Wine And Food Festival Preview: Stars Across Texas Tasting

Sixty restaurants, thirty wineries, and you. This is perhaps the simplest way to describe the indulgence that is the Stars Across Texas tasting at the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival. A veritable "who's who" of Texas restaurants each prepare small portions of signature dishes for guests to sample, making the most difficult choice simply what to eat before you run out of room. Last year, we had sushi tarts from Roy's, Shiner-braised Longhorn from Hudson's On The Bend, beautiful chilled soup from Aquarelle, delicious seafood from Finn and Porter, and dessert from Wink among countless other items.

This year's restaurant and wine list is even more impressive than that of 2006. Winery highlights include Ridge (simply one of California's best Zinfandel producers ever), Patz and Hall, Australia's legendary Penfolds, Wine Spectator favorite Rosenblum, Simi, Atalon, Ferrari-Carrano, and more. Last year, many winemakers were in attendance at the event, which gave us a chance to ask questions about the wine that usually require a visit to California or Oregon! These producers are top notch, but again, your dilemma is what to sample before your palate disappears. And it will disappear.

Food at Stars Across Texas will include dishes from (get ready) 1886 Café and Bakery at the Driskill Hotel, Aquarelle Restaurant Francais, Bess Bistro on Pecan, Brennan's of Houston, Café at the Four Seasons, Café Josie, Carmelo's Ristorante, Cedar Grove Steakhouse, Cool River Cafe, Finn and Porter, Hudson's on the Bend, Jaspers Restaurant, La Duni, Lamberts Downtown Barbeque, Mercury Grill, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Quattro at the Four Seasons, Ranch 616, Salt Lick Three Sixty, Shoreline Grill, Starlite, Stephen Pyles, Tèo Italian Coffee and Gelato, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Uchi, Ventana, and Zoot. And this is merely a small sample of what's on offer.

In sum, this tasting represents the best on offer from both Texas restaurants and international wineries. Stars Across Texas isn't cheap, but we guarantee you that it will be a memorable event in your foodie memories. We'd go as far as calling it the biggest food event of Austin's year. Pace yourself - it's going to be a big night.

Stars Across Texas Grand Tasting
Friday, March 30th
Hilton Austin Ballroom [map]
7:30pm-10:00pm
$125 [tickets]

Stars Across Texas 2006 image via Slowdog on FoodQuest.