Patron Dinner Preview

Hello, Wine Lovers!

It’s already February and the 2016 Auction is on the horizon! Patron Dinners are filling up quickly. Our patron hosts are working diligently with their celebrity chefs and winemakers to create an exquisite evening of perfectly paired wine presentation and five course meal. Our Friday Patron Dinners are such a special and unique part of our auction weekend, as many hosts and a handful of our local restaurant partners open their doors to give an intimate experience to shine a little light on our mission and each of the 14 charities this weekend supports.  

This year, Patron Hosts George and Stephanie Brannon Jr. join with Cory and Hillary Fosdyck welcome Chef Scotty Schwartz along with Foley Family Wines and Blackbird Vineyards. Uniting for a common cause and passion, this dinner benefits the Children's Volunteer Health Network. CVHN serves kids in Okaloosa and Walton Counties who don’t have insurance or who are underinsured.  CVHN has been a DCWAF charity partner since 2009. 

Chef Scotty Schwartz is known in the Jacksonville area as the pioneer of the farm to fork movements. The magic behind Schwartz’s success is his belief that, “When it comes to food, everything you smell, touch, or do has to be handled carefully because one act of carelessness can destroy the final product.” He says, “If I start with a perfect product, take care of it, and present it in a way that glorifies it, the least people can expect is something great.” 

If you are attending the Brannon/ Fosdyck dinner you will also be able to soak in the wine presentation and portfolio of two fabulous winemakers. Patrick Foley of Foley Family Wines and Paul Leary, President of Blackbird Vineyards. 

Patrick Foley went from finance to wine when he realized after college graduation that his family heritage in wine was calling his name. Foley enjoys the passion of pairing and enjoying great food and wines as he enjoys cooking for friends, “I cook mainly grill based foods, but after living in Argentina I enjoy doing Asadas which are cooked strictly from fresh wood coals and takes about 3 hours to cook anything. This style of cooking allows you to enjoy the company of your friends followed with wine and perfectly cooked meats.” Visit the Foley Food & Wine Society to get to know Patrick Foley more before the auction! 


Paul Leary, President of Blackbird Vineyards is likeminded and a perfect fit for DCWAF, as his philanthropic involvement in not only our auction but many others year round have raised more than $3 million from Blackbird Vineyards alone. We are honored to have a guest Vintner who shares the same passion to help those in need. Visit Blackbird Vineyard’s site to learn more about their vineyards and their mission. "The foundation of the Blackbird Vineyards portfolio is the diversity of its Napa Valley vineyard sources, ranging from mountain tops, hillside bench lands and valley floor appellations." (Paul Leary, President).
 

If you have yet to register, visit this link to purchase your tickets.

- Michaela Mayo 

Published on Thursday, February 4, 2016