Hope You're Hungry, Dallas: Iron Fork Happens Wednesday

The tasting of all tastings goes down Wednesday night at Centennial Hall at Fair Park, with dozens of North Texas restaurants cooking up bite-sized goodies, drink-slingers serving plenty of booze and local chefs throwing down in an epic cooking competition. On the center stage, a food-lover's throwdown: Oliver Sitrin of...

By Beth Rankin

April 25, 2016

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The tasting of all tastings goes down Wednesday night at Centennial Hall at Fair Park, with dozens of North Texas restaurants cooking up bite-sized goodies, drink-slingers serving plenty of booze and local chefs throwing down in an epic cooking competition.

On the center stage, a food-lover's throwdown: Oliver Sitrin of Blind Butcher and Jermaine Brown of Julia Pearl Southern Cuisine will have a basket of Whole Foods ingredients with which to create something that wows the judges. This year's judges: Brian Luscher (The Grape, Luscher's Red Hots), Michael Marusak, specialty team leader at Whole Foods Market Lakewood and, well, me. And I'm feelin' awfully judgy right now. The great Kent Rathbun will moderate.

This year's participating restaurants:

Amberjax Fish Market Grille
Antojitos Tacontento
Asador
Back Home BBQ
Bawarchi Biryani Point
Brickhouse Tavern + Tap
Bridge Bistro
bukU Modernist Cuisine
Cake with a Kick
Checkered Past Winery
Chocolate Secrets
Cinco Tacos Cocina & Tequila
Company Café
Cook Hall
Crisp Salad Company
Crossroads at House of Blues Dallas
Cuban Dulceria International Bakery
Dandelion Cheesecakes
Flavors Indian Restaurant
Full Circle Tavern
FULL CITY ROOSTER
Haute Sweets Patisserie
Hutchins BBQ
India Haat
Lal Qila
LUCK
Mot Hai Ba
Mozzarella Company
Muscle Maker Grill
Palapas Seafood Bar
Pollo Tropical
Rafain Brazilian Steakhouse
Savor Culinary Services
Scardello Artisan Cheese
Snappy Salads
Start Restaurant
Sundown at Granada
Tap & Tavern
Texas Toffee Queen
The Common Table
The Crab Station: Oyster Bar
The Local Oak
Topgolf
Twenty Seven
Vicini American Italian Kitchen & Bar
Victor's Restaurant & Bar
Whisk Crepes Café
Yucatan Taco Stand

If you've yet to snag tickets, there's still time — general admission tickets are $45 until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, at which point ticket prices go up to $55. VIP tickets — which gets you early bird access at 6 p.m. for wine, beer, cocktail and food sampling — are $75 now and $90 day-of. GA online ticket sales end at 2 p.m. the day of the event, but get your tickets now — if last year was any indication, there will be drama. There will be delicious food. And there will be beaucoup booze.

Share your awesome food finds this year using the hashtag #IronForkDAL.

Beth Rankin is an Ohio native and Cicerone-certified beer server who specializes in social media, food and drink, travel and news reporting. Her belief system revolves around the significance of Topo Chico, the refusal to eat crawfish out of season and the importance of local and regional foodways.

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