Dean Fearing

William Dean Fearing (born 1955) is an American chef known as "The Father of Southwestern Cuisine."[1] He was executive chef for 20 years at Dallas' The Mansion on Turtle Creek, leaving in 2007 to start his own restaurant, Fearing's, in partnership with Ritz-Carlton.[1][2][3][4] He is the host of a national television show, Entertaining at Home with Dean Fearing,[2] airing on Food Network, and author of two cookbooks, Mansion on Turtle Creek Cookbook and Dean Fearing's Southwest Cuisine: Blending Asia and the Americas.[2] In 2008, the Zagat guide gave Fearing's the top spot on its list of the best in hotel dining, simultaneously announcing the Dallas Ritz-Carlton as the U.S.' best large hotel.[5]

Fearing made several appearances in the acclaimed PBS series "Great Chefs" which aired in the early to mid 1980's. He made his debut in Episode #2 of "Great Chefs of the West" preparing an appetizer of Warm Lobster Tacos with Yellow Salsa and Jicama Salad. Fearing was featured again in Episode #11 offering up an entree of California Free Range Chicken with Tobacco Onions. His final appearance in the "West" series (Episode #23) focused on his dessert classic, Maple Pecan and Sweet Potato Pie. According to their website "Great Chefs of the West was at the forefront of the new Southwestern cuisine trend." [6]

Chef Dean also made several appearances in their "Great Chefs, Great Cities" series. In Episode #21 his meticulous attention to detail came to light in his appetizer offering of Deviled Oysters with Sour Mango Salsa and Tabasco Butter. In Episode #45 Fearing once again displayed his versatility in showcasing a masterpiece entree of Bacon Wrapped Scallops on Barbequed Duck with Sweet Corn Sauce. In the very last episode of the "Cities" series ( Episode #80) Chef Fearing put his exclamation point on his Southwestern Cuisine with his offering of a Baked Potato Enchilada on Pico de Gallo with Ancho Ranchero Sauce and a Mexican Tortilla Salad.[7]

Many of the young up and coming chefs that appeared in the "Great Chefs" series became household names ~ Many of them (if not all) were in the process of achieving "Celebrity Chef" status (if they hadn't achieved it already). Chef Dean Fearing was no exception.

Fearing is a guitarist and started to play with friend and fellow chef Robert Del Grande. The two would perform as they were promoting their Southwest Cuisine.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.L. Becker. "Puttin' on the Ritz: Dean Fearing put Southwestern cuisine on the map at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. He's now moving on," Restaurant Hospitality, October, 2006.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dotty Griffith. "On Fearing's plate: an exit from Mansion: Star gourmet chef will leave restaurant he made famous to open one of his own," The Dallas Morning News, March 23, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  3. ↑ "Tacos From A Master: Dallas Chef Dean Fearing, Authority On Haute Southwest Cuisine, Preps Dishes On The Early Show," August 3, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  4. ↑ Alison Cook. "Dean Fearing's Dallas Thanksgiving," Food & Wine, November 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  5. ↑ Karen Robinson-Jacobs. "Zagat guide ranks Dallas Ritz-Carlton No. 1 large hotel," November 19, 2008: "The Zagat travel guide Wednesday named The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas the No. 1 large hotel in the U.S. and its Fearing's restaurant No. 1 in hotel dining. In its 2009 Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas survey, Zagat rated the hotel, in Dallas' Uptown, extraordinary to perfect in each category. Travelers described the food served by celebrity chef Dean Fearing as 'last-meal worthy' and 'haute Texan' cuisine." Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  6. ↑ http://www.greatchefs/dvds/television-series/great-chefs-of-the-west
  7. ↑ http://www.greatchefs/dvds/television-series/great-chefs-great-cities