Foodie Philanthropists Unite
5th annual Burgers & Burgundy cooks up delicious day for DIFFA Dallas
- Debra Nelson, Linda GrayPhoto by Shana Anderson
- John Tesar, Abi Ferrin, Greg Haynes JohnsonPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Spicy lamb sausage burger at the Smoke station.Photo by Shana Anderson
- Tatiana Smith, Nick Smith, Maria SullivanPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Banh mi burger from Shinsei.Photo by Shana Anderson
- Robert Weatherly, Christa Wetzel, John StafiraPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Ricky Grunden, Chris Hendler, Gregory DeStephen, Benjamin PapermasterPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Nick & Sam's Kobe beef burgers with truffle oil.Photo by Shana Anderson
- Mary Gill, Simona Beal, Nell LangfordPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Karin Matz, Nell Langford, Kristi Nelson, Cecilia ChuPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Justin Bundick, Josh MayerPhoto by Shana Anderson
- John Stafira, Trisha Boulogne, Francisco Rizo, Patrick WarePhoto by Shana Anderson
- Joe Kelly, Tara HarperPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Jason Oleniczak, Brittanie Buchanan OleniczakPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Jayne Chobot Herring, Patrick Ware, LeeAnne Locken, Christopher WrightPhoto by Shana Anderson
- The Hunter Sullivan Band provided the entertainment for the 5th annual Burgers & Burgundy.Photo by Shana Anderson
- Grace brought a 44 Farms slider with mushroom ketchup and Port Salut cheese.Photo by Shana Anderson
- Debra Nelson, John BobbittPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Courtney Westmoreland, Andrea VarronePhoto by Shana Anderson
- Chuck Steelman, Cynthia Smoot, Kevin KehnPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Christopher Wright, Steve KemblePhoto by Shana Anderson
- Chef Tim Byres of SmokePhoto by Shana Anderson
- Chef Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616Photo by Shana Anderson
- Chef Brad Phillips of AsadorPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Chef Blaine Staniford of GracePhoto by Shana Anderson
- Carol Quist, Alex France, Ricky Grunden, Chris HendlerPhoto by Shana Anderson
- Allyson Ayselworth, Noel Rodriguez, Karen LukinPhoto by Shana Anderson
- 3015 Trinity Groves dished out burgers with Southern pimento cheese, bacon and honey slaw.Photo by Shana Anderson
Generous hosts Karen and Bill Seanor welcomed Dallas philanthropic foodies into their home on a picturesque afternoon for the 5th annual Burgers & Burgundy event benefiting DIFFA. John Tesar rounded up his fellow top chefs for a backyard burger affair unlike any other.
Hunter Sullivan and his amazing 14-piece band provided the tunes as guests socialized and chefs churned out some choice burgers. In addition to Tesar himself (Spoon Bar & Kitchen), participating chefs included Samir Dhurandhar (Nick & Sam’s), Sharon Van Meter (3015 Trinity Groves), Tim Byres (Smoke), Patton Robertson (Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck), Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616 in Austin), Patrick Russell (Max’s Wine Dive), Brad Phillips (Asador), Blaine Staniford (Grace) and T.J. Lengnick (Shinsei).
Williamson blew away the competition with his take on a double double served on an English muffin. The meat was the star — grilled to perfection and not masked by fancy ingredients. Tesar took the creativity cake with his spicy catfish sloppy Joe. And the burger served by 3015 Trinity Groves satisfied the Southerners, with pimento cheese, bacon and honey slaw.
Joining DIFFA chairman of the board Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak, event chair Noel Rodriguez and honorary chair Terri Provencal were stylish supporters Linda Gray, Debra Nelson, Clint Bradley, Darin Kunz, Tara Harper, Greg Haynes Johnson, Abi Ferrin, Kristi Nelson, LeeAnne Locken, Chuck Steelman, Patrick Ware, John Bobbitt, Ricky Grunden and Simona Beal.
House of DIFFA 2014 chair Jim DiMarino also took the stage to announce that the upcoming theme would be "Masquerade." House of DIFFA will be held on March 29, 2014, at the Omni Dallas. Guests got first dibs on table sales, which will be available to the public at a later date.