5-Star Culinary Lineup for 34th Annual Barrett Havran Memorial Big Taste of Fort Worth

The 34^th Annual Barrett Havran Memorial Big Taste of Fort Worth benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the Omni Fort Worth. “Big Taste” has long been Fort Worth’s premier food and wine event, offering a palate-pleasing journey for guests.  A favorite of foodies and everyday diners who treasure the experience of a culinary tour of Tarrant County’s finest restaurants, the event combines fine dining with premium wine sampling all under one roof.
 
Past winners and participants in the food portion of the evening include Ruth’s Chris Steak House , Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Ferre′ Ristorante e Bar, and the 2012 Best of Big Taste winner MICHAELS Restaurant and Ancho Chile Bar. All proceeds of the event benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Barrett Martin Havran Little Steps Big Futures Program.
 
“This signature event has been a Fort Worth favorite for decades. Attendees pay a single price to sample the areas finest restaurants and premium wines all in a single location,” says Event Chair Greg Kalina. “It’s an honor to be a part of such a respected event that benefits the lives of children here in Tarrant County.”
 
The impressive roster of participating restaurants is rivaled only by the wildly popular wine tasting portion of the evening.  The VIP Wine Tasting offers countless varieties of wines for sampling. The Main Tasting follows and offers a variety of petite menu selections from area restaurants ranging from prime beef tenderloin, smoked salmon, beer braised short ribs, hand-made tortellini, grilled fish tacos and much more. Dessert offerings are just as delectable with gourmet bundt cakes, bananas foster and more.
 
Winners of the event are selected by a panel of celebrity judges and by attendees. The “Best of Big Taste” award is the judges’ choice for best overall food at the event. The “People’s Choice Award” is determined by attendees who vote for their favorite restaurant via ballots. Finally, those attending the VIP Wine Tasting will vote on the “Best Wine of Big Taste.” Celebrity judges include U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger, U.S. Congressman Roger Williams and Patty Williams, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Tom Price and Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead and Kim Halstead.
 
The event is at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The Main Tasting portion of the evening begins at 6 p.m. and open seating tickets are $125 each. The VIP Wine Tasting is from 4:30 p.m-6 p.m. and that ticket price of $200 provides admission to both the VIP Wine Tasting and the Main Tasting. Musical entertainment will be provided, and the silent auction will feature unique and exclusive items. To make individual reservations, please visit www.BigTaste.org or contact 888.887.BIGS.
 
Sponsors for the event include 360 West; Corliss & Louis Baldwin/Laura Baldwin; Dorothea Leonhardt Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas, Andrea Harkins, Donor Trustee; FASTSIGNS; Law Office of Henry B. Paup; Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth; Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P.; Medical Center Arlington; Ben E. Keith Foods; Melissa & Bobby Frank; Texas Private Equity Partners, LLC; Omni Fort Worth Hotel; and Mr. & Mrs. Grady Shropshire/Mr. & Mrs. Mac Churchill.
 
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.  Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.  The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 85-year history. Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star serves over 30,000 children, volunteers and families through 20 offices and over 100 counties in Texas. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life - donate or volunteer at bbbstx.org.

2013 Culinary and Wine Participants