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.

Daniel and Melanie Ringold
Dispatches
Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’

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.

Keep Reading Show less

AS WE MOVE into Movember, men’s mental health is a big topic. In fact, men can get a lot of benefit, both mentally and physically by taking advantage of everything a spa has to offer. LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa, has the answers

How does Escape Spa cater to men? We designed Escape Spa to ensure both men and women feel comfortable and welcome. From our earth tones to our luxury brown unisex robes, this is not a pampering palace but a rejuvenation destination.

Keep Reading Show less

Jessica and Ryan Getz, Grace Ward

HOUSTON NONPROFIT Dec My Room threw a country-music-filled bash at House of Blues, where supporters two-stepped the night away and raised record-breaking proceeds, which will be used to decorate and customize hospital rooms of pediatric and young-adult patients all over the country. To date, the organization has improved the attitudes and healing process of 18,000 patients in nearly 200 hospitals.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties