Celeb Chefs Meet, Greet and Serve Nearly 1,500 at Massive Tasting Event — All in the Name of Farmers

Celeb Chefs Meet, Greet and Serve Nearly 1,500 at Massive Tasting Event — All in the Name of Farmers

Beth Hebert, Devon Day, Stephanie James and Betsy Spomer (Photo by Dave Rossman)

HOUSTON’S CELEB CHEFS competed on a beautiful fall day at the city’s first Chefs for Farmers event. Held at Autry Park, the tasting event — which started in Dallas in 2011 — drew a crowd of 1,300, who perused booths hosted by 30-plus chefs and serving food prepared with ingredients from seven local farms.


Wineries and distilleries also participated, pouring drinks for guests, who voted for their favorite bite; Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ took home the day’s top honors. Other notable participants were Hugo Ortega of Backstreet Café, Ryan Pera of Coltivare, Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn, and Austin Waiter of the forthcoming Marigold Club

Chefs For Farmers partnered with Urban Harvest to select the farms for which the event raised funds and awareness. Additionally, Houston Food Bank brought its Empty Bowls program to the event, adding another colorful fundraising element.

Lauren Ruehl and Enrique Martinez (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Andrea White, Ronald Tata and Megan White (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Ayde Ulloa, Jesse Ulloa and Lenor Cecchice (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Bludorn (Photo by Addison Hall)

Erin Johnson and Daniel Bogan (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Grace Ryan and Jackie Heston (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Heather Torres and Sarah Connor (Photo by Dave Rossman)

J.P. and Dani Garland with Emily and Bryce Jones (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Jacquie Baly and James Craig (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Jessica Baldwin and Taryn Anderson (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Parties
Thrive & Inspire: Working with Seniors — ‘America’s Best’ — a Joy for Medicare Expert Justin White

Justin White, Founder of Senior Health Services

WHAT IS THE secret to running a successful business? First, you have to have a mission that you care about. I absolutely love helping people understand Medicare! Secondly, I have always succeeded because the agents I work with know that I care for them and truly want them to succeed. I love developing leaders and watching them soar! If I help them get where they want to be, I will never need to worry about me! We all rise together.

Keep Reading Show less

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep Reading Show less

Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna

THOUGH IT'S BEEN in Houston less than a decade, Sof Hospitality has made major inroads with foodies and critics alike. Its concepts include Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa and Badolina Bakery, all of which deliver the rich flavors of Israeli cuisine in complex, photogenic and delicious dishes. Its newest, Októ, opened earlier this year, one of several energetic restaurants to bow in the Montrose Collective, just in time for the holidays.

Keep Reading Show less
Food