Sun’s Out, Big Guns Out! Celeb Chefs Cook for 2,500 Foodies at Al Fresco Charity Event

Sun’s Out, Big Guns Out! Celeb Chefs Cook for 2,500 Foodies at Al Fresco Charity Event

Rachael Ruthmarie, Iris Midler, Ciara Salazar

RETURNING FOR THE second year to the new Allen Parkway development Autry Park, Chefs for Farmers welcomed more than 2,500 foodies for two sunny days of feasting al fresco, all in the name of raising money for local farmers and charity partners.


Following the success of last year’s event, the festival expanded to two days as 40-plus of Houston’s top chefs paired up with local farms to create bites for guests to taste. Each day the attendants voted on their favorite creation. Doko, a sushi joint opening this fall, won Saturday with its Maguro Crudo. And Mandola’s Catering took the top prize on Sunday with tortellini served with a perfectly tender Wagyu meatball. Guests also enjoyed wine and fun boozy pop-ups like the Kettle One Bloody Mary station as they enjoyed the first taste of fall in Houston!

The festival raised $15,000, which was divvied up between Urban Harvest and Houston Food Bank, as well as among local farms including Verdegreens Farms, Blackwood Educational Land Institute, Statkar Farms Wagyu, Animal Farm, Rosewood Ranches and Central Texas Lamb.


Chef Hugo Ortega

Chris Wadley, Katherine Whaley, Jennifer LeGrand, Nicole Graf

Chef Aaron Bludorn

Frankie B. Madola's Catering Team - Winner of Best Bite on Sunday

Chef Mayank Istwal

Leonard Botello IV and Brandon Botello

Spa-tacular Getaway Opportunity: Retreat to Mexico this Fall with a Houston Wellness Expert

Palmaïa The House of AïA

THIS FALL, LEBRINA Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, is taking her wisdom and joie de wellness to the jungle. Far beyond the walls of her beautiful spa, she’s aiming to create a quiet space for people to work on their personal growth in a community-centric atmosphere. She shares what participants will get out of the trip and why it’s important to take time for self-care in 2025.

Why is it important for people to “retreat”? Life can feel like a non-stop marathon, and sometimes we forget to just... breathe. Retreating offers a chance to step off the treadmill for a bit and hit the reset button. It's about giving your body and mind some much-needed TLC, allowing for genuine relaxation and rejuvenation. Beyond the personal perks, retreats often create a cool sense of community, connecting you with others on a similar path. By carving out space for self-reflection, you can recharge and return to your daily life with a clearer head and a bit more pep in your step.

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Heather Almond and Zinat Ahmed

NEARLY 1,700 GUESTS headed to Cotton Ranch in Katy for Cotton Holdings’ 13th annual CrawFest — a Texas-sized evening of food and music. The event raised a record-breaking $768,000 for the Cotton Foundation, which supports families facing disaster, illness and hardship.

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Maddy and Patrick Moffitt and Christina and David McAllen

A DERBY WATCH party was so much more than the fastest two minutes in sports! The Post Oak Hotel hosted the Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes event benefiting Bo's Place, and the most fashionable and philanthropic Houstonians turned out.

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