By Zandra Wolfgram
“I’ve always loved food and wine,” says Denise Kendust, secretary of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) Executive Committee. “We collect and enjoy wine. We travel to Napa, Sonoma, and are even Italy wine club members.”
If you are anything like Destinites Denise and her husband, Ed, then you’ll love the MKAF Artful Dining Series.
As Kendust, who has served on the MKAF board since 2018, explains, “It is for people who want to support Mattie Kelly and for those who have a passion for the culinary arts.”
All proceeds from the Artful Dining Series support ArtsReach, MKAF’s community outreach program.
The 2020 series kicked off in January with a special send-off wine dinner at Vintij Food & Wine in Grand Boulevard to mark the retirement of former MKAF CEO Marcia Hull. Todd Newman with Dakota Shy Wines from St. Helena, California, was the guest vintner for that dinner.
Two more dinners at Vintij are planned for Tuesday, May 25 (featuring JCB Wines) and Tuesday, Sept. 14 (see Save the Date for details). The event is intentionally limited to about 40 people to keep it “special and engaging.”
A vintner hosts the evening. Vintij owner Todd Reber (the “wine guru”) and Chef Ignacio Bernal prepare a multi-course dinner with specially selected wines. The chef and winemaker (or a winery representative) introduce each course
Staff members are also in attendance to talk about MKAF’s mission, and the many ways guests can support ArtsReach, the organization’s education outreach program. (One way is to become an MKAF member, which includes many benefits, including discounts on the cost of Artful Dining Series tickets.)
Diners also have an opportunity to purchase wines at special rates with a portion of the proceeds benefiting MKAF.
“We chose Todd Reber because he’s supported MKAF since the beginning,” Kendust says. “His wife, Sabrina, is an artist. Together they are passionate supporters of the local arts community.”
Also included in the series is the 9th annual MKAF Fall Wine Walk-About at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Destin. This year’s event is set for Thursday, Nov. 11 and will include vintners pouring their wines, culminating in a joint dinner following the tasting.
“This year, we are bringing in special guest wineries from California,” Kendust shares. “The menu is always different, and with various tasting stations, guests can try and sample different items on the menu.”
The event has several festive fun-raising activities. There is a “pick a cork” wine raffle of 100 bottles of wine valued from $50 to $350. A raffle drawing featuring “experiences”—from travel trips to wine dinners and spa visits. And Bubbles & Bling: for $50, you receive a glass of champagne and to select a “Tiffany’s” gift box containing a surprise treasure treat valued at least at $50.
“One year, we gave away at $1,000 pair of garnet earrings from McCaskill & Company,” so this event always sells out,” Kendust says.
For this self-proclaimed “foodie” and “wino,” creating the Artful Dining Series was a natural.
“Everywhere we travel we look for new dining experiences, new wines to try, and art,” says Kendust. “We buy pottery, wood bowls, or turned glass. We love local artisans. We have something from everywhere we’ve been.”
To purchase tickets to the ArtFul Dining Series, visit the MKAF Eventbrite.
SAVE THE DATES!
May 25, 6 p.m.
MKAF Wine Dinner at Vintij Food & Wine with Jean-Charles Boisset (JCB) Wines
$175 for MKAF members, $195 for non-members
Sept. 14, 6 p.m.
MKAF Wine Dinner at Vintij Food & Wine with TBD
$175 for MKAF members, $195 for non-members
Nov. 11, 6 p.m.
MKAF Fall Wine Walk-About at Ruth’s Chris Steak House
$65 for MKAF members, $75 for non-members
