in the bottle, so less added sugar and less added sulfites to stabilize after fermentation (which is what makes some wines last forever on the shelf). There is also some scientific thought that natural wines result in less of a hangover, thanks to the method of their production. Those two things are generally what make wine give us headaches and body aches. It’s $10 a glass for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, rosé, Pinot Noir, or a red blend.
Crucially, the party starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. This one is for the early birds — the Early Birds Dance Club in Chicago inspired it. The playlist will be all ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s music, but only the good stuff. No boy bands. Some pop hits along with Britpop, early alternative, indie sleaze (as the kids call it), and just a touch of ‘90s rave toons. The dress code is: Wear whatever you want. You want to dress up and feel pretty? Do it. Want to wear sweats? Hell yes. Get out your prom dress? Why not. All day-glow neon? Sure. Nobody cares, and men are strongly discouraged from attending, so you’re not dressing for the male gaze. You’re dressing to dance your heart out. Oh, and there will be free folding fans upon entry as long as supplies last. I’m also asking the guys to set the temperature to a crisp 65, because overheating is so real.
No need to RSVP. No cover at the door. Just show up at Saint Valentine and order a couple of drinks. We’ll have food too, so you don’t need to eat before you come. See you there.
