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    Aristocratic Afternoon

    British countess regales Dallas luncheon with tales from Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Nov 16, 2022 | 1:05 pm

    What: Tales from Highclere Castle, A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium and Luncheon

    Where: Dallas Arboretum

    The 411: Dallas' most regal luncheon of the season transported guests to the dining room of Downtown Abbey, where they dined on an elegant multicourse meal while wine stewards kept glasses full, and the hostess even dropped a funny tidbit about Lady Mary. (More on that in a sec.)

    Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the Right Honorable Countess of Carnarvon, author and real-life Lady of Highclere Castle - otherwise known as the filming site of TV's Downton Abbey - was the featured speaker at A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium and Luncheon benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and A Woman’s Garden on October 18.

    Chaired by Dyann Skelton and Therese Rourk, with Donna and Herb Weitzman as honorary chairs and Sarah Jo Hardin as Women's Council president, the event was part of a week-long Noble Celebration of the 25th anniversary of A Woman’s Garden and the 40th anniversary of the Women’s Council.

    Fiona, the 8th Countess of Carnarvon, is married to Geordie, 8th Earl of Carnarvon. They have lived at, and cared for, England's Highclere Castle since 2001 - before Downton Abbey came knocking to make it the most famous castle in the world. (And yes, hey shared their home with the cast and crew of the TV series and movies.) She is the best-selling author of five books, historian, speaker, fundraiser, and manager of castle-related global endeavors, including award-winning Highclere Castle Gin and Chateau Highclere vineyards (with a forthcoming pink sparkling wine).

    After a VIP reception, at which patrons could take a Gittings Photography portrait with Lady Carnarvon and enjoy mimosas, small bites, and a coffee bar sponsored by Patti Mitchell and Kay Weeks, the crowd sat down to a luncheon and presentation inside Rosine Hall.

    Lady Carnarvon, who was making her first visit to Dallas, took the crowd on a fascinating and intimate journey through four seasons of Highclere and included projected photos and highlights from her new book, Seasons at Highclere.

    Among the highlights were:

    • A history of Highclere from its earliest records in 1216 to today. For example, in 1908, there were 100 gardeners and today there are four. She and her husband often plan the landscape, then get in the dirt to plant and tend the grounds themselves.
    • They plant with the seasons in mind, and each season brings a new personality to the castle, from the spring fields of new grass to the summer wildflowers, the changing colors of leaves in fall, and the snow on trees in winter.
    • Paths are made on purpose for humans and wildlife to enjoy. Trees are placed to encourage wandering, and flowers planted to encourage insect and bee habitats.
    • Life at Highclere includes a menagerie of animals, including "Lady Mary, the pig" and others. Animals (including other pigs, horses, sheep, and lambs) are named after characters in Downton Abbey. Chickens are named for characters from Jane Austen books. She and her husband have seven dogs.
    • This year they launched the Lady Carnarvon Rose and Highclere Castle Rose. The last time Lady Carnarvon saw Queen Elizabeth II (who was friends with Earl Carnarvon's parents) was at the Chelsea Flower Show.

    As a special course of the luncheon, guests dined on an appetizer of Chilled Parsnip and Apple Soup, which was Lady Carnarvon’s recipe from Seasons at Highclere. It was followed by an entrée of Chicken Crepes with Creamy Mushroom Sauce and dessert of Molten Chocolate Lava Cake. Each guest's place was set with a cookie customized with Countess Carnarvon's royal cypher.

    A spirited auction conducted by Samantha Sisler from Heritage Auctions took place, but everyone had the opportunity to go home with a special memento of the day - a copy of Seasons at Highclere autographed by Lady Carnarvon herself.

    Who: Anne Stodghill, Devon Jones, Tricia Conover, Linda Spina, Nikki Beneke, Sharla Bush, Connie Rhoades, Lisa Meyer, Millie Bradley, Natalie Taylor, Nancy Greenbach, Annika Cail, Barbara Averitt, Linda Burk, Barb Garcia, Linda Gilmore, Jane Hardenbergh, Venise Stuart, Merena Gault, Dorothea Meltzer, Terry Irby, Ann Marie Scichili, Sharon Adams, and many more.

    A Writer\u2019s Garden
      

    Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio

    Donna Arp Weitzman, Natalie Taylor, Nancy Greenbach

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    Symphony of chefs

    Charitable chefs orchestrate fundraising feast for Dallas nonprofit KidLinks

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Mar 14, 2025 | 2:40 pm
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    Photo by Tamytha Cameron
    Stuart and Lisa Sides, Laura and Bob Raymond

    Dallas music therapy nonprofit KidLinks annually composes a foodie-fundraiser unlike any other: Symphony of Chefs sees an impressive ensemble of Dallas chefs prepare a multicourse meal, tableside, for guests.

