DALLAS (July 14, 2008) - - The region’s annual summer dining blowout has reached its apex with the release today of the eagerly anticipated participants in KRLD’s Restaurant Week presented by Central Market August 11-17. The race is now on to reserve a seat at the table of 118 of North Texas’ most renowned fine dining establishments. Despite a sluggish economy, North Texans are expected to once again turn out for what many discerning palates have come to savor as a culinary fundraising tradition.
This year’s full participant list is now available on KRLD’s website. Simply click on the provided link: <http://www.krld.com/pages/2561351> or paste it into your Internet browser to be directed to the KRLD Restaurant Week webpage. Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties are all represented this year. Some of the highlights include longtime supporters Del Frisco’s and Stephan Pyles, newcomers like Fearing’s – Ritz Carlton, and other popular spots, including: Abacus, Adelmo’s, Bijoux, Bistro Louise, Bonnell’s, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Mercury Grill, Nana, Shinsei, and York Street.
KRLD Restaurant Week, which familiarizes diners with the region’s hottest menus, offers tasty three-course prix fixe dinner combinations priced at $35/person (tax, tip and drinks billed separately). What’s more, $7.00 of each meal goes back to support the charitable outreach of the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home - - both of whom are feeling the pinch of these tough economic times. Reservations will go quickly and are available for evening seating only.
To book a seat, either directly call the establishment of your choice or visit opentable.com and specify that you would like to make a “Restaurant Week” reservation. Be advised that popular spots close out fast, smaller groups are easier to seat, and the greater flexibility you can allow on a date and time range the better.
“Restaurant Week has become one of our most popular fundraisers as it offers the perfect opportunity to indulge and unwind over a Girls’ Night Out, Date Night or family outing without taking a hit to your pocketbook,” said Jan Pruitt, president and ceo, North Texas Food Bank. “Each meal consumed enables our organization to put food on the plates of an ever growing hungry population.” This year’s Restaurant Week fundraising goal is to raise a total of $500,000 for the charity beneficiaries, that’s $75,000 more than what was raised in 2007.
Several new elements have been added to KRLD Restaurant Week in 2008, including a special “Preview Weekend “August 8-10. Select restaurants will open their tables a tad early for a sneak peak featuring three-course prix fixe dinners priced at $40/person with the addition of a fun signature summer drink made of Moët Hennessy 10 Cane Rum. The first $15,000 in Dallas County raised over this three-day period will benefit the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association’s (GDRA) Chefs of Restaurant Week Scholarship fund.
Additionally, as an added bonus to this year’s dining experience, each restaurant is encouraged to suggest appropriate wine flight and pairing selections to compliment their prix fix menus (Be advised that alcohol is billed as an extra charge). Glazer’s and the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) will determine the best menu and wine pairing. The winning chef / sommelier will receive a week’s stay at the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone, Calif., campus.
“This appetizing fundraiser enables friends, relatives and business partners to give back, while shining a spotlight on exceptional culinary spots in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex,” said Ted Blevins, executive director, Lena Pope Home. “Who would turn down the chance to eat at the best restaurants in town for a fraction of the cost, while helping families in need throughout our community?”
“We are looking forward to a successful 11th straight year for Restaurant Week,” explained Marianne Howells, marketing advisor, KRLD News Radio. “This is truly a win, win for everyone! With many restaurants choosing to extend their participation to two or even three full weeks, you can try out a new place each night and expose your palate to the breadth of genres represented in North Texas’ fine dining scene.”
Central Market, the presenting sponsor of KRLD Restaurant Week, is once again running its hugely popular 4th Course certificate promotion. Consumers making an in-store purchase of $25 or more will receive a certificate redeemable for a free fourth course valid at participating KRLD Restaurant Week establishments. Catch your favorite chefs performing their culinary craft at special Central Market summer cooking demonstrations. Visit www.centralmarket.com for a schedule and additional details.
Additional 2008 KRLD Restaurant Week sponsors include: American Express, Glazer’s, Schepps Dairy, Texas Beef Council, 10 Cane Rum, and the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association.
About KRLD Restaurant Week
KRLD Restaurant Week, now in its 11th year, was founded here in Dallas/Fort Worth by KRLD Radio 1080 on the AM dial. Since its inception, the local restaurant community has embraced the concept and it continues to flourish as a popular marketing and give back opportunity. Last year alone, more than 75,000 reservations were logged and a total of $425,000 was raised to aid North Texas Food Bank’s and Lena Pope Home’s charitable efforts. Please visit KRLD’s dedicated KRLD Restaurant Week webpage <http://www.krld.com/pages/2561351> for the full dish on what has grown to become a tasty culinary fundraising tradition here in North Texas.
About North Texas Food Bank
Founded in 1982, the North Texas Food Bank is a nonprofit center for food distribution that procures donated surplus food and transfers it in usable quantities to 917 feeding and education programs in 13 North Texas counties. These programs include food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, after-school and senior citizen programs and Food Stamp Outreach. The NTFB, a member of America’s Second Harvest - - The Nation’s Food Bank Network, is ranked as one of the top nonprofit organizations in Dallas/Fort Worth and has received a Four- Star Rating from Charity Navigator for two consecutive years (2007 and 2008). Last year, 26 million meals were distributed. Each month, agency pantries distribute food to more than 50,000 families, and on-site meal programs served 435,000 meals/snacks. Every dollar donated to the North Texas Food Bank provides five meals for the hungry. Only 3 cents out of each dollar is used in administration and fund-raising; 97 cents is used in food distribution. Visit www.ntfb.org to learn more.
About Lena Pope Home
Lena Pope Home is committed to creating a future of hope for children and families through an effective continuum of behavioral healthcare services to strengthen families and develop resilient children. For more information about Lena Pope Home, visit www.lenapopehome.org, or call 1-877-WE-FOSTER.