Category Archives: Wine

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Fort Worth Texas

2nd Annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post however I did receive tickets to the event in return for the publication. As always, all opinions are my own. #FWFWF #FortWorthTX

This past weekend, the second annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival was held throughout Fort Worth. For the chance to experience the very best of Fort Worth’s food, wine and breweries, this is the event that everyone would want to attend. A chance to mingle with the top chefs, restauranteurs, business owners, brewers and wine connoisseurs leaves all humbly satisfied that they’ve chosen to set themselves up in this unbelievable town.

Over the span of four days, more than six events take place providing the opportunity to savor the best of the best. Grab your friends and family to mingle with some of the most influential people in the area (Jon Bonnell was at every event) and experience something magical in some of the most unique venues in the area. Let’s awaken our taste buds and expand our horizons.

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival,

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing our experience at the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. Of course this includes our favorites and recommendations, lots of pictures to get your mouth watering and a couple bucket lists to help you experience the best of Fort Worth for yourselves!

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, BBQ at Billy Bob's

BBQ at Billy Bob’s
Billy Bob’s
What better way to start the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival than with BBQ at Billy Bob’s. Capturing what everyone first comes to Fort Worth to experience – BBQ and live music in the World’s Largest Dancehall. The night wouldn’t have been complete without a little live Texas country provided by Wade Bowen. With sufficient room, great pairings and BBQ plates to choose from, every taste bud was satisfied. I was even convinced to try pig cheek

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Grand TastingGrand Tasting 
Fort Worth Renaissance Worthington Hotel
Everything is bigger in Texas, including quality. Where no holds bar, this event showcased the the most exceptional items at this year’s Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. Including presentations from some of the area’s most elite restaurants, local breweries and North Texas wines and spirits there was no limitation of the items that can be devoured. Lobster rolls, smoked salmon, bread pudding and jalapeño beer. (Yes, jalapeño beer and it was phenomenal.) This was the event to dress up a little and be ready for a evening of treating yourselves...

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Dessert After Dark#LateNight Dessert After Dark
809 at Vickery
After leaving the Grand Tasting, we headed over to fix our sweet tooth. Held at one of the most unique venues in Fort Worth, 809 at Vickery, the sweet that we were looking for was found at Dessert After Dark. Garnered with white lights overhead, we enjoy an array of mixed cocktails and desserts. Of course there was a catch – each presentation had to incorporate Fort Worth’s own TX Whiskey. Each unique and extraordinary, we were provided the opportunity to vote on our favorite beverage and dessert of the evening
Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Rise and DineRise and Dine
Fort Worth Renaissance Worthington Hotel
What better way to start Saturday morning than with brunch. The greatest meal of the day exploded into a wide array of traditional breakfast options, pastries, seafood, pasta and even items with a kick (the shrimp and grits blew our minds). Plus, it’s never to early to pair your first meal of the day with a local brew, wine or champagne. Am I right? We all need to start the day off on the right foot and this was definitely the way to go!

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Burgers Brews and BluesBurgers, Brews and Blues
Heart of the Ranch, Clearfork Main Street
The event that we most anticipated blew us away. Set at the Heart of the Ranch along the Trinity River, we were immediately relaxed and taken to what felt like the middle of the Texas country, with overhanging lights, a cool brew in hand and the smell of burgers sizzling on the grill. Our feet moving and hips swaying to the beat of the live blues coming from the stage, we could’ve stayed all night. This was an event that you’ll want to spend the entire evening with the closest friends and family and come back year after year. We were already talking about coming back next year before the event was even over! To provide an interesting twist, voting tokens are provided for the best burger and best local brew. Your taste buds have an impact too!

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Family Sunday FundayFamily Sunday Funday
Coyote Drive-In
The family event of the weekend is also the food truck lovers paradise. With plenty of space at the Coyote Drive-In location, the most unique mobile vendors congregated in one location to provide us all with a wide-array of options. From chuck-wagons, wings, cooking with the Southern flair, Tex-Mex influence and of course ice cream there was something for everyone. Options for adults, children and families there was definitely something for all ages

We absolutely loved the time that we had over these last four days. Whether you live in the area or are planning to come in town to savor the event, this is one that you won’t want to miss and will only grow in the years to come. It’s quite the experience to brush shoulders and meet some of the top culinary executives in the industry that help to make Fort Worth the incredible town that it is. Where else can you find every single type of dish / restaurant in one place?! Make it a date night, group event with friends or a family day and be prepared to make new friends! There’s something for everyone!

