DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Sunday's Fleurs de Fete attracted near-record crowds of more than 1,500 well-fed — if occasionally cramped — attendees.

Oh yeah, there were plenty of wines there, too.

The Dayton area's premier wine-and-food event was a smashing success for the charity organization that benefits the Wellness Connection of the Dayton Region, formerly the Dayton Area Heart and Cancer Association. Advance ticket sales (at $50) were brisk, but walk-ups who paid $60 also helped swell the ranks. A gorgeous spring afternoon that defied forecasts prompted a crowd of last-minute deciders to make the trip to Carillon Park. And the live auction spurred spirited — make that very spirited — bidding, to occasionally stratospheric heights.

The Fleurs de Fete attracted a record 26 restaurants this year, and collectively, they delivered. Many restaurant owners rightfully view the festival as a chance to impress potential customers, and they came from as far away as Sidney to do just that.

Among the highlights: TomKatz in Springboro put out quite a spread — multiple selections that could have been a small meal unto itself, while they lasted (and the restaurant brought 1,750 servings): Baby Octopus Salad, Crispy Chorizo Sausage Mezzaluna, Lobster Empanada, Smoked Mussel and Serrano Ham Fritters, Gazpacho, and Lemon Artichokes and Olives.

From Sidney, Toone P. Wiggins provided Mini Crabcakes with Mustard Aioli that generated some raves, as did the sliced beef tenderloin in a creamy sauce flavored with goat cheese and bacon offered up by Carver's in Washington Twp.

The wines were interesting and varied. As the afternoon sun heated things up inside the large tent, the German rieslings began speaking to my soul — from producers such as Richter to Zilliken to Monchhof to Bert Simon. Among the many impressive reds was one of Ohio's very own, the 2004 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, poured by the winery's owners, Ron Barrett and Nancy Bentley.

Here's what Bentley had to say in a comment on Uncorked (DaytonDailyNews.com/wineblog): "This is the first time we poured at the Fleur. I thought the venue, food and music (and weather) were wonderful. The wine selection was impressive ... I thought everything went off flawlessly. Clearly the guests were having a happy experience. Great value for the admission price."

Many of the patrons agreed. Still, the event shows signs of becoming a victim of its own success. Uncorked reader Bruce said, "The large crowd was horrible, especially for the first hour. It was a claustrophobic atmosphere, and I was uncomfortable being bumped into and pushed around. ... I was frustrated by the difficulty in locating the food and wines that I wanted to try. ... The Fleurs de Fete is a wonderful event, but it has become so large that it is not as enjoyable as the days when the event was smaller ... Perhaps the organizers might want to consider a second tent."

I posed that question to Lynda Weide, vice president at the Wellness Connection, who said the existing large tent with the tables and chairs represent the festival's single largest expense, of more than $10,000. A second tent would add to the expense. But Weide said organizers next year will consider all options.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.