Special Report: 2011 Côtes du Coeur International Fine Wine Auction and Celebrity Chef Dinner in Dallas

The Hilton Anatole Hotel ballroom was packed on Saturday night for the 20^th Annual Côtes du Coeur International Fine Wine Auction and Celebrity Chef Dinner. Over 30 wineries and 16 top Dallas chefs participated in the event, which raises money for the American Heart Association to conduct research to find a cure for heart disease and stroke. Heart Disease is the number one killer of men and women in America. This night not only raised money, it was a wonderful time to enjoy fine food and fine wine.

Please jump for joy of loving food and wine and the fact that our local chefs continue to contribute time, product, and energy to charitable causes.

There were hundreds of people–organizers, volunteers and sponsors–who deserve credit for a very successful event. Here I will focus just on the food and wine aspects.

A few general points:

• The Côtes du Coeur organizers have a great serving system. Each table of ten people is assigned a dedicated server who brings the wine and food requested to them. As a result, no waiting in lines at chef stations and more time to talk to your fellow diners. I suggest that charity events not doing this switch to it and superglue the guests to their seats to make sure they get with the system.

• There seemed to be more (and more types of) game meat this year. Bravo! Game is entering the national menu as a tasty alternative to beef. May the trend continue…

• The quality of the wines is excellent at Côtes du Coeur. Nobody brought a bad one.

• The food. It was spectacular. Not a bad dish to be found in the house.

I could not eat every dish or drink every wine below so I have included as many observations as I possibly could.

Richard Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill. “40-day aged rib-eye, parsnip potato puree, smoked garlic sauce.”

2006 Egelhoff Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Alexander Valley CYRUS.

Kent Rathbun's Braised Short Rib

Kent Rathbun. Abacus, Jasper’s, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen.

Braised short rib with Marsala herb demi and roasted Canival cauliflower and pearl couscous.

2007 Realm Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Farella Vineyard

2007 William Cole Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvée Claire

Kevin Garvin and Anita Hirsch's lobster grilled cheese & tomato Soup

Kevin Garvin & Anita Hirsch. Neiman Marcus Restaurants.

Lobster grilled cheese and tomato soup with truffled potato chips.

2008 Dutton-Goldfield Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch

2008 Ceja Chardonnay, Napa Carneros.

Gerard Thompson, Rough Creek Lodge and Resort.

Pancetta-wrapped Elk Loin, Anson Mills. Farro Salad, Baby Arugula & Rhubarb.

2006 Cain Concept – The Benchland

2008 J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Sirah

Brad Albers' Jonah Crab Pot Stickers

Brad Albers, Eddie V’s.

Jonah Crab Pot Stickers.

2009 B.R. Cohn Chardonnay

2008 Coquerel Wine Estates Terroir Sauvignon Blanc.

Central Market Cheese Course

2006 Schweiger Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

N/V Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port

eatZi’s Market & Bakery.

House-made Veal Sausage and Peppers on Grilled Ciabatta Bread.

2009 Colby Red

2006 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon

Scott Gottlich. Bijoux

Smoked Pheasant Terrine with Cherry Jam

2007 Panther Creek Pinot Noir, Freedom Hill, Oregon.

Mutsuhiro Eguchi's Tuna

Mutsohiro Eguchi. Nobu.

Trio of Tuna: Tuna Tataki, Spicy Tuna Roll, Traditional Nigiri.

2008 Tori Mor Pinot Noir Reserve “Deux Verres”, Oregon.

2008 King Estate Pinot Gris, Domaine. Oregon.

Mutsohiro’s station had the longest lines. His cooking looked like a work of art.

Blythe Beck. Central 214.

Slow Roasted Kobe Short Rib on an Exotic Mushroom Bread Pudding & Carmalized Onion Demi Glace

2007 Ehlers Estate One Twenty Over Eighty

2006 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon.

Scott Romano's Braised Lamb Ravioli

Scott Romano.Charlie Palmer at The Joule

Braised Lamb Ravioli with Spring Peas & Chanterelle Mushrooms

2007 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.

2007 Terra Valentine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District.

David Holben's beef tenderloin

David Holben. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. Orange Sea Salt Crusted beef tenderloin with Grilled Endive & Charred Bell Pepper Vinaigrette.

2006 Hill Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

2006 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bruno Davaillon.

The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Day Boat Scallop Carpaccio, Bouillabaisse Gelee, Green Olive Crostini

Bruno Davaillon's Sea Scallops

Bruno Davaillon's Sea Scallops - another view

Bruno Davaillon’s Sea Scallops deserve two aspects. This was Michelin-starred food.

2007 Domaine Paul BLANCK Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling

2008 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay, Unoaked.

Jim Severson, Sevy’s.

Truffled Duck Confit, Melted Leeks & Blackberry Thyme Sauce

2008 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast.

2009 Santa Helena Pinot Noir. Selección del Directorio. Chile.

Dean Fearing's Texas quail with spoon bread

Dean Fearing. Fearing’s Restaurant, The Ritz-Carlton.

Texas Quail Topped with Butternut Squash Spoon Bread with Tabasco Bacon Gastric and tobacco Onions.

This was a change from the dish listed in the program. Absolutely delicious complex flavors.

Marcus Strietzel

The Hotel Adolphus

Pan Seared Tenderloin of Buffalo, Creamy Polenta with Fresh Salad, Baby Arugula & Rhubarb

2006 Amizetta Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

2008 Justin Isosceles