Featured Chef Rick Bayless with downtown Knoxville resident and foodie Jacque Hawks.
One of the hottest chefs in America was in Knoxville a few days ago and our art and wine lovers were the happy beneficiaries. Chef Rick Bayless, who owns seven restaurants — mostly in Chicago with New York City, Las Vegas, and Orlando thrown in for good measure — was the featured chef at L’Amour du Vin, the premier fundraiser for the Knoxville Museum of Art.
A packed and enthusiastic crowd also welcomed featured artist Tiffany Calvert of St. Louis, and featured vintners Michael and Sarah Browne of CIRQ/CHEV Estate in Windsor, California.
This was the 23rd year for the super-successful and super-fun event, which was originally the brainchild of art lovers Susan and Lee Hyde, who saw what a big deal a wine auction was for the High Museum in Atlanta and helped bring the concept here. Longtime presenting sponsors are Blackberry Farm and Lexus of Knoxville.
Chef Bayless and his wife, Deann, founded Chicago’s famous Frontera Grill in 1987 and received the James Beard Foundation’s highest award, Outstanding Restaurant, in 2007. Their 4-star Topolobampo, which served its first meals in 1991, earned the Beard Foundation’s award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2017 — a unprecedented accomplishment for side-by-side restaurants. At Topolobampo, Bayless also has achieved a different feat: earning and maintaining a Michelin star since the guide first came to Chicago 12 years ago. And he’s won a total of seven James Beard Awards.
Most of us Knoxvillians know Chef Bayless best, however, from his television appearances. He won the first season of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters,” and hosted 12 seasons of the highly rated Public Television series, “Mexico – One Plate at a Time,” which brought Bayless multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for Best Culinary Host.
Meeting Chef Bayless held special significance for my husband, Alan, and me because we visited Frontera Grill 15 years ago with our close friends, Dawn and Richard Ford, and I even wrote a Blue Streak post about it. That link is here, if you want to walk down memory lane. Ha. (The cellphone cameras sure weren’t as good back then as they are now!)
Knoxville Museum of Art Executive Director Steven Matijcio and his wife, Anita Hollmann-Matijcio. His shoes were sparkly!
During the reception, from left: Joe and Ruth Fielden, Robert Shipley and Jeannie Bennett.
David Butler and Caroline Farris. He’s KMA’s executive director emeritus.
The evening’s emcee, Dino Cartwright in center, with Bryant and Johnnie Creel.
From left, Bill and Candace Street with Julie and Don Moul.
John Trotter and Molly Turner.
Julia and Gary Bentley. She’s past chair of the KMA’s board.
The reception featured scores and scores of fabulous wine lots in a silent auction.
KMA Exhibition Manager Natalie McLaurin shows off one of the offerings.
Delicious passed appetizers prepared by Blackberry Farm helped moderate the effects of all the wine being poured! Those homemade potato chips with caviar and creme fraiche, top, are one of my favorite things Blackberry Farm makes! Also loved the little quiche bites, left, and the unique radish treatment, right.
Susan Hyde, “the mother of L’Amour du Vin,” and Karen Mann.
Tina Rolen and Bill Pittman.
Dr. Meredith and Mark Overholt.
Susan and Kent Farris.
From left, featured vintner Sarah Browne, Dr. Kimbro Maquire, and glass artist Tommie Rush.
Mitchell Moseley and Stephanie Hess.
From left, Leah LaRocco, Megan Womack, and Alan Carmichael.
Dinner would be served in a beautifully appointed tent right outside the KMA’s Ann and Steve Bailey Great Hall where the reception and silent auction were held.
The tables were pretty. (Look at all those wine glasses!)
Inside the tent, from left, Steve and Mary Ellen Brewington, Cynthia Gibson and David Gilbert.
From left, Taylor Lolley, Sheryl Linck, and Dino Cartwright. Taylor is director of fundraising events — including this one!
From left, Iliana Lilienthal, Avi Zenatti, and Ted Smith.
Jacque and Cliff Hawks.
Finally! Everyone took a seat.
Including our friends Reinhold and Karen Mann.
One of Knoxville’s best restaurant executives, Randy Burleson, knows a thing or two about opening wine! He did the honors with a big bottle at his table.
KMA Board Chair Louis Gauci made welcoming remarks.
As did Executive Director Steven Matijcio.
And Chef Rick Bayless.
First course was a delicious ceviche of gently poached shrimp and scallops, fresh lime, coconut milk infused with serrano chile and herbs, jicama and red onion. Spicy and satisfying!
It was served with a 2021 CHEV chardonnay from Russian River Valley.
Here are the featured vintners, Michael and Sarah Browne.
The ceviche course would have been my favorite “bite” of the night — if it hadn’t been for this fantastic dinner roll that featured pumpkin seeds! Wow, it was good!
Our buddies Garry Conklin and Sheryl Linck were at the next table.
Bobby Castle and Trudy Hughes.
Next course was grilled quail with lacinato kale filling, guasmole (poblano chile, guaje seeds, tomatillo, garlic, sweet spices), and roasted wild mushrooms.
Everybody said it was great. But I couldn’t eat it because it was too realistic. (I know. I’m a wimp.) It was served with a 2020 CHEV pinot noir from Sta. Rita Hills.
More table hopping! Here are Kathy and Louis Gauci.
And. Faith Ferguson with Don Stoner.
Then it was time for a little auction action with auctioneers Bear Stephenson, left, and Dino Cartwright.
Go, Bear!
And art talk with featured artist Tiffany Calvert.
Next course was roasted Iberico pork with Oaxacan red mole with tender pozole corn and crunchy traditional garnishes.
It was paired with TWO red wines: a 2022 CHEV pinot noir from Russian River Valley, and a 2021 CIRQ pinot noir, also from Russian River Valley.
Taylor Wortham, KMA’s immediate past president, made some comments from his table.
And then it was time for dessert: Frontera Grill’s famous chocolate pecan pie — 39 years in the making! It was fantastic.
Robert Shipley and Jeannie Bennett seemed to think so, too!
The auction wrapped up with tons of great trips, wine lots, and experiences selling for nice high prices. The KMA hasn’t released a final number, but I predict it was a good one. And still, if you can believe it, even after all that, there was time — and inclination — for more mingling!
These two are my personal heroes. They are the hardest working people in the Knoxville hospitality business: Jerry Kruse and Amanda Howe of the Pour Guys bartending (and more!) service.
Sheryl Linck, left, and Jacque Hawks.
Joe Fielden, left, with Shirley Elder and Bear Stephenson.
Susan Hyde, left, with Bob and Carole Martin.
From left, Roth Edwards, Megan Edwards, Chase Strickland, Emma Horn, and Mike Strickland.
