I was a locavore in foodie nirvana yesterday, as I "grabbed a tray and walked the line" at the third annual Chefs for Farmers event. An all-star team of Dallas’ top chefs celebrated local farms at this benefit dinner at the famed Highland Park Cafeteria. Founded in 2010 by Chef Matt McCallister, Chefs for Farmers was organized to raise awareness for the importance of using local ingredients and supporting the farms and farmers in and around Dallas-Fort Worth and North Texas.
(Left) Kellyn Curtis from The Feast show you how hard the life of a food writer is.
(Right) I caught up with Daily Candy's, Brittany Cobb and her handsome husband, Michael, in line.
(Right) I caught up with Daily Candy's, Brittany Cobb and her handsome husband, Michael, in line.
DJs Jennifer Miller and Paul Paredes kept the vibe thumpin' mixing tracks at this one-of-a-kind event with a special appearance by guest DJ/Chef Matt McCallister.
Each Chef took a classic approach to dining with farm-fresh ingredients, preparing two gourmet dishes that were served cafeteria-style. Guests were served from the chefs as they grabbed a tray and walked the queue, selecting from a multitude of comfort classics.
Gary Cogill was one of the local celebrity judges who used his discerning palate to determine which chef would win $1,000 provided by Artizone. Congrats to Pecan Lodge for winning Diners Choice!
Me with the event mascots and a shot of my favorite dish, Modern Strawberry
Shortcake by Rick Griggs of Collage Bakery and Bar.
Participating chefs this year included Janice Provost and Chad Houser (Parigi), John Tesar, Matt McCallister, Dan Landsberg (Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa), Tim Byres (Smoke), Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate (Ava), Scott Romano (Charlie Palmer) Brian Luscher (The Grape), J. Chastain (The Second Floor), Jack Perkins, Justin Fourton and Diane Fourton (Pecan Lodge), Rick Griggs (former pastry chef of Abacus)
A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit The Family Place, the largest family violence service provider in the Dallas area serving thousands of victims of family violence each year with award-winning programs that keep women and children safe.
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