Summer BBQ with Dean Fearing in Dallas
I was the lucky one to go to Dallas to represent Sokol Blosser at Gourmet Magazine & Dean Fearing's Annual Summer BBQ Fest in Dallas, TX. Wow - those Texans really know how to put on a show!
During the day on Saturday, three chefs gave fabulous cooking demonstrations. I never knew that chefs could be so funny! Aaron Sanchez (Paladar & Centrico, NYC) had the crowd laughing about his story of Pupusa Ninja's while he prepared Pupusas - Salvadorian stuffed corn turnovers that was paired nicely with Sokol Blosser's Pinot Gris. Bobby Flay did a great job preparing his spice rubbed New York steak salad, and then Gianni Santin of the Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas stole the show with stories of his family's immigration to America (They moved from Italy to Nigara Falls, but on the Canadian side: "Dad - you missed it by one mile!").
Next was the wine panel, which featured six wines, including Sokol Blosser's 2002 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. I loved telling the story about how my crazy parents started the vineyards and winery (believe me - they were truly nuts, but I love them for what they did!).
After a nice nap to get rejuvenated, it was time for the Summer BBQ Fest. Guest chefs from all the world came together to prepare their favorite dishes for 500 lucky guests. My favorites were Aaron Sanchez's grilled Peruvian lamb skewers with mint and a citrus garlic sauce, Nobu Matsuhisa's (Nobu Restaurants) spicy tuna and California hand rolls, and James Wagner's (Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas) apple sour cream crumb cake with vanilla ice cream.
The evening was topped off with performances by Holly Williams (Hank Williams' granddaughter), Wynonna Judd, and, of course, The Barbwires - Dean Fearing's band of chefs and local foodies. Oh, and how could I forget the amazing fireworks?
Throughout the weekend, I kept running into these four great chefs from premier Rosewood properties around the world. I had such a great time with them and wanted to capture the moment forever. From left to right: Shoji Hirota, Executive Chef at Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo; Michel Gehrig, Executive Chef at Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico; Joel Wilkinson, Executive Chef at Jumby Bay in Antigua; and James Sakatos, Executive Chef at The Carlyle in NYC. For further proof that it is truly a small world, Shoji remembered when my brother Alex had done a special wine dinner at the Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo about a year ago! Wow – great memory! I loved hanging out with you guys and will do my best to come visit you at your beautiful hotels and resorts one of these days…
Thanks to Paul Botamer, Dean Fearing, and all the others at Mansion on Turtle Creek for an outstanding and memorable weekend. Thanks for including Sokol Blosser and I hope to see you again next year!