Editorial intern Michelle Saunders popped into the North Texas Food Bank’s yearly fundraiser last Friday. She files this report:
When I headed over to the Meyerson Symphony Center Friday morning for the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Since it was held on DSO’s turf, I assumed that it would be fairly formal. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that sweatpants, sneakers, and spandex would be allowed in the Meyerson (I cringe a bit just writing them in the same sentence!). No one seemed to mind, however. Everyone was too focused on the steaming soups to be sampled and the beautiful handmade bowls to be purchased to worry about appearances.
What began as a small high school project in Michigan in 1990 has grown into a worldwide fundraising initiative against hunger. Guests purchase a ticket which provides them with a modest meal of soup and bread and a handcrafted empty bowl to take home as a reminder of the epidemic of hunger.
There is a reason that the international organization Les Dames d’Escoffier is one of the most prestigious organizations for women in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality industries to be a part of: the women included are some of the very best in their field. With a mission of education, advocacy and philanthropy, the invitational organization includes members such as Lidia Bastianich, Alexandra Guarnaschelli, Mary Sue Milliken, Kathryn Hall, Carolyn Wente and hundreds of other influential women who have taken food, wine and hospitality to a new level of inspired creativity and artistic influence. (more…)
Eater Dallas and Park Cities People may have talked about this already, but in case you’ve been hiding in a cave: Marquee Grill Execuchef and “Top Chef Allstar” Tre Wilcox is auctioning himself off for charity. You heard that right, ladies. It’s time to start bidding on Charitybuzz. Winner gets to spend two days in the kitchen (a weekend of their choice) with the hunky chef and enjoy a Chef’s Tasting on Saturday night. All the proceeds go to the Bridge Breast Network, and the bidding ends on February 29 at 1:22 PM CST.
Whoever wins the auction has my permission to post a minute-by-minute, play-by-play blog of the entire experience on Sidedish… maybe.
I deputized Disher Melisa Ambers to cover last night’s sold-out Café Momentum dinner at the the Communities Foundation of Texas on Caruth-Haven. The concept behind the dinner series, developed by Chad Houser and Janice Provost of Parigi, is dedicated to teaching young, at-risk youth with life skills. Café Momentum works closely with the programs of the Youth Village Resources of Dallas. Local chefs and volunteers donate time and product and the kids work alongside the pros. Their common goal is to open a permanent restaurant for the program.
Last night was the largest and most formal Café Momentum dinner to date. The young men, under the direction of Phil Willis, delivered flawless fine dining service. They passes appetizers in the foyer as the 100 guests arrived. Most of the young men were veterans; only one had never been a part of Cafe Momentum before. One of them, in fact, has already graduated from the culinary program at the Youth Village and has finished his time at the detention facility. He’s back in school but wanted to volunteer.
Jump for photos and the full report.
This Saturday, The Mercury’s executive chef Chris Ward will fundraise for our furry friends with a Dog Days of Summer event. From 2 to 5 pm, The Mercury will transform into a venue for cooking demos, tastings, and a silent auction at benefiting The Greyhound Adoption League of Texas (GALT). The ticket price of $65 includes one drink ticket, a cooking demonstration, tastings, a souvenir recipe book of demonstrated recipes, and a doggy bag of special canine treats. VIPs (only seven slots available) get a front row seat at Chef Ward’s cooking bar are available for $125.
“We are so excited to have Chef Ward with us again this year,” say John and Susie McQuade, GALT co-founders. “The proceeds from the cooking demonstration will help provide for the growing needs of GALT and the growing number of greyhounds we currently have in foster care.”

Can't imagine how hot it was for the models to walk around in fur-lined hoods in the 100-degree temps. Hope they were given some popsicles.
Last Thursday, The Park and Stanley Korshak held a fashion show in Korshak’s courtyard. Within seconds of getting out of my car, I was a sweaty mess. Yet, none of the beautiful people around me seemed to be having issues with the heat. Why is this? I wondered. Then a server walked by with a tray full of adult popsicles. Being a teetotalling Type 1 diabetic, I could not partake. But my friends who did said they were delicious. I asked the wonderful folks at Stanley Korshak to share their recipe. They were happy to oblige. Follow the jump so you can make your own popsicles for your next party.
(Oh, and in case you’re wondering about the progress of The Park, here you go: The Park’s crossbeams are approximately 85 percent complete. The final set of box beams will be finished late October. Waterproofing is 60 percent complete. The Jet fan installation is happening now. And trees will be installed this fall.)
Now, jump.