Sights From the 11th Annual Texas Steak Cookoff

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this blog post, however I did receive tickets to this event in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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There was so much to see this year at the Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival! I couldn’t include it all in one post. Here is a follow up on some of my favorite sights of the food and the people during the third weekend in May!

The Food
It can’t get much better than smelling hot grills and delicious food, all day long!

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The Wine
HicoWineFestival090 HicoWineFestival113 HicoWineTent096 Red Caboose 032 (2)The Company
Family, old friends and new friends – you can find them all here. It’s time for everyone to get together and have a great time!

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Hico Steak Cookoff 138Hico Steak Cookoff 2014 136 Hico-Cookoff 2014 077Hico Cookoff 2014 033 Hico Steak Cookoff 235Hico Cookoff 2014 -197 Hico Cookoff 2014 214 Dyl-Pickle Smokers 038 Hico Cookers 081Today I’m linking up with Communal Global, The Jenny EvolutionPhotography Essentials and Create With Joy for {Wordless Wednesday}.

11th Annual Texas Steak Cookoff & Wine Festival

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this blog post, however I did receive tickets to this event in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

TexasSteakCookoff 043

Texas is one of those places where you know you can eat well. Chili, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steaks, fried chicken, crawfish and BBQ, just to name a few. Sometimes, it’s best to just keep it simple with a good ole grilled steak! There’s a ton of events celebrating all of these foods (and more) but there’s one that everyone should attend at least once!

Every year, I can’t wait until the third Saturday in May. I’m booked – I have plans – I can’t wait! To me, it’s one of the greatest events in Texas – Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival. This year was my fifth year to attend and I love it just as much as I did the first year I attended!

About an hour and a half outside of Fort Worth, the Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival is held in Hico. A small town with lots of character and Texas charm, this is the place where you’ll want to be. The drive alone is worth it, viewing breathtaking Texas scenery throughout the prize of the Texas Hill Country. The endless fields, beautiful sunsets – they get me every time.

The Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival is actually split into three events / categories:

2014 Cookoff Schedule

Hors d’oeurves Competition
Kicking off the day at 11am (and throughout the day), mingle with your backyard chefs. The chefs are all friendly folks, they love this event as much as you do, if not more. Although the backyard chefs submit their delicacies early, there’s much to find throughout the day. These folks love to cook!

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Steak Cookoff
The cookoff actually lasts all day but the prize of it all is the steak dinner. A 12-ounce Nolan Ryan ribeye, salad, baked potato and beverage top off the day. Throughout the day, you’re often walking around, meeting the backyard chefs, checking out their grills and tasting some of their food. This provides a great opportunity to figure out who you’d like to cook your steak. They cook it how you like, pick a team and go with it! You can’t go wrong!

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Wine Tasting
Besides the steak itself, this is my favorite. Texas Wines! In the past year or so this has really become an interest of mine. Wine tastings are the perfect time to sample around and find what you like. It’s a social event, great with friends (or to meet new ones). The highlight of this year for me was Red Caboose. Last year, I found a bottle that I loved however I’ve been searching for a year and only found it again at this event. Not only can you taste but you can buy by the bottle. (It’s great to purchase a bottle for your steak dinner at the end of the day!)

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So Much To Do
This is an all day event, we come hungry and leave stuffed. (If you don’t, I’m going to question your choices!). There’s plenty of shopping, antiques, live music, a fiddling competition (the kids were AMAZING) and you can even pick up a game of corn hole or washers if you’re lucky. Walking into town, it’s like being home. Heck, we’ve even brought chairs and found a spot in the shade and just hung out!

Texas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Fiddlers Contest Texas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Texas Wine Texas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Texas WineTexas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Antique ShoppingTexas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Texas Wine

If I were to attend one Texas event – this would be it! Don’t cut yourself short by missing out next year! Spend this summer practicing to win the prize next year at the cook-off!

Texas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Texas Wine Texas Steak Cookoff 2014, Steak Cookoff, Hico, Texas, Wine Festival, Texas Wine

For more information:
Texas Steak Cookoff & Wine Festival
Hico, Texas
3rd Saturday in May (Annually)