Dallas at Night (photo by Jose, courtesy of morguefile.com)

Dallas’ most entertaining, inspiring, and enlightening Festival focusing on the pleasures of the table is just around the corner. From April 23rd through the 27th, the 24th Annual Dallas Wine and Food Festival will feature everything from how-to seminars on cooking and entertaining to sit-down dinners prepared by Dallas’ top chefs. The five days of events will also provide multiple opportunities to sample medal-winning wines. Tickets for the various events, which are open to the public, range from $30 to $100.

Pairing Great Film with Fine Wine & Food

This year’s Festival kicks off with Gourmet Cinema on Wednesday, April 23rd at the Dallas Angelika Film Center & Café. The ultimate wine lover’s movie “Sideways” is the Festival’s featured film. A wine tasting and a special dinner menu prepared by Chef Richard Chamberlain are included before a short walk upstairs at the Angelika for a private screening of the film. Will there be Merlot you ask? Attend and find out. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Catch a Rising Culinary Star

Thursday, April 24th belongs to the Rising Stars Chefs' Dinner at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Enjoy an unforgettable evening at the Mansion and enjoy the award-winning specialties of Dallas' hottest new chefs; the top winners of the 11th Annual Rising Stars Chefs Contest. It will be a winemaker’s dinner unlike any other, featuring each of the winning chefs and their original dishes specifically paired with wines from Merryvale Vineyards. Reception begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tip Your Hat to the Best of Texas' Winemakers & Food Artisans

Grab your boots on Friday, April 25th and head down to Eddie Deen's Ranch to join the Texas Salute! It’s a Texas-sized happy hour where jeans are not only allowed, they are encouraged. The perfect casual evening where you can tip your hat to the very best of the West. You’ll be impressed by the increasing diversity and quality presented by the winemakers, artisan cheesemakers, and other local producers at this all-Texan affair. Hosted by Cathy Barber, Wine and Food Editor of the Dallas Morning News, and featuring home-grown live Texas music from the Randy Brown Duo to boot! The evening begins at 6:00 p.m.

Home Entertainment Tips from Talented Experts

On Saturday, April 26th guests will learn about Entertaining with Style at Milestone Culinary Arts Center & Viking Cooking School and surrounding shops and restaurants on Knox-Henderson. Dedicated to the celebration of entertaining at home, complete with do-it-yourself advice demos from talented chefs and wine experts. It’s an entire day of chef demos, food and wine tastings, reserve seminars, happy hour (separate admission), and entertaining tips, including a live session of the Dallas Morning News Taste Panel. The full day begins at 10:00 a.m.

Don’t Miss the Fun-Filled Climax: Taste of the World!

Sunday, April 27 the Festival comes to a fun-filled climax at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel with Taste of the World, which includes a Silent Auction benefiting Dallas Farmers Market Friends. Enjoy the evening as you stroll and sample award-winning wines from the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, the largest of its kind in the Southwest. Bid on a variety of culinary and specialty items benefiting Farmers Market Friends, with live Latin Jazz by Mosaic to keep you moving as you taste prize-winning wines, savor specialty cuisine, and meet chefs from Dallas’ favorite restaurants. The Festival’s ultimate evening begins at 5:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets & get more info you can visit the Festival's official web site: 24th Annual Dallas Wine and Food Festival

To learn more about the good work ot the of the Dallas Farmers Market Friends go to: Farmers Market Friends

To listen to an interview with Stacey Caldwell, President of the Dallas Farmers Market Friends, go to: Podcast Interview