As you’ve no doubt ascertained by watching the above video and if you haven't yet done so, I highly suggest that you do my dear friends Elizabeth Blau and Jerry Nadal will be honored at the second annual Dawson Food & Wine Festival, this Saturday (October 05).  Bonus: Yours-truly will be serving as emcee and auctioneer; and, thanks to the evening's circus-theme, I’ll be all gussied-up in full Circus Ringmaster-drag!

What I wasn’t able to fit into that brief video teaser (mostly because the ceramic tiles on that friggin' banana were poaching my huevos) however, was a rundown of the delicious dishes being offered by this year’s culinary partners, which I have laid out for you, herein:

ADA’S: Chef James Trees and Chef Dylan Jobsz
● Housemade Rigatoni with Red Wine-braised Short Rib, Tomato, and Pecorino
● Squash Agnolotti with Amaretto-Infused Brown Butter and Sage

ANDIRON STEAK & SEA: Chef Brian Massie
● Wood-grilled Wagyu Ribs

● Sue Buxton’s Oysters and Wood-Roasted Peekytoe Crab with Butter and Toasted Nori

CHAYO MEXICAN KITCHEN & TEQUILA BAR: Chef Garry Valiente and Chef Antonio Mejia
● Red Snapper Ceviche with Marinated Red Snapper, Red Fresno Chiles, Citrus, Shaved Red Onion, Micro Cilantro, and Sea Salt

● Lollipop Chops of Seared New Zealand Lamb with Tamarind Mole and a Jicama Manzano Pepper Salad

GREENE ST. KITCHEN: Chef Joe Zanelli and Chef Lanny Chin
● Mini Maine Lobster Roll Old Bay Seasoning, Bacon Chips, and Celery Leaf, on Brioche Bun

● Grilled Trumpet Mushrooms, Smoked Hen of the Woods, Aji Amarillo, Truffle Crouton, and Cotija Cheese
● Warm Beef Tataki of NY Striploin with Daikon Radish, Ponzu Emulsion, and Garlic Chips

HONEY SALT: Chef Kim Canteenwalla and Chef Sven Mede
● School Garden Farmers Toast on Whole Wheat Bread with Bellwether Farms Ricotta
● Biloxi Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich with Durkee’s Dressing and Creamy Slaw
● Bacon Truffle Popcorn with Bitter Chocolate and Salted Caramel

LA STREGA: Chef Gina Marinelli
● Salmon Crudo with Ginger Oil, Pickled Kumquats, and Fennel
● Taleggio Tortellini with Parmesan Crudo and Charred Broccolini

LIBERTINE SOCIAL: Chef Richard Camarota and Chef Jamaal Taherzadeh
● Black Truffle Pizza with Soft Poached Egg and Ricotta
● Roasted Delicate Squash with Maple Vinaigrette and Bitter Greens

LOCALE: Chef Nicole Brisson
● Grilled Octopus and Yukon Gold Potato Salad with Holland Chile, Celery Leaf, and Lemon Vinaigrette

● Crostini with Cetara Anchovy, Local Oregano, and Red Pepper Mortadella

WOLFGANG PUCK BAR & GRILL, DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN: Chef Dustin Lewandowski and Chef Kamal Guechida
● Housemade Truffle Potato Chips with Bleu Cheese Fondue and Chives
● Prime Beef Sliders with Aged Cheddar and Garlic Aioli, on Brioche Bun
● Zeppole with a Trio of Sauces (Nutella, Raspberry, and Vanilla) 

As well as sweet treats from Pinkbox Doughnuts, and more!

There’s also a sensational auction that’s been put together, including a silent auction (Click HERE), and a live auction with four very special lots, including:

● an Electric Mini-Moke by Moke America,

● a Disneyland VIP Experience for Ten (10),

● a Skate-Around at City National Arena with Vegas Golden Knights Marc-André Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty, and Paul Stastny, and

● Floor Seats for a Sacramento Kings game, with round-trip travel via private jet, dinner at Echo & Rig, and an autographed pair of Shaquille O’Neal’s size 22 Reebok Shaq Attack “Dream Team Snub” sneakers.

It’s gonna be an unforgettable evening of food, folks, and fun; and I hope to see y’all, there!

2nd annual Dawson Food & Wine Festival
The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain
Saturday, October 05 | 7pm
Click HERE for tickets and info

Get into it!
#DawsonFWF

British supercar creator MCLAREN and automotive luxury purveyor O’GARA have teamed up with WYNN, to present THE MCLAREN EXPERIENCE CENTER AT WYNN LAS VEGAS, POWERED BY O’GARA. Check it out: I did, and it was exhilarating!