Move over Reba
A Grande idea: Top chefs become guitar heroes for Houston
Celebrity chefs Robert Del Grande of the local hot spot RDG + Bar Annie and Dallas’ Dean Fearing of Fearing’s — those founders of Southwestern cuisine, longtime buds and guitar heroes — are teaming up for a good cause this fall.
They will be the guest chefs and the entertainment when Best Cellars Celebrity Dinners comes to Houston in September. Best Cellars Celebrity Dinners started in Nashville 10 years ago when music industry executives associated with the T.J. Martell Foundation, a charitable organization supported by the music business, got together to raise funds for leukemia and AIDS research.
The event pairs Best Sellers (music and entertainment celebrities) with Best Cellars (top wine collectors). Nashville’s April event this year put entertainers such as Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton together with chef Josiah Citrin, chef/owner of Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, and co-owner of Lemon Moon Café in West Los Angeles.
The 7 p.m. Sept, 14 event at the River Oaks Country Club will feature a four-course meal prepared by Del Grande and Fearing and a performance by their band The Barbwires.
They may not be in the same league as Reba McEntire, but these chefs are rock stars of the foodie world.
They started jamming on their guitars in hotel rooms at celebrity chef events 20 years ago. Then they added a few musicians (saxophonist Johnny Reno, whose music marks many of pal Robert Rodriguez’s films) and even another chef at one time (Tim Keating, formerly of the Four Seasons’ Quattro) riffing at Wolfgang Puck’s benefits and Fearing’s annual barbecue at the Mansion on Turtle Creek.
“Dean was always like, 'Dude, dude! We can have a real band!' But I was always the one saying, 'I don’t know, who’s going to be in it?'” Del Grande said. “Then one day Food and Wine magazine called up and asked how to spell the band’s name, so I guess we had a real band.”
They even have a CD, Bliss and Blisters, with 11 original songs written by Fearing and Del Grande.
And no, none of the songs are about food. They’re more esoterical tunes on love and loss, not surprising if you follow Del Grande’s random tweets. Although there is the “Cupid Is Pouring Margaritas” ditty.
Celebrity guests — from music to sports personalities — are also expected to spice up the evening.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Sponsorships and tables are available starting at $7,500 per table and individual tickets are $1,000. For more info visit bestcellarsdinner.com or call 615.256-2002.
