Outstanding in the Field: R4S’s Earth Day Dinner

Shawn Chippendale
4.17
4.17

Ahead of Earth Day, which is on Monday, Gracie Cavnar’s Recipe for Success organization hosted two events celebrating Mother Earth and all she bestows upon Houston.


The free Earth Day Family Festival was held on the grounds of Hope Farms, and welcomed more than 300 guests for kid-friendly cooking and gardening classes, demonstrations involving the animals on the farm, arts and crafts activities and more.

And the next night — after a Texas-size storm blew through, yielding a gusty but pleasant evening — Cavnar opened the gates to Hope Farms once more for a fabulous foodie affair that would help underwrite the festival. With the help of Your Butler’s Pantry, she set a long, rustic table with textured place-settings for her Chefs in the Field event. Plates prepared by Jeff Auld of On The Kirb, Roost’s Kevin Naderi, and Common Bond’s Rakesh Nayak only added to the beauty.

The meal began with a salad of beets and carrots, pulled from Hope Farms and topped with crumbles of dehydrated goat’s milk and fig-balsamic and olive-oil dressing. The main dish — duck breast and veggies atop a slathering of smoked yogurt with demi glace and olive oil — was followed by an almond cake from Common Bond, which was perfectly paired with Treat Oak Red Handed Bourbon.

Recipe for Success will follow up this month’s Chefs in the Field with its annual 10-course Delicious Alchemy banquet dinner in May, sponsored by Brunello Cucinelli, and another Field event in June.

Dispatches
Fried Chicken, Fancy Bubbles, and a Side of Glamour: Sundays at The Marigold Club Just Got Fun

Chef-owner Austin Waiter of The Marigold Club, now serving fried chicken and Champagne on Sunday nights.


IF YOUR SUNDAY nights could use a little sparkle—and a lot of fried chicken—The Marigold Club has just the thing. Starting May 25 at 5pm, the Montrose hotspot known for its playful mix of Southern charm and London polish is rolling out a new weekly tradition: Fried Chicken & Champagne Sundays.

This isn’t your average comfort food situation. We're talking a shareable fried chicken dinner for two, made with farm-raised birds from Deeply Rooted Ranch, and served alongside buttery whipped potatoes, minted peas, aged cheddar scones, and some over-the-top sauces — including a foie gras sauce supreme that’s as extra as it sounds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Food

Kristi Ison, Rebecca Pritchard, Nora Jarrard, Katie Tsuru, Ronda Carman

H-TOWN FOOTBALL JUST got a fashion upgrade. The Texans teamed up with Houston’s own Christy Lynn to debut a first-ever capsule collection that swaps jerseys and hoodies for silk sets, chic dresses, and elevated knitwear — all in the team’s signature colors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Style

Sonja Kostich, Margaret Alkek Williams, and Jim Nelson

HOUSTON BALLET’S 2025–2026 season opened in high style with a double celebration. After the curtain fell on Onegin — John Cranko’s tale of love and rejection — more than 220 patrons gathered on stage at the Wortham for the annual Opening Night Onstage Dinner, one of the company’s most anticipated traditions.

The evening paid special tribute to Jim Nelson. Nelson, who took the helm as Executive Director in 2012, guided the Ballet through the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the challenges of COVID. During dinner, Nelson was honored with a proclamation from the City of Houston. Even Nelson’s mother attended and received a special shout-out during his dinner toast.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parties