Julia Child (photo courtesy Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University) and Chris Shepherd
To commemorate a decade of honoring those who foster profound change in the way America cooks, eats, and drinks, the Foundation is throwing a big party. Houston is honored to be the kick-off city for the cross-country tenth-anniversary dinner series beginning Feb. 4 at the historic Eldorado Ballroom. The series raises critical funds for The Smithsonian Food History Project at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., home to Julia Child’s kitchen.
Co-hosted by Houston-based 2021 Julia Child award recipient Toni Tipton-Martin, the evening will honor our great city’s iconic culinary scene. A three-course menu will be curated by Houston's renowned chefs Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn and Navy Blue, James Beard Award recipient Chris Shepherd of Southern Smoke Foundation, and Chris Williams of Lucille’s. Tipton-Martin is the editor in chief of Cook’s Country Magazine. The award-winning author and nutrition journalist moved to Houston last year from Baltimore.
As the dinner series tour moves on to celebrate the exceptional landscape of America’s culinary heritage, five additional cities with renowned Julia Child- awarded chefs will be graced. Those include: Chicago, IL, March 19, co-hosted by Rick Bayless (2016 recipient); New York, NY, date TBD, co-hosted by Danny Meyer (2017 recipient) and Grace Young (2022 recipient); Madison, CT, June 1, co-hosted by Jacques Pépin (2015 recipient); Washington, D.C., date TBD, co-hosted by José Andrés (2019 recipient) and Danielle Nierenberg (2020 recipient); and Los Angeles, CA, September 19, co-hosted by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (2018 recipients).
The celebration culminates with the awarding of the tenth recipient of The Julia Child Award. The recipient will be honored with his or her copper pan at the annual Food History Gala at The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. on October 17. Each year, the recipient receives a uniquely designed award engraved with his/her name and year of honor. In addition, the Foundation makes a $50,000 grant to the food-related non-profit of the recipient’s choosing.
Tickets to the Houston kick-off dinner (Thursday, Feb. 4, 6pm) can be purchased here until February 4, which is sooner than it sounds!
Toni Tipton-Martin with Award (photo by Jaclyn Nash, courtesy of the National Museum of American Histor)
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At the age of 3, Campbell attended a rodeo with his father Jay, a former bull rider, and became immediately intrigued by mutton busting. A few weeks later, Campbell returned to the rodeo as a competitor and has been hooked since. Fast forward to 2024 and he is one of the preeminent talents at the Professional Bull Riders Unleash The Beast, Jan. 26-27, and a contender for this season’s PBR World Championship. Campbell, 25, is one of the top 40 riders in the world participating in the elite competition back in Houston for the first time in five years. The upcoming tour stop is at Toyota Center, the home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Campbell first broke onto the PBR scene in 2020, making a stellar second-half push to qualify for the first PBR World Finals of his career. At his first appearance at the sport’s most prestigious event, Campbell went a near-perfect 4-for-5, including two 90-point rides, winning the World Finals, and catapulting from No. 33 to No. 3 in the world to capture the coveted title Rookie of the Year.
During the 2023 individual season, he returned to top form and finished inside the Top 10 for the third time in his young career. He is currently No. 22 in the standings, having logged four Top-15 finishes to date. Now a key member of the Carolina Cowboys on PBR Teams, Campbell is also featured on the Prime Video docuseries “The Ride.”
The highlight of bull riding for Campbell is the challenge. “More than competing against the other riders, the part I like is the adrenaline rush by conquering the beast and the feeling when you did your job well and safely,” said Campbell. He also enveloped the culture immediately when becoming pro. “People in the sport are so loving and friendly and I’ve met so many great families.”
Champion bull riders can have a lucrative career, but it requires a lot of endurance and stamina. “The most difficult part of the career is staying in tip-top shape, going to the gym daily, eating healthy, sleeping and just staying well in general.” Campbell adds, “There are trials and tribulations every day in this sport. You can be on top of your game after one competition and at the very bottom the next.” Campbell knows he can’t be a bull rider forever, but he says, “I’ll be in this industry forever in some capacity.”
When not traveling or training for a competition, Campbell enjoys basketball, hanging out with family and friends, roping and riding horses. “I’ve been immersed in western lifestyle for as long as I can remember, and around horses and cattle since I could walk.”
The young ladies may wonder, is the exuberant and ambitious cowboy single? Yes!