FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dianna Howard
Texas Traditions
phone 512-863-7291
fax 512-869-6212
Email
www.texastraditions.com

Texas' Elite Chefs Pay Homage to Culinary Past with Hip Spin on Down Home

Renowned Texas Chefs, Chosen for Their Dedication to Historic, Authentic Cuisine, Are Creating Innovative Recipes with Texas Traditions Gourmet Culinary Products as Part of the Texas Traditions Signature Chef Series.

Georgetown, Texas, March 31, 2008 - The best and brightest Texas chefs are taking part in a new endeavor - creating recipes that utilize local, authentic Texas ingredients, products, and methods, to reinvigorate our collective culinary history and bring it into the 21st century. The Texas Traditions Signature Chef Series is the brainchild of local "foodie" and entrepreneur, Dianna Howard.

For the program, Howard collected some of the state's most celebrated chefs, and asked them to create recipes that reflect their own view of authentically Texas food. The goal of the Texas Traditions Signature Chef Series is to draw attention to the historical preservation of our culinary past while making it relevant to today's cooks and families.

j.W. Foster, executive chef of the four-star Fairmont Dallas kicked off the series with his Texas Braised Moonglow Pear Salad with Pecan-crusted Texas Goat Cheese and Cider & Jalapeno Jelly Vinaigrette.

"I found Texas Traditions while searching for authentic, local ingredients says Foster. "The products intrigued me and I wanted to give that to our guests - something that was artisan and local. Participating in the Signature Chef Series gave me a chance to play with the products and create a recipe that's built on the foundation of our culinary past, but translated into something current."

Other Signature Chefs include Chris Ferrier, executive chef at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort; Frank Quant, executive chef of the Dallas Renaissance Hotel, Javier Ortiz, executive chef of the Hyatt Regency Austin; Paul Petersen, executive chef of the Gage Hotel; and Jonathan Gelman, isaac Walker, Jason Seidel, Scott Halverson, and Tony Sansalone of the Driskill Hotel.

Each month, Texas Traditions unveils the next chef 's recipe in their e-newsletter. Recipe cards that feature the chef, restaurant, and recipe are available with the products in retail shops, via the Texas Traditions Web site, www.texastraditions.com.

"When people think of history they tend to overlook food" says Howard, "But food is an integral part of our culture and our past. Recording our culinary past and finding unique ways to reinvigorate those traditions so they resonate with new generations - well, it's one of the most important missions we can undertake."

ABOUT THE FAIRMONT DALLAS - Combining hospitality, luxury and that special Texas flair, The Fairmont Dallas can accommodate grand events in lavish style as well as smaller, more intimate meetings. With four-star dining and newly redesigned guest rooms, nothing compares to The Fairmont Dallas where we specialize in Turning Moments into Memories for our Guests.

ABOUT TEXAS TRADITIONS CULINARY FOLK ART - At Texas Traditions, we are committed to preserving our culinary heritage - the ingredients, recipes, methods, and traditions - for future generations. Our jellies, mustards, seasonings, and dip mixes have won critical acclaim nation wide and can be purchased individually or in a variety of elegant gift parcels. Texas Traditions' gourmet culinary products are available by phone at 800-547-7062, online at www.texastraditions.com, and in numerous retail outlets across the United States.