"Inaugural" Taste of Derby?

Just another example of CDI's motto - "if we can screw something up, we will." Hopefully this event will not get much support from those on this board who care so much about our great local chefs and restaurants.

info from Dare to Care Food Bank

23rd Annual Taste of Derby Festival
Thursday, April 22, 2010
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Still $75 per person
Louisville Slugger Field

Same price! Same location! Same great local chefs! Same great local cause!

Enjoy over 40 of Louisville's premier chefs from our best restaurants offering their finest flavors. Savor the best beverages from the finest wineries, breweries, distilleries, and more. 100% of the proceeds stay here in our community to help struggling families get the the food they need to be healthy.

Sponsored by Brown-Forman Corporation.

This event historically sells out. Purchase your tickets now!

Or you can call Lauren Hensley at 502-966-3821.

Visit www.tasteofderbyfestival.org which goes live on February 9.

Just another example of CDI's motto - "if we can screw something up, we will." Hopefully this event will not get much support from those on this board who care so much about our great local chefs and restaurants.

After pondering this for a day I'm more convinced than ever that this is a non-problem. The original "Taste" caters to a local "foodie" crowd, many of whom attend every year (and who knows may even be on some sort of mailing list...I dunno). The new Taste seems to be positioning itself (again based on the price and timing) as an event for the "see and be seen" we're from out of town crowd. I'll even go so far as to speculate that most of the tickets for the new Taste won't even see the public light...They'll be bought up by corporate sponsors and/or doled out in "package" deals for the well healed.

As for the local Chef's who may or may not participate in the new taste...I'm sure the last thing they are worrying about is a bunch of local foodies who have their panties in a wad over the perception that they are somehow selling out the local dining scene. Baloney, these are culinary professionals and are likely salivating over the opportunity to possibly shine in front of some of their respected peers.

Not directed at you Mike D but sometimes I think we take ourselves a little too seriously (myself included).

Heck, I'm thinking about making a submission just so I can meet Chef Michelle Bernstein. She's kinda hot and I dig her take on Miami cuisine.

Chef Michy.jpg

Chef Michy 2.jpg

I'm not sure what the "Committee" is looking for though. A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet. Or a perhaps they might take a chance on well thought out proposal that includes as much "local" product as possible; that reflects the style of cuisine representative of "Dining at Derby" from a lesser known under the radar with a proven track record kind of chef.

Heck, I'm thinking about making a submission just so I can meet Chef Michelle Bernstein. She's kinda hot and I dig her take on Miami cuisine.

If she's cookin'...I'm eatin'.

A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet.

Just asking, are these people big names outside of Louisville?

Speaking for myself, I can't name any chefs unless I've seen them on the Food Network. I think "big name" chefs are more well known by other chefs or people in the industry vs the general dining public.

Never heard of them:
Michelle Bernstein
Stephen Lewandowski
Tory McPhail
Ouita Michel
Nancy Silverton

Heck, I'm thinking about making a submission just so I can meet Chef Michelle Bernstein. She's kinda hot and I dig her take on Miami cuisine.

Chef Michy.jpg

Chef Michy 2.jpg

I'm not sure what the "Committee" is looking for though. A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet. Or a perhaps they might take a chance on well thought out proposal that includes as much "local" product as possible; that reflects the style of cuisine representative of "Dining at Derby" from a lesser known under the radar with a proven track record kind of chef.

The first thing that Yum Brands has had anything to do with that is yummy.

Heck, I'm thinking about making a submission just so I can meet Chef Michelle Bernstein. She's kinda hot and I dig her take on Miami cuisine.

Chef Michy.jpg

Chef Michy 2.jpg

I'm not sure what the "Committee" is looking for though. A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet. Or a perhaps they might take a chance on well thought out proposal that includes as much "local" product as possible; that reflects the style of cuisine representative of "Dining at Derby" from a lesser known under the radar with a proven track record kind of chef.

The first thing that Yum Brands has had anything to do with that is yummy.

Best post of the day.

A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet.

Just asking, are these people big names outside of Louisville?

Speaking for myself, I can't name any chefs unless I've seen them on the Food Network. I think "big name" chefs are more well known by other chefs or people in the industry vs the general dining public.

Never heard of them:
Michelle Bernstein
Stephen Lewandowski
Tory McPhail
Ouita Michel
Nancy Silverton

I guess that I've read about in trade mags or heard about what so called "celebrity chefs" are doing. But none of the chefs tapped for Taste of Derby are considered culinary lightweights

I can't believe that you haven't heard of Ouita Michel of the Holly Hill Inn in Midway, KY I guess that technically she's a local.She has received several James Beard nominations

Nancy Silverton's La Brea Bakery is mostly responsible for the current resurgence of artisan bread.

Michelle Bernstein was on the forefront of what is known as "South Beach Cuisine".

I've personally never heard of Stephen Lewandowski but have heard of Tribeca Grill in NYC. One of the crown jewels in Drew Nieporent's restaurant empire. He must be very talented to be the Executive Chef there.

