Last week, I had an opportunity to represent the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival at an event in Dallas called Chefs for Farmers. Chef Matt McCallister and his wife Iris started the event a few years ago, and it has grown from a simple dinner in a field to a full-blown party with more than 1,000 attendees, 40 chefs, DJs, mixologists and more fun that you can possibly have on a Sunday afternoon.
It was a truly great event. As I thought more about it, I wondered what makes a great food event. Is it the talented chefs and artisans that bring the delicious food and drink? Is it the design of the festival and the attention to detail to make sure that every need of the patron is covered? The more of these types of events that I attended, the answer becomes more and more clear.
A food event is mainly made great by those who attend. We were extremely blessed this summer when we hosted Twenty at the Tower, the pop-up restaurant that benefited the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation. However, it was the guests, not the chefs that made it so special. It was the enjoyment and pride that everyone attending had. People were proud that they were able to attend an event such as it in Fort Worth.
Fast forward to this past Friday night. Streams & Valleys hosted the 7th St. Bridge Lighting Ceremony and party that followed. More than a dozen of Fort Worth’s finest chefs were there serving up delicious bites, and guests enjoyed beer, wine and live music in a very unique venue of the bridge itself. It served as an inspiring night once again. Fort Worth citizens proved that they have embraced the food and wine movement.
The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival serves as a call to arms for all food lovers in Fort Worth. We have an opportunity to show off the great culinary scene that is developing here. From craft brewers to distillers, food artisans to top chefs, our city has a tremendous amount of very talented individuals, and it is our responsibility to stand behind them and let others know what they are missing out on. We are responsible of creating the food culture here. We are responsible for supporting these local businesses. We are the ones that can make a great food event. Let’s show off what we can do together.
Until next time…cheers!
