‘Top Chef’ Stars Whip Up Four-Course Feast for Urban Harvest Supporters

‘Top Chef’ Stars Whip Up Four-Course Feast for Urban Harvest Supporters

Sasha Grumman, Evelyn Garcia and Dawn Burrell

THE CURRENT SEASON of Top Chef is filming all over H-Town, and 100-plus foodies had the opportunity to savor the talents of three local contestants — current competitor Evelyn Garcia, and past participants Dawn Burrell and Sasha Grumman — at The Butcher’s Ball benefitting Urban Harvest.


Under a large tent at City Place Plaza in Spring, decorated with flowers and farmhouse-style tables, the four-course dinner kicked-off with prosecco from Poggio Costa with chilled snapper, charred citrus and crispy plantains by Garcia. Grumman followed with the second course of smoked mushrooms and potatoes served with her namesake Sasha’s Focaccia. Burrell served up perfectly spiced beef cheeks with tomato and corn curry. And all three chefs collaborated on the grand finale: a berry crumble topped with sweet-corn ice cream and fish-sauce caramel.

Post-dinner, guests enjoyed whiskey from Still Distillers and Old Humble Distilling and stogies courtesy of an onsite cigar-roller from Lucho Houston. The dinner served as the kick-off event for the inaugural City Place HTX Whiskey Weekend, which featured tastings, meals and classes all weekend.

Urban Harvest aims to enrich the community by coordinating community gardens and farmers markers and educational opportunities for youth and adults. The evening’s proceeds will go toward furthering its efforts citywide.

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Steve and Val Rupp

The Butcher's Ball Dinner Tablescape

Tommy Ralph Pace and Terrell Thomas

Evelyn Garcia serving attendees at The Butcher's Ball Dinner

Food

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

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What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.

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