Tory McPhail is Chef of Commanders Palace in New Orleans, the renowned restaurant that spawned the career of none other than Emeril Lagasse.

These are all very well known people in the culinary community or work in well known restaurants. You can be sure that it will be an interesting mix. Chefs are generally all alike though, get a bunch of us together in a room and it's usually a great time.

Hopefully this event will not get much support from those on this board who care so much about our great local chefs and restaurants.

I do not understand this. They are raising money for a very worth while cause. I think there is room for both events.

As for Yum- whatever your opinion is of their food, they donate a ton of money to world hunger programs. I think it was something like $30 million last year. That is a very generous amount. I for one do not like their food much but gosh what a great world citizen.

A big name local like Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Looi or Kathy Cary just for name recognitions sake seems like a safe bet.

Just asking, are these people big names outside of Louisville?

Speaking for myself, I can't name any chefs unless I've seen them on the Food Network. I think "big name" chefs are more well known by other chefs or people in the industry vs the general dining public.

Never heard of them:
Michelle Bernstein
Stephen Lewandowski
Tory McPhail
Ouita Michel
Nancy Silverton

I guess that I've read about in trade mags or heard about what so called "celebrity chefs" are doing. But none of the chefs tapped for Taste of Derby are considered culinary lightweights

I can't believe that you haven't heard of Ouita Michel of the Holly Hill Inn in Midway, KY I guess that technically she's a local.She has received several James Beard nominations

Nancy Silverton's La Brea Bakery is mostly responsible for the current resurgence of artisan bread.

Michelle Bernstein was on the forefront of what is known as "South Beach Cuisine".

I've personally never heard of Stephen Lewandowski but have heard of Tribeca Grill in NYC. One of the crown jewels in Drew Nieporent's restaurant empire. He must be very talented to be the Executive Chef there.

Tory McPhail is Chef of Commanders Palace in New Orleans, the renowned restaurant that spawned the career of none other than Emeril Lagasse.

These are all very well known people in the culinary community or work in well known restaurants. You can be sure that it will be an interesting mix. Chefs are generally all alike though, get a bunch of us together in a room and it's usually a great time.

I'm sure they are all fine chefs, probably better cooks than the Food Network Stars, but I don't know that their names will draw in the general public. As you said they are well know in the culinary community, probably not so much the dining community. For this reason, the committee should weigh the concepts of the potential chefs heavier than the chefs names.

Brownings will be at Slugger Field (well , actually we are always there) for the April 22nd event. We will have samples of some great beer & food. I think asking the local chefs to give away another night of their lives 2 days before Derby is bold. It is the busiest of times, hopefully, for all of the local establishments.
Looking forward to seeing lots of friends on the 22nd. I believe the material said to expect 750+ people. Get your tickets early as they do sell out.
Caroline, thanks for helping get the word out about this event, and helping answer the questions.

[Robin Garr]

Roger-Call Andrew Hutto! He is in charge of the vendors!! You will love the Dare To Care Food Bank Taste of Derby!!!!

Caroline, I think you are confusing the Dare to Care Food Bank Taste of DERBY FESTIVAL at Slugger Field with the Dare to Care Food Bank Taste of DERBY at Churchill Downs. Two events, same beneficiary. But if you're helping them with PR, officially or on a friendly basis, you're going to get the organizers in licensing trouble with Churchill Downs if you don't get the name right.

Roger-Call Andrew Hutto! He is in charge of the vendors!! You will love the Dare To Care Food Bank Taste of Derby!!!!

Caroline, I think you are confusing the Dare to Care Food Bank Taste of DERBY FESTIVAL at Slugger Field with the Dare to Care Food Bank Taste of DERBY at Churchill Downs. Two events, same beneficiary. But if you're helping them with PR, officially or on a friendly basis, you're going to get the organizers in licensing trouble with Churchill Downs if you don't get the name right.

Robin that just looks confusing..

Robin, thanks for calling attention to this-you are correct. The event on April 22 is officially part of the Derby Festival-Dare to Care Food Bank Taste of Derby is celebrating 23 years -HER is the official post which I posted earlier from Dare to Care Food Bank.

23rd Annual Taste of Derby Festival
Thursday, April 22, 2010
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Still $75 per person
Louisville Slugger Field

Same price! Same location! Same great local chefs! Same great local cause!

Enjoy over 40 of Louisville's premier chefs from our best restaurants offering their finest flavors. Savor the best beverages from the finest wineries, breweries, distilleries, and more. 100% of the proceeds stay here in our community to help struggling families get the the food they need to be healthy.

Sponsored by Brown-Forman Corporation.

This event historically sells out. Purchase your tickets now!

YES, Robin I am aware that they are two DIFFERENT events with two similar names...and am excited that Dare to Care benefits from BOTH!!! I LOVE seeing National Chefs visit Louisville AND LOVE when our LOCAL Chefs are HIGHLIGHTED!