Friday, Oct. 17, 2008

Annual Fundraiser to Benefit CCA Arts, GRACE

By Rita Cook

Contributing Writer

Just when you thought eating out couldn’t get any better, now it’s time for the famed Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek’s Executive Chef John Tesar to come to you — or, at least to a Colleyville home.

Along with 10 other chefs from around the area, the Chefs will offer delicious culinary delights, which will be featured in five Colleyville homes’ kitchens for the fourth annual Tour de Chefs.

Money raised from the event, presented by Market Street and hosted by Covenant Christian Academy’s Friends of the Arts, the primary beneficiary, will also have a portion donated to support GRACE [Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange] and its Feed Our Kids a local summer lunch program.

The Tour de Chef event highlights both cooking (in which those participating have the chance to observe and sample each of the chef’s culinary favorites) and touring five amazing local homes in the area.

"Homes were chosen by the Tour de Chefs Home Selection Committee," said Mary Hutchison of the Tour de Chefs executive committee.

"This year’s Tour features five Colleyville homes, four of which are owned by families with either past or present ties to Covenant Christian Academy. The fifth home was offered to the Tour as a result of a relationship that a school family has with the owner," she said.

Lead Chef for this year’s event, Tesar, will be hosted at the elegant European style estate of Don and Gina Wilson on Montclair Drive.

"Rosewood Mansion is sponsoring the event and wanted to create a 'Mansion experience’ at this Colleyville mansion," Hutchison explained "Their Executive Pastry Chef David Collier will also be appearing with [Tesar]."

Tesar will be preparing Butter-Poached King Crab with Parsley Puree and Garlic Foam.

"It’s an awesome opportunity to cook in the stunning Montclair home and bring a taste of The Mansion Restaurant to Colleyville," Tesar said. "I’m happy to be working with Tour de Chefs to raise some money for Covenant Christian Academy’s fine arts department and show a new crowd what The Mansion has to offer."

Collier said, "The Chocolate Caramel Financier we prepare at The Mansion Restaurant is a modern take on a French classic, and I’m glad that I can share it at Tour de Chefs to help support the arts. The financier looks fancy, but you really can prepare it at home."

Other chefs and homes include the French Country estate home of local builder Larry Stewart and his interior decorator wife, Connie.

"This home will host Market Street’s Corporate Chef Chris Wilson.

"For those interested in architectural history, we are featuring a Mediterranean home built from a copy of the original 1927 plans of prominent designers Fooshee and Cheek Architects, designers of Highland Park Village," Hutchinson said. "We are also featuring a newly constructed home described by its owners as their 'Tuscan Mountain Retreat’ and a villa built by owner Doug Terry and decorated by his interior decorator wife, Lee Martin, in an English eclectic style," she said.

Other Chefs include Leith Caddell of Corporate Cuisine, Andrew Huszar of Tastefully Yours and Charles Youts of Classic Café.

"Our guests will enjoy tasting samples from at least two sources at each home."

Tour de Chefs will also provide full shuttle service to homes from two conveniently located parking lots in Colleyville with transportation sponsored by Classic Chevrolet Hummer of Grapevine. The "red" lot is at Liberty Elementary School, 1101 McDonwell School Road; the "blue" lot is the parking lot near The Village at Colleyville, 4900 Colleyville Blvd. The shuttle begins at 9:45 a.m. and runs until 2:30 p.m. The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 each, 4 for $100 or 10 for $200.

The first Tour de Chefs was in October 2005, and this year more than 1,000 attendees are expected to enjoy the experience, Hutchinson said.

For event details, call 817-577-3378, ext. 60, or see the Web site, www.tourdechefs.com.