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.
Fady Armanious, Brigitte Kalai AND Alicia Smit (photo by Priscilla Dickson) 
