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
‘Embrace Changes,’ Says Valobra, Whose Namesake Jewelry Store Has Become a Houston Institution
How did you get to where you are today? I had little choice in the matter; I grew up being trained to become the fourth-generation jewelry designer behind my great grandfather, grandfather, and father. It was my duty to carry on the family business and continue the hard work and success they built from nothing, beginning in Torino, Italy in 1905. I was surrounded by jewelry and its craftmanship as a young child and was taught the business from a very young age.
Keep Reading Show less

Morris Smith, Tilman Fertitta and Toni Smith

THE HOUSTON CHILDREN'S Charity gala is always anticipated, thanks to the big-deal musical acts brought in to entertain; this year it was Chicago. But the headliners this year were the generous donors, who seemed to surprise even event organizer with their largesse, with a total till of $6.2 million, a record.

Keep Reading Show less
Party People

EVEN THOUGH WE hope things cool down outside, some folks in Houston are about to get even hotter with the arrival of trendy fitness studio Ritual One next month in Uptown Park. The Dallas-based concept will offer classes like Power Sculpt, Hot Pilates, Power Yoga, Inferno Flow, and Inferno HIIT — all taking place in its infrared-heated studios.

Keep Reading Show less
Style