The Adolphus · September 23, 2019
400 Record · October 28, 2019

The Food Talk
& Marination Live

Dinner was only the beginning.

Marination Live: Why Dallas, Why Now? · October 28, 2019 ·

Leslie Brenner created The Food Talk concept. I developed the identity and event materials, co-produced the events with Leslie and Josh Sutcliff, and hosted the evenings while Leslie moderated the conversations. The first gathering took place at The Adolphus; the second became Marination Live at 400 Record and Bullion.

Scope: Identity, writing, presentation and print materials, co-production, and hosting
With: Leslie Brenner — concept creator, co-producer, and moderator; Josh Sutcliff — co-producer and food; FestEvents Group — event production, including door operations; The Adolphus and Bullion / 400 Record — venue partners; Nancy Farrar — event photography
Project: Talk 1.1 · September 23, 2019; Marination Live · October 28, 2019

Planning the conversation

ShipShape, Leslie Brenner, and FestEvents Group planning The Food Talk. FestEvents Group handled event production, including the door.

The Food Talk planning meeting with ShipShape, Leslie Brenner, and FestEvents.

Behind the interview

Leslie Brenner interviewing Stephan Pyles for The Food Talk.

Misti Norris pre-interview for The Food Talk. Opening 20 seconds.

Food Talk speakers and audience at The Adolphus — Talk 1.1 at The Adolphus. Photograph: Nancy Farrar.

An invitation to talk about food

The original mark and an early announcement about the response to the first event.

Original Food Talk announcement reporting that the first 100 tickets sold in less than three hours.

The Food Talk 1.1 advertisement inviting stories and questions for Stephan Pyles and Misti Norris at The Adolphus — Call-in advertisement for the first talk at The Adolphus.

The first gathering: The Adolphus

Food by Jeramie Robison and Josh Sutcliff opened the evening. Leslie moderated a discussion with Misti Norris and Stephan Pyles, followed by audience questions and an after-party at City Hall Bistro. I designed the printed program to guide guests through the evening.

The program, in hand

The cover, the evening’s program and conversation prompts, and the sponsor page.

Printed Food Talk program cover for Dining Out in Dallas at The Adolphus.

Open Food Talk program showing the schedule and guests.

The printed program at the reception. Photograph: Nancy Farrar.

With the audience. Photograph: Nancy Farrar.

Sponsors of the first gathering

The September 23 program credits The Adolphus, FestEvents, Profound Foods, Minamoto, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Slow Food Dallas–Fort Worth, and Bishop Hill Farm Flowers.

The audience had a place in it

The stage discussion continued into audience questions, with the presentation system marking the change in format.

Leslie Brenner moderates the conversation with Misti Norris and Stephan Pyles. Photograph: Nancy Farrar.

Audience questions, with the Q+A presentation on screen. Photograph: Nancy Farrar.

On screen at The Adolphus

The original presentation, from the opening title and sponsors to the speakers and audience Q&A.

Slide 1: The Food Talk: Dining out in Dallas

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Marination Media

The original identity, alongside the Marination Live invitations and event materials below.

The second gathering: 400 Record

The second event expanded the format into a whole evening at 400 Record. “Why Dallas, Why Now?” brought Michalene Busico and David Uygur into conversation with moderator Leslie Brenner. A reception and guided tasting led into the discussion; the evening continued at Bullion afterward.

Why Dallas, Why Now?

The announcement and program cover for the second gathering.

Marination Live program cover: Why Dallas, Why Now?

Marination Live · October 28, 2019 · 400 Record

Taste. Talk. Stay a little longer.

5–6 pm
Welcome reception
Bites from Bruno Davaillon, David Uygur, and Josh Sutcliff in the lobby of 400 Record.
6–8 pm
A tasting, then a conversation
David Uygur introduced a guided charcuterie tasting. Michalene Busico, David Uygur, and Leslie Brenner then explored Dallas’s growing culinary reputation and what it could mean for the city.
Q&A
The audience shapes the discussion
Questions submitted before the show were selected for a quick-fire exchange with the panel.
8 pm
Continue at Bullion
An after-party kept guests and the conversation together after the stage program ended.