DALLAS, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/28/2006 -- Aurora's year long tribute to the global culinary icon Georges Auguste Escoffier will commence with a wine and dinner event on April 19, 2006. Chef Avner Samuel will create his own inspiring version of Escoffier's most famed dishes on that special evening, which bears the graceful theme "April in Paris."

Each of the five courses Chef Samuel will present is complemented by wines selected in advance of the event. Samuel has continued his pursuit of perfection to include a tribute to a time and place when food was about extravagant display and exquisite composure. This event can not to be missed.

About Georges Escoffier

Escoffier was a renowned French chef who updated traditional French cooking methods recreating French haute cuisine into a staple of extravagant luxury. He single-handedly revolutionized how we dine today, updating the old world style of service a la Françoise (serving dishes all at once) with service a la russe (serving each dish in the order printed on the menu). Among Escoffier's many accomplishments as a culinary figure, he also teamed up with Cesar Ritz to open numerous hotels worldwide including the Savoy Hotel in London, the Grand Hotel in Rome, and the Ritz hotels internationally. "Le Guide Culinaire," Escoffier's first major book, has become the backbone of classical French cooking.

About Avner Samuel

Chef Avner Samuel boasts his own list of accomplishments. He is noted as one of five chefs who invented Southwestern cuisine (including Dean Fearing, Stephen Pyles, Anne Greer McCann, Robert Del Grande). At twenty-four he became the youngest executive chef at The Mansion at Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Since then he and his restaurant have earned an extensive list of awards including: "America's Top Restaurants...," Zagat, "Four Diamonds...," Triple A, and "Five Stars...," by the Dallas Morning News. Since coming a long way from his humble roots in Israel, Avner Samuel has avoided mainstream dining and forged his own path in life, creating opportunities to follow his passion. His education with some of the best French chefs of our time has encouraged his development into one of the few culinary artists as extraordinary as Georges Escoffier himself. Every dish Avner Samuel creates incorporates his lifelong struggle, knowledge, and drive. Those fortunate enough to dine at Aurora have experienced this for themselves, but the Escoffier dinner is expected to take the Aurora experience to new heights.

Seating is limited. Call to book your reservation. 214-528-9400