Fifteen Courses, Fifteen Wine Pairings–How Could That Not Be Good?
If you’re not already busy on the evening of Friday, June 3, consider going to the Edible Austin-sponsored Texas wine dinner at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin. I could be prejudiced, because I was one of the judges who got to choose the finalists, but it sounds absolutely grand. For $100 you’ll get to sample fifteen dishes from five Central Texas restaurants, paired with fifteen Texas wines. Maybe you don’t know Texas wines at all. This is your chance to see what they’re all about. Maybe you DO know Texas wines–this lineup features some of the best (trust me). The five restaurants to be spotlighted, which competed against twenty-two others for the honor, are Hudson’s on the Bend (Austin), Bin 555 (San Antonio), Garrido’s (Austin), Navajo Grill (Fredericksburg), and the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa (San Antonio). What will the food be like? Here’s Bin 555‘s menu (created by Patrick James Edwards, chef de cuisine, with Jason Dady and Jake Dady, chef-owners). First course: crudo of Gulf Coast grouper with cured Poteet strawberries, shaved 1015 onion, jalapeno, and fennel pollen (paired with Becker Vineyards Provencal Rose 2009). Second course: roasted lamb loin with herb glazed turnips, porcini-blackberry “soil,” and blossoms of wild wood sorrel and rosemary (paired with Becker’s Iconoclast Cabernet Sauvignon 2009). Third course: Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit “Dreamsicle” with Vanilla semifreddo, opal basil, and chantilly cream laced with Fowler’s Texas honey (paired with Becker’s Clementine 2010). Bon apetit. (Image from, what else?, Becker Vineyards.)





Marla Camp says:
Thanks to Pat and a big shout out to the other first round judges who spent countless hours pouring over 196 pages of entry documents to choose these fine finalists. Kudos go to: Brenda Audino, Twin Liquors Fine Wine & Spirits; Doug Clark, CSW, Representative for On Premise Wine Division, Republic National Distributing Company; John Griffin, editor, co-founder SavorSA; Mary Martini, director, Central Market Cooking School; Jane Nickles, WineSpeak101; Tanji Patton, Good Taste with Tanji; Monica Pope, chef / owner, t’afia; John Roenigk, The Austin Wine Merchant; Ron Smith, food writer and radio talk show host; Renie Steves, Cuisine Concepts; Bonnie Walker, food writer and co-founder SavorSA and Barbara Werley, Master Sommelier, Pappas Bros.
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Mike says:
What a great lineup!
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don bauer says:
I just returned from Houston after our high school participated in the Shell Eco-marathon. While there I picked up a bottle of Iconoclast at Spec’s Liquor. Can’t wait to try it!
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