Don’t Miss Savor Dallas, March 18 and 19
“Over the years, so many people have asked me to describe Savor Dallas,” Savor Dallas founder Jim White wrote on EscapeHatch last year. “It’s a thrill that people care enough to ask. Vicki Briley-White (my lovely wife and co-founder of Savor Dallas) and I have discussed it ad nauseum over many glasses of fine, decanted wine. For us, it’s an homage to the great, and hard working, chefs and restaurateurs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We put it together to help showcase them. We know, too, that we want it to be a collection of the top wines and spirits in the world. That’s why Vicki works fastidiously to keep the entry point for wines poured at Savor Dallas over $15 retail. You’d be surprised how many wine events around the country don’t control this. We prefer quality over quantity.
“Our friends tell us Savor Dallas is the best wine and food event they’ve ever been to. But you know friends. Thankfully, we’ve heard that from media types and from a number of the “new friends” we’ve made through the years who keep coming back, and bringing their friends to our event. Mostly, it’s a great way to get together, have some fun and introduce people to the beautiful cultural facilities in the Arts District, and to raise the bar on wine and food appreciation. We work hard to make the event smooth and enjoyable for all who attend. We love Savor Dallas, because it gives us a chance to do a little bit of good in the community and be around so many like-minded lovers of wine and food.”
This year’s event takes place March 18-19.
According to Savor Dallas, here’s what you need to know:
“We are excited to announce this year’s Lone Star Awards honorees, Dallas restaurateur Phil Romano and Fredericksburg vineyard owners Dr. Richard Becker and his wife Bunny,” says Jim White, Savor Dallas co-founder along with his wife Vicki Briley-White. Phil is being recognized for his success and leadership in the culinary world, and the Beckers are receiving the Texas Spirit Award at Savor’s prestigious Reserve Tasting on Saturday, March 19th.
The popular “Arts District Wine Stroll” sets the stage for the two-day festival on Friday, March 18th, 5-7pm, where guests can enjoy wine and food tastings in the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Meyerson Symphony Center; and the Winspear Opera House.
Several new features are expected to draw special food, wine, and art lovers this year, including “The Ultimate Friday night pARTy” at Gables Park 17 following the kick-off event, The Arts District Wine Stroll on Friday, March 18th; and a cooking class with Stephan Pyles at his namesake restaurant as well as a pairing of wine and cheese seminar at The Mansion on Turtle Creek with the Mansion’s Michael Flynn and Mozzarella Company’s Paula Lambert on Saturday, March 19th.
The Sheraton Dallas Hotel in downtown Dallas is the scene of Savor Saturday mainstays, March 19th, including a wine panel showcasing the top winemakers appearing at Savor Dallas, the Reserve Tasting of ultra-premium wines and spirits, and the gourmet highlight of the Savor Dallas weekend –the “International Grand Tasting” ( 7-10pm). The Grand Tasting features a sampling of signature cuisines from over 60 top Dallas/Fort Worth chefs and tasting of more than 400 premium wines, spirits, and imported beers.
In addition to the Friday night Gables Park 17 event presenting an exhibition of the work of local artists, the International Grand Tasting on, Sat., March 19th will hold an auction of ceramic and glass tableware created by professional artists from North Texas. All auction proceeds will benefit EASL (Emergency Artists Support League), a North Texas not-for-profit that coordinates with Communities Foundation to provide grants to artists who are in temporary distress because of an unforeseen medical emergency or other catastrophic event.
Savor Dallas donates proceeds from a fine wine silent auction to the North Texas Food Bank and funds a scholarship for a deserving chef to attend culinary school, which is administered through the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association. The Art Department at Booker T. Washington High School receives profits from the sale of student artwork at Savor Dallas.
Ticket prices for the individual events range from $35 to $125. Weekend passes also are available at an overall cost saving. Parking will be $5 per car in the Winspear Opera House Lexus Red Parking in the Arts District the entire evening of March 18. Parking for March 19 will be $6 self-parking in Sheraton Dallas Conference Center Garage or valet $18.
For a complete schedule of events, ticket prices, times, locations, a list of participating restaurants for the International Grand Tasting, parking instructions, etc., or to purchase tickets, go to www.SavorDallas.com or call 888-728-6747.