Dallas, September 11, 2025
News Summary
Wes Whitsell has been appointed Executive Chef at Georgie, a Dallas fine-dining restaurant. His first public event will be a charity dinner, with a new seasonal menu launching shortly after. The charity dinner aims to raise funds for the Mystic 7 foundations, established in memory of seven girls who died in a flood. Whitsell intends to emphasize local produce and Texas flavors in the new menu, signaling a culinary shift for Georgie, which has seen various chefs since its opening.
Dallas — Wes Whitsell has been named Executive Chef at Georgie, a fine-dining restaurant located at 4515 Travis Walk in Dallas. His first public assignment in the role will be a charity dinner on September 29, 2025, with a seasonally refreshed menu set to debut the next day, September 30, 2025.
Key details
The charity dinner on September 29 will be priced at $250 per person and served family style, with all proceeds directed to the Mystic 7 foundations, a set of local charitable funds created in memory of seven Dallas-area girls who died in flooding. The Mystic 7 foundations listed for benefit distribution include Living for Lulu, Hadley Hanna GoFundMe Tribute, Dallas Foundation Charitable Fund, Lila’s Light, More like Wynne Fund, and the Janie Hunt Foundation. Georgie’s new menu will be unveiled to the public on September 30 and will reflect Whitsell’s culinary direction.
Chef background and culinary direction
Whitsell is a North Texas native from Princeton who most recently opened a restaurant in Bali and has a varied résumé that includes time in Los Angeles-area restaurants such as Gjelina in Venice and Osteria La Buca, a Michelin-starred tenure at Hatchet Hall, and experience at Soho House in Manhattan. He previously served as executive chef at Up on Knox (now Knox Bistro) in 2017.
At Georgie, Whitsell plans to incorporate local produce, Texas game, farm-raised proteins, and Gulf Coast delicacies into the restaurant’s offerings. Vegetables will include produce sourced from Whitsell Farms, the family farm where he grew up working. Sample items on the upcoming seasonal menu will include deviled eggs, roast heritage chicken, grilled Texas venison loin, and peach cobbler with buttermilk ice cream, reflecting a blend of Texas roots, West Coast influences, and international elements.
Restaurant context and recent leadership
Georgie debuted in November 2019 and is part of the Travis Street Hospitality group, which also owns other local restaurants including Le Bilboquet and Knox Bistro. Since opening, Georgie has had multiple chefs at the helm, including celebrity chef Curtis Stone and chef RJ Yoakum. The most recent executive chef before Whitsell, RJ Yoakum, left Georgie in June 2025 due to multiple violations of company policy.
Operational and community focus
The upcoming charity dinner underscores Georgie’s immediate community focus under the new chef leadership, with the September 29 event structured as a fundraising dinner priced at $250 per guest and served family style to maximize proceeds to the designated foundations. The restaurant’s public launch of its new seasonal menu on September 30 will mark Whitsell’s formal culinary debut at Georgie.
What this means for diners
- Location: Georgie, 4515 Travis Walk, Dallas.
- Charity dinner: September 29, 2025; $250 per person; family-style service; all proceeds to Mystic 7 foundations.
- Menu debut: September 30, 2025, featuring local produce, Texas game, farm proteins, Gulf Coast items, and vegetables from Whitsell Farms.
- Culinary style: A blend of Texas tradition, West Coast influence, and international flavors.
Background on the Mystic 7 foundations
The Mystic 7 foundations named to benefit from the dinner are community-based funds and tributes established following a tragic flooding incident that took the lives of seven local girls. The funds include both named family tribute funds and charitable accounts intended to support causes tied to the girls’ memories and community recovery efforts.
Next steps and public-facing timeline
Tickets and reservation details for the charity dinner and Georgie’s seating for the seasonal menu debut will be managed by the restaurant. The chef transition and new menu rollout are positioned to reinforce Georgie’s dining profile under Travis Street Hospitality and to channel immediate restaurant activity toward local charitable support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who has been named Executive Chef at Georgie?
A: Wes Whitsell has been named Executive Chef at Georgie in Dallas.
Q: When is the charity dinner and how much does it cost?
A: The charity dinner is scheduled for September 29, 2025, and is priced at $250 per person. It will be served family style, with all proceeds going to the Mystic 7 foundations.
Q: What foundations will benefit from the dinner?
A: The Mystic 7 foundations include Living for Lulu, Hadley Hanna GoFundMe Tribute, Dallas Foundation Charitable Fund, Lila’s Light, More like Wynne Fund, and the Janie Hunt Foundation.
Q: When will Georgie’s new menu debut?
A: The new seasonal menu will debut on September 30, 2025.
Q: What culinary influences will the new menu reflect?
A: The menu will combine local Texas ingredients, West Coast influences, and international flavors, with vegetables from Whitsell Farms and items such as roast heritage chicken and grilled Texas venison loin.
Q: Who owns Georgie?
A: Georgie is part of the Travis Street Hospitality group, which owns multiple restaurants including Le Bilboquet and Knox Bistro.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Georgie, 4515 Travis Walk, Dallas |
| New Executive Chef | Wes Whitsell (North Texas native, Princeton) |
| Charity dinner | September 29, 2025 — $250 per person, family style; proceeds to Mystic 7 foundations |
| Menu debut | September 30, 2025 — seasonal menu blending Texas, West Coast, and international influences |
| Menu highlights | Deviled eggs, roast heritage chicken, grilled Texas venison loin, peach cobbler with buttermilk ice cream |
| Ingredient sourcing | Local produce, Whitsell Farms vegetables, Texas game, farm-raised proteins, Gulf Coast items |
| Ownership | Travis Street Hospitality group |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Wes Whitsell Takes the Helm as Executive Chef at Georgie
Fundraising Dinner for Families Affected by Flood
Additional Resources
- CultureMap Dallas
- Dallas News
- Dallas Observer
- PaperCity Magazine
- Eater LA
- Wikipedia: Chef
- Google Search: Georgie Dallas restaurant
- Google Scholar: Georgie Dallas
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texan cuisine
- Google News: Wes Whitsell
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