Since 2009, some of Dallas' best chefs have come together a few times a year to host dinners that showcase the bounty produced by local farmers. Organized by FT33 chef Matt McCallister (duh) and his wife, Iris, Chefs For Farmers dinners over the past few years have raised money for local charitable organizations like the North Texas Food Bank, they've also resulted in some pretty damn incredible food to be eaten.
This year's inaugural Oyster Bash, hosted at the Dallas Farmers Market, is the second event this year for Chefs For Farmers. In August, McCallister hosted a sold-out family-style meal with Pecan Lodge, and the Oyster Bash seems to indicate that the McCallisters are ready to take their farm-to-table philosophy to the next level with a year-round calendar of events that focuses on local food and the chefs who cook it.
Joining McCallister at Oyster Bash are other Dallas chefs that are also uniquely committed to sourcing local food. John Tesar (Knife/Spoon), Kyle McClelland (Proof & Pantry, Driftwood), Jack Perkins (The Slow Bone), Stephen Rogers (Gemma), Jon Alexis (TJ's Seafood), and Jon Stevens (Stock & Barrel) will each prepare their own spin on everyone's favorite mollusk, alongside other shellfish-free dishes. Randy Rucker, of Houston's Briar and Bramble, will also be making the trip to Dallas to showcase his oyster-focused dishes.
Tesar will be on-hand to teach Bash goers to "get their slurp on," which we sincerely hope refers to the oysters, and a tarot reader will be around to predict whether or not all that shellfish and wine will actually end up on your thighs. Curated wines and craft cocktails will be plentiful, but you'll need to bring your own glass to imbibe. We suggest an old Big Gulp cup for the sake of convenience.
Tickets to Oyster Bash are only $85, are still available at Prekindle, but you probably shouldn't hold out until the last minute. The Bash kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Dallas Farmers Market on Sunday, October 26. Proceeds from the event will benefit Cafe Momentum, a Dallas non-profit that provides restaurant training and mentorship to juvenile offenders in Dallas Country.
