Unique Event Features Fine Wines and Savory Pork Dishes
OMAHA (April 7, 2015) – The Pinot, Pigs & Poets Committee, in collaboration with the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, has announced the sixth Annual Pinot, Pigs & Poets to be held at Happy Hollow Club on June 4. All proceeds benefit the Completely KIDS weekend and after-school food programs.
As one of Omaha’s premier wine and food events, Pinot, Pigs & Poets will feature outstanding pinot noir wines and savory pork dishes from renowned Omaha chefs. The evening will also include slam poetry, provided by Matt Mason and the Nebraska Writers Collective, and vintner and chef competitions.
Tasting begins at 6 p.m., with the first hour reserved for patron reservations. Those with regular guest reservations will be admitted at 7 p.m. Prior to the event, a panel of judges will blind taste each wine in a vintner competition, with winners being announced during the evening. Guests will enjoy sipping exquisite wines from more than 30 wineries, including some of the event’s past vintner competition winners.
The Taste of Elegance Chef Competition, sponsored by the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, will award the winning chef a trip to the 2016 Pork Summit at the Greystone Campus of the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Featured chefs from Omaha-area restaurants include: Chef Ben Maides, Avoli Osteria; Chef Tim Nicholson, The Boiler Room Restaurant; Chef Clayton Chapman, The Grey Plume; Chef Jason Hughes, Happy Hollow Club; Chef Jacob Newton, Heritage Food & Wine, Chef Cedric Fichepain, Le Voltaire French Restaurant; Chef Ryan Ernst & Chef Matthew O’Brien, Mouth of the South; Chef Jeff Owen, Omaha Country Club; Chef José Dionicio, Taita Restaurant; Chef Jimmy Masters, Twisted Fork Grill & Saloon; Chef Kyle Lamb, V. Mertz.
“Pinot, Pigs & Poets is a one-of-a-kind event in Omaha,” said Jody Carstens, co-chair. “Guests are able to sip on pinot noir while sampling pork dishes from some of the area’s most innovative and talented chefs. It is simply ‘hog heaven’—especially knowing proceeds benefit children served by Completely KIDS food programs.”
Due to the success of Pinot, Pigs & Poets, Completely KIDS has been able to increase the number of children enrolled in the Weekend Food Program, which provides backpacks filled with healthy, child-friendly food to take home every Friday. The weekend and after-school food programs fit within the organization’s mission to develop youth and their families through Out-of-School Time and Family Strengthening programs in communities where they live. It is the goal of Completely KIDS to nurture Safe, Healthy, Successful and Connected KIDS.
“Pinot, Pigs & Poets has rapidly become one of our cornerstone events,” said Completely KIDS Executive Director Penny Parker. “The funds raised provide us with the opportunity to expand our food programs and feed even more hungry children. We continue to show our appreciation to the Pinot, Pigs & Poets committee for the work they do year after year.”
Cost for the event is $250 for patron reservations, $125 for regular guest reservations and $75 for those ages 21 to 30. Reservations may be made by May 28 at pinotandpigs.org. For more information about Completely KIDS, visit completelykids.org.
