24th Annual Taste of Dallas, now in Fair Park, June 11-13

Get Your Taste Buds Ready: New Taste of Dallas in Fair Park Offers Hot Chefs, Cool Facilities

2010 is landmark year for annual festival, which marks 24th year
with move to Fair Park

DALLAS, TX – June 11, 2010 – The yummy, fresh fare may be the only thing almost too-hot-to-handle at Dallas’ favorite food festival this year, as Taste of Dallas makes a move to Fair Park.  The event features a new location to offer a chance for participants to escape the heat and a much larger area for the rapidly growing event.  Held in West End since its inception, the new location for Taste of Dallas 2010, Fair Park, will allow for expansion of all of the festival’s activities and will add 150,000 square feet of indoor space to Taste of Dallas, benefiting the American Heart Association.

Chefs and Restaurants

Dallas’ most anticipated food festival of the year will feature cooking demonstrations and sampling from Dallas’ top chefs, including: Scott Romano of Charlie Palmer at the Joule, David Bull of Bolla, Scott Jones of Cowtown Diner, Jason Boso of Twisted Root and Cowboy Chow, Chase Cheatham of TJ’s Seafood Market, Matt Mortimer of Blue Goose, Aw Shucks and Big Shucks and Jeanette Prasfika of vegetarian-friendly Crosby Cafe. Learn their secrets as they wow the crowd with their unique flavor, and then try a bite of the delicious dish.

Then, wander the beautiful and historic Fair Park Esplanade, lined with dozens of Dallas-area restaurants, and sample from their menus, all priced between $1 and $3.  Foodies can find a few favorites by sampling dishes from restaurants including: Bolla, Chamberlain’s Restaurants, Cowtown Diner, Twisted Root Burger Co., Cowboy Chow, Horne & Dekker, Blue Goose, Aw Shucks Oyster Bar, Crosby Café, Big Shucks Oyster Bar, Cappricio Ristorante, Carolina’s Mexican Café, Woodfire Kirby’s, Soho Food and Jazz, Taco Mundo, Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, and many more.

“Taste of Dallas is a foodie’s fantasy,” said Scott Farace, general manager of the new Taste of Dallas.  “We are excited to offer a great selection of Dallas’ most outstanding restaurants for our attendees to sample.”

Music

Nothing complements excellent fare better than music. This year’s Taste of Dallas line-up is an outstanding mix of best-loved bands.

Friday night features a throw-back to the ‘80s, with tribue bands Live 80 Band and Le Cure ready to resurrect one of the greatest decades in music, as well as drink specials and 80s ambience. Don’t forget to wear your favorite 80s concert T-shirt!

Saturday will showcase some of Texas’ top talent, perhaps best enjoyed from the Gilley’s location next to the main stage, where the beer and boots are plentiful.  Artists include Somebody’s Darling, the Mo Robson Band, John David Kent, the Quebe Sisters Band, the King Bucks, and Zack King.  The Old 97s will headline Saturday night, bringing their unique brand of alternative country to the new Taste of Dallas, playing crowd favorites as well as songs from their new album, “Blame It on Gravity.”

On Sunday, Dallas’ best bands and musicians take the stage, including: Cas Haley, the O’s, TJ Broscoff and Trey Williams.

Fun for the Whole Family

There is something for everyone at Taste of Dallas.  Pint-size attendees will love Kids’ Taste Town, with its high-energy mix of bounce houses, giant slides, interactive games, meet-and-greets with their favorite cartoon characters, face painting, Radio Disney and more.  The sports fan in the family will enjoy the Taste of Dallas Sports Zone, featuring Dallas’ favorite pro and college teams, including: Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, FC Dallas, Frisco RoughRiders, TCU, SMU, University of North Texas, and more.  Teams will be sending players, cheerleaders, mascots, interactive games and more.  For racing fans, Texas Motor Speedway will have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car on-site, as well as interactive racing games and more.  The Taste of Dallas Artists’ Enclave will feature local artists selling unique, one-of-a-kind art, as well as hands-on experiences where attendees can watch and participate in the creation of art.  To find unique food- and cooking-related items to see, try and buy, look no farther than the Taste of Dallas Marketplace, which also will include crafts, jewelry, and other fun items. The culinary area in the Automobile Building takes center stage with cooking demonstrations, food vendors, a Heart Healthy area sponsored by the American Heart Association, and more.

Win It

There is a surprise around every corner at Taste of Dallas, and myriad chances to take home a prize.  How about winning a brand new car?  If you have free-throw skills, put them to good use at NBA Nation at Taste of Dallas.  NBA Nation has been qualifying winners all over the country.  In addition to a Dallas winner, who will be chosen at Taste of Dallas, they will free-throw for a brand new car to be awarded at the event.  Into technology?  How about winning the hottest new phone?  Microsoft will be on-site at Taste of Dallas, giving away six Microsoft Kin smart phones each day [need verbiage from them, supposed to be receiving].  Are you an avid walker or runner?  Compete in the first Taste of Dallas 5K on Saturday morning, or enter the contest with heart by purchasing a pedometer for $1, proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association, and walking your way to a win.  Do you have mad random talent skills? Taste of Dallas will feature its own “Minute to Win It” contest, similar to the hit TV show, where winners will be awarded prizes including restaurant gift certificates.

Details

Taste of Dallas will take place July 9-11 in Dallas’ own Fair Park.  Parking is easy in Fair Park, with trams that run from the parking lot to the front door of the event, or visitors can be “green” and ride DART’s Green Line to Fair Park. Hours are 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday; and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are $5 per person, while kids 12 and under get in FREE.

More information is available via the Taste of Dallas website, www.tasteofdallas.org.

One bite of advice: get your taste buds ready.