Place at Perry's VIP Tour Benefited KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth

DALLAS, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dallas philanthropists Bill and Heather Esping hosted a VIP Tour to benefit KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth ahead of the reopening of their restaurant, Place at Perry's, on February 16, which raised just over $15,000 for the Dallas charter school. The restaurant will be open to the public starting February 24 at its new location on the corner of Cedar Springs and Carlisle in the Gables Villa Rosa building, 2680 Cedar Springs Road. In addition, Peter & Lael Brodsky and Devin & Melissa Cox served as co-hosts for the evening's festivities.

"We are thrilled to welcome the new Place at Perry's to our diverse restaurant mix at Gables Villa Rosa.  Their stunning architecture including a serpentine crimson bar, inviting outdoor-dining patio, and a signature lighting sculpture, 'Crimson Cascade' by David Gappa, is sure to make the restaurant an esteemed Dallas landmark," said Darin Botelho, Vice President of Gables Urban.

Bill Esping added, "We are thrilled to partner the restaurant's grand opening festivities with KIPP DFW. An innovative and nationally recognized public school network, KIPP has helped many students get a second chance for a great education that leads to success in college and beyond."

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) is a national network of free, open enrollment, college-preparatory public schools with a proven track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. With its credo "Work Hard. Be Nice." KIPP holds its teachers, staff and students to the highest academic standards and believes that character development is equally important to a child's growth. KIPP TRUTH Academy, the first KIPP middle school in North Texas, opened its doors in 2003 in Oak Cliff. KIPP DFW recently announced an aggressive growth plan for the region with 10 more KIPP schools slated to open by 2025, including the first KIPP elementary school in 2013. For more information, visit www.kippdfw.org.

"Bill and Heather Esping and their respective families are loyal supporters of KIPP and share our commitment to providing all of our children – regardless of demographics – with the quality education they deserve," said April Allen, executive director of KIPP DFW. "That they used this event to introduce their new restaurant speaks volumes about their kindness and generosity. We are grateful for their support."

Place at Perry's believes that a guest experience goes well beyond what they see and hear, and therefore takes great pride to ensure guests are served the highest quality, best tasting food available. Our strategic purchasing policy supports local businesses first in Dallas, then across Texas, the Southwest and the United States where we will bring culinary art to a cutting edge level that will be exciting to our guests. Other local business partners include Grapevine glass blower David Gappa who created the 'Crimson Cascade' masterpiece that lights our 35-foot tall rotunda, Dallas Couturier Michael Faircloth designed custom uniforms, Homestead Gristmill, Talenti Gelato, Brazos Valley Cheese, Civello's Ravioli, Blackbird Studios, Ridgeway Construction, Garrison Art Design, Tre Nagella of Luminous Sound Studios, Metzger & Associates and many more.

Adhering to an environmentally friendly principle, our animal policy remains the highest in Dallas with our USDA NeverEver3, which is a USDA Process Verified Program where animals have not ever been exposed to antibiotics, growth hormones or animal by-products. We take this a step further by ensuring the animals have not been exposed to stimulants either.

The animal policy extends to ensure the animals have been humanely raised with a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, raised with sheltered resting areas with sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviors. In addition, we are committed to sustainability, which is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer and supports and enhances rural communities.

In addition, Place at Perry's features a state-of-the-art private dining room that will seat up to 70 guests and a centerpiece serpentine crimson bar inside near the windows. Senior Director of Gardens for the Dallas Arboretum Jimmy Turner has installed a fragrant edible garden that will grace the entry and patio and will produce herbs and other vegetables that will be used by the creative bar staff and Chef Jaime Corona's crew in the kitchen.

Critically acclaimed, Place at Perry's is one of Dallas' premier restaurants. Rated a Top 10 Steakhouse by D Magazine in 2011 and awarded four stars by Dallas Morning News restaurant critic Leslie Brenner, Place at Perry's also serves seafood, poultry and chicken along with unique cocktails created by their team of mixologists. The restaurant is open for business seven days a week serving lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, adding brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.placeatperrys.com, call (214) 871-9991 or send an email to [email protected].

SOURCE Place at Perry's