This past Saturday I had the absolute pleasure of attending Park and Palate in one of my favorite Dallas spots, Klyde Warren Park. Top chefs, winemakers and cocktail enthusiasts from all over Texas gathered for The Grand Taste event from 2pm-6pm. I took the dart to the event, hopping off the green line at the St. Paul stop, and made the quick walk down to Klyde Warren.
Walking through the festive, flower-filled entrance, we were immediately handed a refillable wine glass complete with a comfy thumb indention. Call me crazy, but I'm a big fan of the thumb indented wine glass, really adds a little something extra, don't you think?
I started grinning the second I saw that The Color Condition got their hands on the decor for the DJ area -- complete with tunes by the fabulous Lucy Wrubel. I wasted no time whipping out the camera.
Our first stop, as expected, was to fill that wine glass up. There were so many wineries to choose from, I just had to bite the bullet and pick one, Villa Maria. I sighed, and just told myself that I'll just have to put in the work and TRY THEM ALL over the next 4 hours.
Tough job, but someone had to do it.
While I was grabbing my first glass of vino, I spotted the most fabulous sign EVER EVER EVER - Rosé all day, and rushed over to get in the very long line for a photograph.
In anticipation of the event, I hadn't eaten all day and made it my mission to get started on food grazing right away. Some of the region's best chefs were in attendance, and man did they show out.
Get yourself prepared, and possibly even grab a snack because these photos are going to leave you very, very hungry.
I started with a dessert - so sue me, life is short - the prettiest little macaron s'more cruffin from Andrea Meyer at Bisous Bisous Pâtisserie.
I won't lie to you and say that I ate it slowly and savored it. I didn't. I scarfed it down like an animal. I pretty much ate every dish this way, I'm sorry. Sorta. Not really.
Next I hit up the pickled shrimp by chef Jason Dady.
I feel like I'm going to get repetitive real quick, but dang it was good. I WILL dream about this shrimp and those juicy tiny tomatoes.
If I were a good blogger, I'd wait until the end to tell you my favorite dish, but I'm just going to release the kraken right now.
Behold - the Kung Pao Pad Thai by Shuji Sugawara with Shinsei.
ErrrMerrGerrdddddddd.
If I could possibly have this delivered, preferably by the truckload, on weekend mornings when I've stayed out partying the night before, that'd be great. K, thx - management.
Next up, we have the luxurious octopus on squid ink tostada by Diego Galicia.
Again, repetitive city over here, but this was friggin' dynamite.
One of the dishes I was shocked to enjoy so much was the dish from Nick Hurry with Proof and Pantry. Beets, goat cheese and pine nuts, kindly prepared on the spoon and ready for you to devour.
Whew, does anyone need a break yet?
If so, go and grab a bag of chips or a cheeseburger or something and come back..... I'll wait.
Ok, we ready? Let's continue.
Check out this celery root custard crunchy fall salad with smoked caviar from Jared Harms over at The Pyramid Restaurant. Wait for it wait for it wait for it.... yup, you guessed it, it was delish. HELLO--- CAVIAR, people!
Brian Johnson over at Central Market brought the flair with these dessert cones and shrimp and sausage bites.
Ok deep breath......
Ice cream sandwiches by Nicholas Yanes with Juniper out of Austin.
*Minion Voice* WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
Cocktails were also slinging (yes, I'm still going over here) over at the Absolut Elyx table.
.... and over at the Aperol table too.
Park and Palate was absolutely one of the best events I've been to in Dallas. Their attention to detail was second to none, and judging by the smiles plastered on everyone's face as they exited Klyde Warren Park, I'm not the only one who felt that way. I can't wait until next year's event.
As I'm sure you guessed, I went STRAIGHT TO THE GYM the next morning.
Jk, I didn't. I slept in.
