NEW ORLEANS – The Spears Group introduced its first installment of Savor, an elusive dining opportunity for adventurous consumers interested in immersive culinary experiences, on Saturday, March 25. The event was sold-out, with more than 250 diners in attendance. The six-course dinner experience took place at Crescent Park, which the firm disclosed to participants just days prior.
The next installment for the dining series will take place on Saturday, Sept. 2, Spears Groups reps said, and will provide a rich experience of flavors, spirits, spaces, entertainment and more.
The traveling event will take place quarterly and will expand beyond New Orleans in 2018. Additionally, the Spears group will partner again with Liberty's Kitchen to provide students with opportunities to work with and learn from high-caliber executive chefs.
September’s event will take place at 7:00 p.m. at an undisclosed venue. Attendees will receive notice of the new location days prior to the date.
At the March Savor event, Chefs Philip Lopez of Root, Part & Parcel, and most recently Petit Lion and Monkey Board of the Troubadour Hotel, and Tariq Hanna, master pastry chef and founder of Sucré, spent weeks preparing the one-of-a-kind, six-course menu titled, "Sweet + Savor(y)."
The carefully crafted list of menu items included "From the Ashes" by Philip Lopez: charred beef short rib with burnt onion soubise, smoked eggplant puree, grilled bone marrow glaze, and carbonized spring vegetables paired with 2014 Newton Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon, and "Champagne & Strawberries" by Tariq Hanna: yuzu tart breton with strawberry sorbet and Moët foam paired with decadent Moët Rose Champagne.
Prior to the dinner seating, guests enjoyed two specially-crafted cocktails inspired by elements on the food menu. Star Hodgson, well known New Orleans master mixologist, highlighted Hennessy VS in "Lost in Paradise" which contained passion fruit, hibiscus syrup, and was finished with fresh rose petals. Belvedere Vodka was transformed in "Mary so Contrary" with fresh lemon juice, savory champagne syrup, and rosemary smoke.
Throughout the cocktail hour and dinner experience, guests were captivated with a live, musical performance by local singer-songwriter, Kristin Diable. Diable serenaded attendees throughout the evening with a variety of soulful tracks from her latest album, “Create Your Own Mythology.”
"Savor provided another opportunity for us to bring people together and share new experiences, which is something that is extremely important to my staff and me," said President of the Spears Group and Savor Founder Cleveland Spears III.
Savor represents the newest addition to the Spears Group's event portfolio, which includes Diner en Blanc, Fried Chicken Festival and The Millennials, all coming up later this year.
