food

Here’s How to Assist Struggling Restaurants and Bars in the Aftermath of Beryl — and Eat Well, Too!

Here’s How to Assist Struggling Restaurants and Bars in the Aftermath of Beryl — and Eat Well, Too!

Chris Shepherd, left, is hosting a dinner at Four Seasons next month and, on right, wine from Robert Mondavi Wines that will be served at a dinner in Napa for Southern Smoke Foundation

MANY RESTAURANTS, COFFEE shops, and bars across H-Town are still closed due to power outages from Beryl. Others, who have since opened, are struggling with staff displacements as well as wasted food, property damage and loss of consistent revenue.

Enter the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit that provides emergency relief for food and beverage workers nationwide in crisis. No surprise, the Foundation is receiving many applications from workers in need of assistance right now. These requests for help will only continue to climb in the coming weeks.

On average, food and beverage workers lose $1,175 in income during a natural disaster. After the Derecho storm in May, Southern Smoke granted 363 food and beverage workers a total of $321,000. Patrons can make donations here any time of the year, but another way to contribute is to attend the annual Southern Smoke Festival in October.

If you find yourself in the Napa Valley, Calif., this July, the Foundation will conduct an industry roundtable event July 24 at Robert Mondavi Winery and a Farmstead Live Fire x Southern Smoke Foundation benefit party July 26. The latter event takes place at beautiful Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena and will include food, wine, cocktails and live music.

Getting hungry and thirsty? The Four Seasons Houston has collaborated with Southern Smoke co-founder Chris Shepherd for a Celebrity Chef Pop-up Series, which benefits the Southern Smoke Foundation. Mark your calendars for a quarterly dinner featuring Shepherd’s choice of award-winning chefs from around the country from his personal network. Reservations are required for the two seatings (5pm and 8pm).

“I’m thrilled to partner with Four Seasons in creating this ongoing pop-up series, featuring some of my friends and favorite chefs from around the country,” says Chris Shepherd. “Bringing these exciting culinary experiences to H-Town is a great way to have some fun and share great connections over amazing food and wine.”

The first dinner is August 4 and stars Shepherd himself as he presents Sunday Supper at Mr. C’s, a tribute to his favorite childhood restaurant in Omaha. The setting will have holiday lights, checkered tablecloths, and Rat Pack-era live music. Chefs for the fall and winter dinners will be announced soon. Reservations are required, as the two seatings (11pm and 8pm) are limited.

From Your Site Articles
Food
promoted

Elevate Dining in and out this Summer with Steam Cooking

Elevate Dining in and out this Summer with Steam Cooking

MAKE THE MOST of every delicious bite this summer with the benefits of steam cooking. Whether you’re reviving leftovers from Houston’s hottest foodie hangout or hosting memorable gatherings at home, integrating steam into your cooking repertoire can take your food to the next level.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places