Wondering what’s going on with the Desperados’ Greenville Avenue renovation? Looks like we’ll see some action there in the coming week. In the meantime, let’s talk about the fact that September 1 marks Desperados’ 35th anniversary. In honor of the date, Desperados will launch their Say Adios To Hunger campaign with the North Texas Food Bank. Desperados is committed to providing the cash equivalent of 35,000 meals to the NTFB and is offering a free appetizer at both locations to customers who bring in non-perishable food items to help stuff the catering van.
jump for some feel-good quotes… (more…)
I received several texts and tweets from peeps who attended last nights barbecue bonanza fundraiser at Pecan Lodge Catering at the Dallas Farmers Market. According to one of the organizers, the event raised close to $10,000 for the family of Lt. Shannon Stone, the fireman who died in July after falling head first from the stands at the Ballpark in Arlington.
The twEAT of the night came from the Pope of Pizza, Jay Jerrier who apparently made a pie covered with burnt ends, caramelized onions, and roasted hatch green chiles. Holy crow I could eat that right now.Jerrier says he made at least 50 pies and he plans to make them at his restaurant until the chiles run out.
How lovely to see Pecan Lodge Catering, Lockhart Smokehouse, and Cane Rosso work together to create such a spirited evening. If last night revealed the character of our next generation of restaurateurs, then we have a bright future.
Dog days of summer got you down? Prepare to perk up on from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday, September 10 when Mercury chef Chris Ward will host an afternoon of food & fun and a silent auction at The Mercury benefiting The Greyhound Adoption League of Texas (GALT).
Tickets run $65 and include one drink ticket (additional beverages at cash bar), cooking demonstration and tastings with Chris Ward, souvenir recipe book of demonstrated recipes, and a doggy bag of special canine treats for your pampered pooch. VIP seats (only 7 available) go for $125 and get you a front row seat at Chef Ward’s cooking bar.
“We are so excited to have Chef Ward with us again this year,” say John and Susie McQuade, GALT co-founders. “The proceeds from the cooking demonstration will help provide for the growing needs of GALT and the growing number of greyhounds we currently have in foster care.”
Seating is limited. To purchase tickets online www.galtx.org or 972-503-GALT.

First course: Chilled pecos melon soup with serrano chile and marigold mint. (Photos by Julissa Treviño)
On Sunday night, ace contributor Julissa Treviño attended the third Café Momentum dinner and sends this report…
On Sunday night, Chad Houser and Janice Provost held their third pop-up dinner under the Café Momentum umbrella at Garden Café in Dallas. If any restaurant has been getting hype in the city, it’s this duo’s project. Café Momentum is a non-profit restaurant serving exquisite, monthly pop-up dinners. Each dinner is steered by a guest chef and functions as a way to help at-risk youth from Dallas County Youth Village learn basic culinary skills which could ultimately lead to a paid position in a kitchen.
Funds raised from Sunday’s sold out dinner last night with Guest Chef Sharon Hage (of the now-shuttered award-winning York Street) bring Houser and Provost one step closer to being able to open up a permanent Café Momentum location. “Café Momentum will be fully operational, ultimately, when we have all of our financing,” said Houser, who works at Parigi with Provost. “We are hoping to achieve this goal by Spring 2012.”
jump for the rest… (more…)
We knew Alma’s new executive chef, Anastacia Quiñones (also known as AQ), was a great addition to the Dallas execu-chef community from the minute we met her. But the following really seals the deal:
In 2001, my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Today, my mother is in good condition due to the outstanding care from her doctors and medication.
Although medicine has advanced in the past ten years, there is still very little known about this degenerative disease.
Please come help me celebrate my birthday on Monday August 8 and give to a great cause.
Proceeds benefit the APDA.Alma will be offering a 4-course meal for $60 or for $75 with wine pairings. The menu will draw inspiration from my favorite childhood meals with my family (details to follow).
Guests will also enjoy additional surprises throughout the evening.
Seating will be limited and by reservation only. Please call Alma at 214.827.2820 to make reservations (specify AQ’s benefit dinner).
The groovy folks at the Texas Agriculture Department really know how to throw a party. They also do a great job of promoting Texas food through their GO TEXAN program http://www.gotexan.org/. Each year they present a week-long celebration of Texas products by asking restaurants all over the state to create special fixed-price menus which consist of Texas products. The series of events, which runs from July 25-31, benefits local food banks.
Todd Staples, a man with a perfect last name for his job as Agriculture Commissioner, has this to say: “More chefs are working directly with farmers and ranchers to bring you fresh Texas food. The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up is Texas’ only statewide dine-out week and is a great time to savor the best meats, vegetables, fruits and wines, while helping hungry Texans.”
The details are below. (more…)
I don’t know where Chef/Owner Brian Luscher and his lovely wife, GM/Sommelier Courtney Luscher of The Grape get all their time, but I applaud their generous spirit. They are two of the most involved people in the Dallas charity scene we have, and their next event just hit my inbox.
