May 17

Hot Date: CityArts Festival May 25-27, includes wine, food, craft beer tastings, art, chef demos–and it’s free

Once again, it’s time for the CityArts Festival, in Fair Park from May 25-27. Chef demos, wine tastings, beer sampling, juried arts competitions, wine and spirits pairings, scotch flights, mixology lessons–they’re all on the schedule. (Even an assortment of food trucks, because nothing is cool these days unless there’s a few food trucks.)

I’m intrigued by the food and cocktail pairing demo–especially the one where Whiskey Cake’s barman Sean Connor gets to pair a mixed beverage with chef TJ Lengnick’s Texas blueberry and spinach salad, fresh rhubarb, Texas goat cheese and a buttermilk yogurt vinaigrette. (Or even their second shot, Texas peach-bourbon glazed pork tenderloin with poblano and bacon grits and spicy grilled okra.)

Taylor Mayad, the events publicist, sent over this chef line-up:

Chef Richard Chamberlain, Chef Hugh Stewart and Sommelier Jeff Bradley ofChamberlain’s Fish Market Grill and Chamberlain’s Steak and Chophouse; Executive Chef Joel Harloff of The Second Floor; Chef David Holben of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House; Executive Chef Dan Landsberg of Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa; Executive Chef David McMillan of Screen Door; Chef/Owner Janice Provost of Parigi; Executive Chef Matt Raso of Nobu Dallas; Chef Rich Rogers of Scardello; Executive Chef Jim Severson of Sevy’s Grill; and Chef TJ Lengnick and Mixologist Sean Connor of Whiskey Cake.

Here’s the event schedule:

CITYARTS FESTIVAL CULINARY SHOWCASE SCHEDULE

Friday, May 25

7:30 p.m.

Craft Beer Tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Fireman’s #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

Wine Tastings – Constellation Wines

Spirits tastings “Around the World in Six Cocktails”

Mexico – Margarita with Milagro Tequila
France – Aperitif with Lillet
Spain – Sangria with Stoli Vodka
Italy – Italian Ice with Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
U.K. – Collins Cocktail with Hendrick’s Gin
U.S.A. – Organic Cocktail with Art in the Age Liqueur

8 p.m.
Cooking demo with wine pairing – Chef Dan Landsberg, Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa
DISH: Citrus poached rock shrimp and green tomato-corn gazpacho

9 p.m.

Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch tasting with Dave Allardice (U.S. Glenfiddich Ambassador)
9:30 p.m.

Craft Beer Tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Fireman’s #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

Wine Tastings – Constellation Wines

Spirited tastings “Whisky Cocktails”

Barrel Aged Cocktails – with Hudson New York Corn Whiskey
Manhattan with Gibson’s Canadian Whisky
Old Fashioned with Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
Sour with Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch
Blood & Sand with Balvenie Single Malt Scotch

Saturday, May 26

NooN
Cooking demo – Chef Janice Provost, Parigi
DISH: Pork Bulgogi Tacos

1 p.m.
Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

1:30 p.m.
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines

2 p.m.
Cooking demo with wine pairing – Chef Jim Severson, Sevy’s Grill
DISH: Chilled Garden Fresh Gazpacho Soup with Lemon Pepper Shrimp

3 p.m.
Spirits tasting “Margarita Madness” (fresh, organic, easy margarita recipes)

3:30 p.m.
Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

4 p.m.
Cooking and mixology demo – Chef TJ Lengnick and Mixologist, Sean Connor of Whiskey Cake
DISH: Texas Blueberry and Spinach Salad with, fresh rhubarb, Texas goat cheese and a buttermilk yogurt vinaigrette
DISH: Texas Peach-Bourbon Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Poblano and Bacon Grits, and spicy grilled Okra

5 p.m.
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines

5:30 p.m.

Spirits tasting “Summer Punches” (fun summer cocktails that you can serve at home)

6 p.m.
Cooking demo with wine pairing – Chef David Holben, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
DISH: Heirloom tomato and mozzarella stack salad with baby green drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette garlic ranch, crumbled bacon and basil pesto.

7 p.m.
Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

7:30 p.m.
Cooking demo with spirits pairing – Chef David McMillan, Screen Door
DISH: Grilled Tritip steak, barbecued Texas 1015 onions, arugula, aged cheddar croutons, Opal basil & red wine vinaigrette

8:30 p.m.
Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Tasting with Dave Allardice (U.S. Glenfiddich Ambassador)

9 p.m.
Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines

Sunday, May 27

12 p.m.
Cooking demo with wine pairing- Chef Rich Rogers, Scardello

DISH: assorted Artisan cheeses

1 p.m.
Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines

1:30 p.m.
Cooking demo with craft beer pairing – Chef Hugh Stewart, Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill

DISH: Mango and Habanera Caribbean Ceviche
2:30 p.m.

Craft beer tastings – Brooklyn Lager, Firemans #4, Harpoon’s UFO White and Sierra Nevada

Spirits tasting – “The Best Blood Mary Ever!!!” (make the best Bloody Mary to order)

3 p.m.`
Cooking demo with spirits pairing – Chef Matt Raso, Nobu Dallas
DISH: Seared scallop citrus salsa

4 p.m.
Spirits tasting “Backyard Cocktails” (make easy summer cocktails with lemonades and tea)
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines
4:30 p.m.

Cooking demo with wine pairing – Chef Joel Harloff, The Second Floor

DISH: Lemon & Radicchio Risotto with Pecorino & leeks

5 p.m.
Spirits tasting “Sangria Summer” (fresh fruit & flavored sangrias)
Wine tasting – Constellation Wines

Mayad also writes:

Other highlights of CityArts Festival include ARTFEST, the popular juried art show in its traditional outdoor setting featuring art by nearly 150 renowned artists; two outdoor film screenings including American Graffiti at 9 p.m. Friday and Grease at 9 p.m. Saturday plus 60s-themed dance parties from 7 – 9 p.m. both nights; kids activities; art classes for adults and teens ($5); Art Cars; reduced admission to Fair Park’s museums at select times; entertainment; shopping at CityArts Marketplace; top-of-the-hour “dancing water” shows at the Esplanade Fountain; and more.

Free and open to the public, CityArts Festival will run Friday, May 25, from 6 -10 p.m.; Saturday, May 26, from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday, May 27, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Activities will take place outdoors along the Lagoon, Cotton Bowl Plaza and the Promenade at Fair Park (1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd, Dallas 75210). Parking will be available at gates 2, 5 and 6. The City of Dallas charges $10 to park within the gates of Fair Park. Food for thought: Alcohol-consuming guests should ride DART’s Green Line Rail to the Fair Park or MLK, Jr. stations.