More than 40 members of Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco traded the greens of Texas for the turquoise shores of the Dominican Republic to attend the Casa de Campo Food and Wine Festival — a weekend filled with sunshine, culinary artistry and connection.
Located on the island’s southeastern coast, Casa de Campo is a breathtaking resort community known for its world-class golf courses, private marina, equestrian center and white-sand beaches. But for Philip and Rebecca Silvestri, the owners of Local Profile, Casa de Campo isn’t just a destination, it’s home. Philip grew up there, and it’s where the two first met before beginning their life together in North Texas. Hosting the Stonebriar group at the festival was a full-circle moment, connecting their Texas community with the place where it all began.
To celebrate, the Silvestri family and Local Profile hosted an oceanside cocktail party at their villa overlooking the eighth hole of the resort’s legendary Teeth of the Dog golf course. Guests mingled poolside with tropical cocktails in hand, watching the sun melt into the Caribbean Sea. It was a perfect setting to toast new friendships and shared experiences.
At the heart of the festival was the Invited Chef of the Year Competition, a culinary showdown hosted by the Invited company that owns and operates more than 180 country clubs across the U.S., including Stonebriar and Gleneagles Country Club in Plano.
Throughout the year, members at each club voted for their favorite chefs, while Invited’s corporate team judged creativity, execution and presentation. The top five finalists earned the opportunity to compete at Casa de Campo for the U.S. national title, including Executive Chef Todd Phillips of Stonebriar, who was last year’s winner, and Executive Chef Juan Garcia of Gleneagles.
Over two evenings, guests watched the finalists showcase their talents in two signature challenges: a small-plates cookoff and an elegant pairing dinner, where each chef presented a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings. The experience was elevated by Gleneagles’ own mixologist, Sammi Jo Hunnicutt, who served as Invited’s Mixologist of the Year, delighting guests with her award-winning cocktails, the secret garden.
Between the competition, beachside dinners and the natural beauty of Casa de Campo, the Frisco and Plano travelers discovered what the Silvestris already knew: this isn’t just a resort — it’s a feeling. It’s where food, friendship and unforgettable moments come together, and where, for one extraordinary week, Frisco felt right at home in the tropics.
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