    The 15th annual edition took place at the new Astoria Event Venue on Monday, February 24 (smartly, as Monday is the least busy day of the week for restaurants).

    The event was under the leadership of founding event chairs Bonnie and Nathan Shea, along with honorary chef chairs Janice Provost (chef-owner, Parigi) and Dan Landsberg (executive chef, The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch), and event designer Hamilton A. Sneed (HAS Events).

    KidLinks Symphony of Chefs 2025
      

    Photo by Tamytha Cameron

    Stuart and Lisa Sides, Laura and Bob Raymond

    The evening started with a cocktail reception featuring passed hors d’oeuvres prepared by James Ash of Harwood Hospitality Group and a luxe caviar bar hosted by Black River Caviar. Guests used their phones and tablets set up around the room to bid on silent auction items - restaurant and grocery store gift cards, beauty and wellness services, entertainment experiences, fine spirits, sports memorabilia (including a now-coveted autographed Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks jersey), and more.

    At the appointed time, the curtains to the dining room opened and 185 attendees sat down to a unique feast.

    Seventeen Dallas chefs each prepared a four-course dinner, tableside, for the guests. In addition to Provost and Landsberg, they included:

    • Uno Immanivong, Chef & Owner of Red Stix Asian Street Food
    • Brendan Lee Davey, Executive Chef of Ellie's Lounge & Restaurant at Hall Arts Hotel
    • Giuliano Matarese of Miss Pasta
    • Estephan Fernandez, Executive Chef of Truluck's
    • Nikky Phinyawatana, Owner/CEO of Asian Mint Restaurant Group
    • Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore, Co-Chefs & Owners of Fond
    • Aubrey Murphy, Executive Chef of SĒR Steak + Spirits
    • Miriam Jimenez, General Manager & Partner of Miriam Cocina Latina
    • Mollie Guerra, Owner of Chef Mollie G, LLC
    • Rodman Shields, Senior Culinary Director of Milkshake Concepts
    • Aaron Collins, Chef de Cuisine of Café Momentum
    • Carlos Ayala, Sous Chef of Nick & Sam's
    • Michael Matis, Chef de Cuisine of Fearing's
    • Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, Executive Chef of José
    • Mario Hernandez, Executive Chef of NURI Steakhouse

    Tables were set up next to cooking stations so attendees would watch "their" chefs prepare and plate dishes right in front of them. A live camera crew filmed the chefs and broadcast the action on big screens around the venue, turning the experience into a Food Network-type live cooking show.

    Each course was thoughtfully paired with wine from one of the participating vineyards: Banfi Wines, Delicato Family Wines, Willamette Valley Vineyards, HALL Wines, Copper Cane Wines, Riboli Family Wines, Rootstock Wines, Times Ten Cellars, Sonoma Time, and Lewis Cellars.

    A sample menu, from chef Matis of Fearing's, included Foie Gras Torchon paired with 2022 Lewis Cellars Sauvignon Blanc; Shrimp and Scallop Crudo with Coconut Passion Fruit Broth and Crispy Sweet Potato paired with 2022 Lewis Sonoma County Chardonnay; RC Ranch Wagyu Beef Bolognese on Gnocchi Pasta, House made Citrus Ricotta and Basil Crumbs paired with 2021 "Mason's" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and much much more...

    Following the dinner, featured pastry chef Yasmin Mondragon of Eataly Dallas served a dessert called "Terra," a hazelnut Bavarian with Pralinato filling covered in chocolate, chocolate cake, and pistachios.

    In a program emceed by Sarah Blaskovich of The Dallas Morning News, Paul Pass, co-executive director (development) of KidLinks, underscored the organization's mission to provide healing and therapeutic music through a library of songs, in-hospital performances at special care centers, and board-certified music therapy sessions. "For over four decades, KidLinks has positively impacted more than 439,000 children and caregivers through direct service programs and thousands more through our online platforms," he said.

    Temira and Jerry Wagner shared how music therapy sessions had impacted their son, Jerry Allen Wagner II, who was diagnosed at 9 months with a rare chromosome deletion. He is non-verbal, but music communicates to him, and thanks to several years of KidLinks therapy, he now communicates via beats by clapping along with the tempo, using some sign language, and can now wave a lot to say "Hi!".

    Their touching remarks motivated the crowd to bid fast and furiously in a live auction for exclusive trips to Aspen, Eagle Nest, New Mexico, and the Thompson Hotel Dallas; as well as extraordinary culinary experiences like a Black River Caviar + Komos Tequila Masterclass and private dinners with several of the evening's featured chefs.

    The organization says they are still working on tallying the final amount raised from the evening. All proceeds will go to KidLinks' mission of linking kids to health and healing through music and media.

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