We enjoyed a Texas-style celebration at Fess Parker Winery and what a Fess-worthy feast it was. On what would have been Fess Parker’s 100th birthday on August 16, his longtime friends Tom and Lisa Perini, of the James Beard Award winning Perini Ranch Steakhouse , brought out the chuck wagon all the way from Buffalo Gap, Texas — their portable kitchen is an actual horse trailer — and boy did they cook up a storm!
The Perini and Parker family friendship goes back decades, and they worked together (along with Dr. Richard Becker) to found the Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit as a nonprofit with the mission to cultivate the appreciation of fine wine and food through education and industry discussion. It’s been going strong since 2005, and, having heard about it a lot over the years, we were eager to try the Perini Ranch fare for ourselves.
The night was really incredible, starting with passed appetizers on the patio overlooking the vines and the beautiful roses, we enjoyed the Fesstivity Anniversary Cuvee Sparkling 2018 with jalapeño bites, stuffed BLT, pimento cheese served in a pickled okra, and a green chile brisket sausage that made it clear why the Perinis have not only catered the congressional picnic at the White House, but have been selected to travel all over the world to promote U.S. beef on behalf of the United States Meat Export Federation and the Texas Beef Council.