July 28-30 they will hold the 2nd Annual Feast of St. Martha benefiting one of the most important charities in the city, The Stewpot. Every day, 365 days a year, hundreds of homeless in Dallas are fed, sheltered and helped through The Stewpot at the Second Chance Cafe inside The Bridge on the edge of downtown. Over 1300 volunteers contribute their time and energy to The Stewpot each month, improving the lives of the homeless in Dallas.
For three days Chef Brian will serve a special $38 three course meal($55 with wine) created to honor Saint Martha, the patron saint of kitchen workers and servers, with $5 of each meal going to The Stewpot Alliance, created to support The Stewpot. Reservations are recommended. 214-828-1981
A loyal Disher was scheduled to host a fundraiser at Rock N Taco this Wednesday and they had to cancel. She received this note:
Unfortunately, we just found out that Rock ‘n’ Taco is closing it’s doors and will not be able to host our event. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you so much for your support.
UPITTY DATE: They are remodeling.
August 6th the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) will host their third annual Food for Thought event featuring some of our favorite chefs in the city, benefiting Big Thought, a Dallas based non profit dedicated to helping improve public education.
Signature tastes will be presented throughout the night from Brian Luscher of The Grape, John Teasar of The Commissary, Tiffany Derry of the soon to open Private Social,Matt McCallister, Samir Dhurandhar of Nick and Sam’s, and many more. Former Dallas Cowboy, Daryl Johnston will also be in attendance to accept the DAYL’s Gavel of Excellence award for his work with SLANT 45, the youth education program of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee. Tickets and more information available here.
About 150 people showed up to Hotel Palomar last night with their pets to sip beer (people), sniff butts (dogs), and eat cheeseburgers (both). Naughty Chef Blythe Beck was feeling rather nice as hostess of the patio picnic to honor her recent rescue dog, Sheriff, and raise money for Operation Kindness.
A puparazzo snapped pics of dogs and their owners on the red carpet as they entered the party. Later, while guests mingled, Beck made the rounds, touting the assets of adoptable dogs, including a terrier mix named Nisha (pictured). The crowd laughed when she said that her dog means more to her than “boys, food, or vodka.” Seems that plenty of party-goers could relate.
A blow-up kiddie pool provided canines with relief from the heat; a breeze kept the human crew cool. The evening wrapped up with a raffle of fluffy pet beds, self-cleaning litter boxes, and a hotel staycation for the lucky owner of a white Havanese.
White Rock Lake’s Art Deco Bath House will bustle this weekend with two days of parties designed to celebrate 100 years of White Rock Lake and Dallas’ chapter of the American Red Cross. The schedule for all of the White Rock Centennial Celebration events is here. The historic Bath House balcony overlooking White Rock Lake will be transformed into The Veranda Lounge on Saturday, June25. Chefs Colleen O’ Hare and Jeana Johnson (Good 2 Go Tacos) kick-off a full day of special dining events with brunch and cocktails on the Bath House Veranda from 10-11:30am. (Tickets)
Private chef Hollie Dorethy (Good Morning America, Master Chef with Gordon Ramsay) will serve a 4-course lunch with wine from 12-1:30pm. An afternoon tea showcasing Lone Star Teas with Clarissa Almaraz features custom blended teas such as Classic Black Iced Tea, Texas Tango, Texas Sunset, Pink Jasmine-Green Tea, and Enchanted Rose tea as well as champagne and wine, Sweets and Savories (2-4pm). Premium wines and gourmet beers from Ben E. Keith will be showcased at a late afternoon cocktail party with specialty cheeses from the Mozzarella Company and more (4:30-6pm).
Popular Chef Marc Cassel (Peavy Road), Garreth Dickey (RIP. Park), and Keith Cedotal (Malai Kitchen) will host a VIP Celebrity Chef Dinner and wine pairing at 7pm followed by a fireworks display over White Rock Lake at 9pm. Live music! Birthday cake! Champagne toast! All included! Tickets!
Jump for more! (more…)
The last sold shout comes out from Wine Auctioneer pro Fritz Hatten on a drenched but joyous group of over 800 Auction Napa Valley guests dawning rubber boots and Napa wine festive attire celebrating the 31styear of the wine and dine weekend benefiting local Napa Valley charities.
$7.3 million was raised over the 4 day event much of it at the actual auction, with the highest single Lot dollar amount raised for the Fund a Need Lot 24 benefiting children’s health and wellness charities in Napa where the only prize came from dozens of kids carrying balloons and cupcakes around to each individual bidder to show their gratitude. The Lot sold for $1.1 million spread out among 132 bidders.
(more…)
Last night Best Buddies Dallas celebrated their “Life is Sweet” event with sweet treats prepared by some of our favorite chefs in the city and their buddy chef helpers.
The first of these “Life is Sweet” events occured just last fall on a chilly night in November, and with the great success of that evening for Best Buddies, and the beauty of spring in the air, they moved the 2011 event up a few months and held it last night at Victoria Hall inside Andrew Ormsby Catering. (more…)