The James Beard Foundation, the top culinary organization in the U.S. (founded by the late gay gourmand), will bring to Dallas its second annual Local Flavor from Coast To Coast, a national epicurean tour celebrating America’s culinary diversity, the foundation announced this week at an event at the new San Salvaje by Stephan Pyles.
The weekend-long itinerary in Dallas starts Sept. 26 at the Hilton Anatole with A Night of Culinary Stars, an exclusive dining event benefiting the foundation in partnership with chef Chad Houser, far right, and his Café Momentum. Local TV newsman Ron Corning will M.C. the event. The evening will start with a reception with food and drinks planned by five local chefs, all of whom have either cooked at the Beard House (or will soon), or have been nominated for a Beard Award. Participants will be Omar Flores (Casa Rubia), Matt McCallister (FT 33), Janice Provost (Parigi), David Uygur (Lucia) and Tim Byres (Smoke). hen all-star chef Patrick O’Connell (a Beard Award winner for his work at the acclaimed Inn at Little Washington in Virginia) and Dallas’ own Stephan Pyles, who have been paired together to create a one-of-a-kind menu.
“Patrick is a longtime friends — we;ve know each other for 25, 30 years,” Pyles says. “But it’s been a long time since we cooked together and I’m looking forward to it.”
Festivities will continues on Sept. 27 with a series of free consumer events at Sur La Table on Travis Walk, including a cooking demo with O’Connell, book signings, tastings from local producers and artisans. For the full schedule and to RSVP, visit
jbftasteamerica.org/events.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 20, 2014.