During the height of Dallas Blooms, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden held its third annual Food and Wine Festival, which expanded to a three-day celebration from March 21 to 23 where thousands experienced, sampled and learned about food.
Farmer Lee Jones, founder of The Chef’s Garden® in Ohio, served as the Honorary Farmer Chair for the weekend. Melissa Lewis was the event chair, and Chef Sharon Van Meter was the chef chair.
Dallas Arboretum Board Chairman Alan Walne said, “This festival should be on every adult’s list for the spring. From the Thursday night event to Friday’s intimate Vintner’s dinner to Roots on the Road conference, there’s something for everyone. We are thankful to the chefs, restaurants, panelists, organizers and attendees for making it a success.”
The event kicked off with A Grand Tasting on March 21 with close to 1,000 attendees noshing delectable samples from 40 of the region’s top chefs, while sampling wines and beer. Held in the evening with perfect weather with more than 500,000 spring blooming bulbs, attendees enjoyed the event, while treating their taste buds to the best food and wine.
On March 22, the festival featured master classes during the day, followed by an intimate Vintners’ Dinner that evening in A Tasteful Place, the most picturesque place to watch the downtown Dallas skyline at sunset. The Vintners’ Dinner featured 10 top chefs who each prepared a magnificent five-course dinner that vintners expertly paired with exclusive wine for each course.
(Photos: Steve Foxall)
Joan Walne, Farmer Lee Jones, Chef Sharon Van Meter, Alan Walne (Dallas Arboretum Board Chair) and Melissa Lews
Melissa Lewis, Farmer Lee Jones, and Chef Sharon Van Meter
Kenneth Braddock (Rosewood Corporation), Chef Sharon Van Meter, Alan Walne (Chairman of the Board Dallas Arboretum), and Melissa Lewis
Kenneth Braddock and Lynn Mahurin
Chef Andrea Shackelford and Esmael Placencia
Chef Gilbert Gaza, Tara Cheney, and Idally Soto
Mark White, Maria Cordova, and Martha Ramirez
Rachael Peters, Casey Murray, and Chef Wade Burch
The Henry Kelly Corson, Jason Peterie, Chelsea Geter, Jenna Winters, Allen Nguyen, and Kenneth Weaver
Desperados – Maria Orihuela and Jorge Levy
Enjoy Mint – Jessica McNeny, Alyshia Battiest, and Alberto Roboes
LUCK Dallas – Kathy Zamorano, Jeff Dietzman, and Chef Daniel Pittman
Brandon Smith, Katie Lewis, Kimberly Lane Clark, Hannah Handshy, and Jessica Bujko
Chef Dunia Borga
Life’s a Picnic topiary at Dallas Blooms
Arden Fitzgerald, Stephanie Inserra, and Tina Potter
Pam Levasseur, Katie Hawk, Doug Levasseur, and Glenn Mulvaney
Crowd at Food and Wine
Erica Cary and Tiffani Saxton Goff
Ajehe Green, Monica Wilson, Ryan French, Chef Bryant Heran, Connie Chantilis, Alex Valdez – Two Sisters Catering
Alex and Elizabeth Tripplehorn-Laurenzi with Joe and Arnold Pacetti
Bob Bruns, Cathy Gillespie, Elaine Bruns, and Blake Gillespie
Charles Coleman – J. Lohr
Edwardo Bracovich, Alice Kizhaya, Chef Pamela Rambough, and Renee LeSage-Wild Salsa
El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute
Greg Hardin, Kelly Hardin, Keeley Hardin, and Wes Hardin
Jeff Bignell, Farmer Lee Jones, Jessica Rainbolt, and Natasha Daniels
John Doumas – Pop Star Popsicles
Jordan Webb and Barbara Bowman – Kate Weiser Chocolate
Lisa Jackson, Allie Jackson, and Chris Vivion Jason – Vivion-Tahwahkaro 4 Grain Bourbon
Matt Pittman and Corey Robinson-Meat Church
Matthew Trevino, Shannon Milk, Chef Michael Matis, and Alex Callahan
Megan Wright, Johnny Villarreal, Marcus Maehler, Alex Astranti, Ricardo Nunez, and Sam Mahool – Uchi
Paula Lambert and Meaders – Ozarow Mozzarella Company Empire Baking Company
Rachel O’Brien – LangeTwins
Rafael Varela, Chef Jose Meza, and Andrew Ramsey – Jalisco Norte
Rosa Mendoza, Chef Anastacia Quinones, Luis Cuevas, and Jaun Torres
Sherie Outtara, Chef Josh Sutcliff, and Alisa Cox-Mirador
Stephanie Peacock and Yeli Marshall – Yelibelly Chocolates
Peter Griess, Tiffany Reese, Sheetal Patel, and Dipesh Patel
