Foodie Philanthropy
John Tesar and friends fire up foodies for DIFFA's Burgers & Burgundy benefit
Dallas philanthropists Karen and Bill Seanor welcomed a slew of socialites into their home for the sixth annual Burgers & Burgundy benefiting DIFFA Dallas. Outspoken chef John Tesar of local hot spots Knife and Spoon rounded up his top chef friends to prepare bite-size burgers paired with Burgundy wines and cocktails.
As Hunter Sullivan and his stacked nine-piece band provided the soundtrack, guests — including Ron Corning, Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak and Jason Oleniczak,
Anne and Steve Stodghill, Amy Vanderoef, Lynae Fearing, Matt Taylor, Robert Weatherly, Matt Wilkerson, Melissa Enriquez, Patrick Ware, Sami Abboud, and Debra Nelson — strolled around the Seanors’ beautiful backyard and sampled the goods.The inspired creations, which ranged from traditional beef burgers to versions with lamb, turkey and pulled pork, were whipped up by the following chefs:
- Kent Rathbun (Abacus)
- Brian Zenner (Oak)
- Blaine Staniford (Grace)
- Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616)
- Samir Dhurandhar (Nick & Sam’s)
- Stephen Rogers (Gemma)
- Kyle Mcclelland (Proof + Pantry)
- Tre Wilcox (Cooking Concepts by Tre Wilcox)
- Patton Robertson (Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck)
- T.J. Lengnick (Shinsei)
- Sharon Van Meter (3015 Trinity Groves)
- Nick Jimenez (Cook Hall)
Burgers & Burgundy co-chairs Noel Rodriguez and Lee Borchert and honorary chair Terri Provencal worked the crowd as they waited for DIFFA Dallas chairman of the board, Clint Bradley, to take the stage. Bradley announced that the upcoming gala, set for March 7, 2015, at the Omni Dallas, will have a theme that pays tribute to the organization’s place during the past 25 years in the fight against HIV/AIDS.