Like fine wine, the Côtes du Coeur Wine Society‘s International Fine Wine Auction and Celebrity Chef Dinner gets better and better with time. It’s raised more than $14 million since its founding in 1991, and this year’s event at the Hilton Anatole raises the bar once again. But don’t think it’s a one-night-only program. Heck, no! When it comes to the folks who love the vino, they take their time and sample, sample, sample. Over the course of months, there have been all types of pre-gala events — Big Bottle Party, Chef Announcement Party, Catalog Preview Party. You just know that sooner or later they’re going to have a “Proper Cork Pull Party.”
But the really biggie is just around the corner on Saturday, April 14, when Chef Richard Chamberlain and leading chefs (David McMillan of Screen Door, Marc Morton of Oceanaire Seafood Room, Otto Borsich of Central Market, Bruno Davaillon of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Anthony C. Bombaci of Nana Restaurant, Dean Fearing of the Ritz-Carlton, Kevin Garvin and Anita Hirsch of Neiman Marcus Restaurants, Scott Gottlich of Bijoux, Joel Harrington of Charlie Palmer at the Joule, David Holben of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Kent Rathbun of Abacus/Jasper’s/Rathbun’s Blue Plate, Matt Raso of Nobu, Marcus Strietzel of the French Room at the Adolphus Hotel, Gerard Thompson of Rough Creek Lodge and Resort and Jim Severson of Sevy’s Grill) will present a fabulous assortment of tastings paired with wines from 32 “elite wineries from America and abroad.”
Co-chairs Sandy and David Alexander have also arranged for some pretty interesting auction items that include
- a day for four to shadow the Mansion’s Bruno in the kitchen,
- a wine adventure with John and Gretchen Bookwalter in Washington complete with round-trip tickets,
- a day of golfing and spa-ing finished off with a presentation of Good Chef/Bad Chef by Jim Severson and David Holben and dinner, of course,
- dinner at Sandi and Ron Haddock‘s penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton and
- so much more!
But don’t go thinking that Côte du Coeur is only about wine. It not only offers an opportunity for “patrons to cultivate deep and meaningful business and personal relationships with senior level executives from the Dallas area,” it also raises awareness and funds for the Dallas division of the American Heart Association.