NOTE: This post is sponsored by the folks at Fork & Cork. They told me I could have dinner with Marcus Samuelsson if I wrote about it.*

*That’s a lie. Actually, I’m trying out this whole sponsored post thing, because as it turns out, food babies are hella expensive! But trust me when I say this: I will not write about anything I don’t believe in or that I don’t think will benefit you, my tasty readers. Only the best for you and a bit of cash for me. Anywho, here we go!

Remember Taste Addison? Not the best. I mean, let’s just call it reliable. You knew what to expect from Taste Addison. You could reliably get some food things there and listen to some bands and stuff. But it wasn’t anything to write home about. Well, Taste Addison is dead. D-E-A-D. And like a phoenix from dead Taste Addison’s ashes comes Fork & Cork. It’s everything you wish Taste Addison was, or maybe it’s everything you didn’t even know you wanted Taste Addison to be. Oh, and it’s 21+, so no screaming kids playing in fountains and knocking you over when you’re on your way to get another beer.

Last year around this time, I went to the Austin Food and Wine Festival. It was a badass time. Celebrity chefs, fun in the sun, wine tastings, tacos, music and parties. It was heaven for the epicuriously minded. Well, Fork & Cork aims to be more like that, and less like … that other thing. What was that called again? Whatever–it’s so dead I don’t even remember what it was called anymore.

Let’s just start with Chef Marcus Samuelsson, shall we? Ever hear him speak? Because his accent is like hot butter. And his cooking is the perfect complement to a voice like that. I hope they hand out fans at Fork & Cork, because it’s gonna be hot.

And y’all know I like a charitable element. Tickets to the Fork & Cork kickoff party (which features performances by Dallas String Quartet, Prophets & Outlaws, and Whiskey Folk Ramblers) benefit a great one! Cafe Momentum, an organization that provides post-release paid internships for juvenile offenders through which they will receive intensive culinary, job, and life-skills training. It’s just a fabulous, local organization that I truly believe in.

Any country music fans out there? How about fans of The Rustic? Well, Pat Green, part-owner of The Rustic and country music legend, will be hosting that kick-off party (tickets are $65 each) and headlining the concert on Saturday night at 9.

There are two price levels for Saturday’s action-packed day. The $35 level gets you in, gets you 5 free samples of food (with more available at $1-$5), gives you access to the aforementioned Pat Green concert, access to the beer house and vintner’s lounge, the Grand Tasting Pavilion, marketplace and a bunch of seminars. That’s pretty good stuff.

But for $100? Holy wow. You get all of that, obviously, but you also get VIP/early access to the Grand Tasting Pavilion (which is something you definitely want), free valet, a commemorative glass, some special activities including a demo and meet & greet with Chef Marcus Samuelsson, and “a night out on the Lincoln Motor Company, including a complimentary vehicle for the evening and dinner for two.” That’s pretty sweet.

Here are some participating restaurants. The majority of these are high end:

Yeah. So rest in peace, Taste Addison. You probably won’t be missed.

Buy tickets to Fork & Cork here. 

FORK & CORK KICK-OFF PARTY
Friday, May 16 from 6-10 p.m.
Tickets: $65

FORK & CORK FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 17 from noon – 11 p.m.
General Admission Tickets – $35, VIP Tickets – $100

All events are 21 and up only.
Location: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive, Addison, Texas
www.addisonforkandcork.com