Star Chefs Team Up for Wellness Week

03282018_IHWSH_aescottdesignsphotography-7

It’s no secret that prolific chef-restaurateur Ryan Pera — Coltivare, Revival Market, and about a million forthcoming restaurants — is a busy guy. But his wife, Lori Choi, can keep up. A vascular surgeon by day, she founded I’ll Have What She’s Having in 2017. Her nonprofit raises healthcare funds for female food and beverage industry workers, and is celebrating its first-ever WellWeek Oct. 7-13, a series of events that promote mental health awareness.


The initiative kicks off on Sunday with the Depressed Cake Shop, a bake sale and cake auction at Silver Street Studios, “to remind us that one in five Houstonians can have trouble appreciating the sweetest things about life,” says Choi.

On Monday at The Dunlavy, a Happy Birth Day pop-up dinner, prepared by chefs Jane Wild (The Dunlavy), Jill Bartolome (Aqui) and Dawn Burrell (Kulture), benefits the Shades of Blue Project, which supports minority women with postpartum depression.

And throughout the week, restaurants — including Feges BBQ, Morningstar, Nancy’s Hustle, Paulie’s, all of Pera’s popular spots, and more — will offer a mocktail or “depressed” dessert on their menu, to spark conversation. “We're aiming to stimulate conversation and chip away at the stigma associated with mental illness that may prevent our friends and loved ones from seeking the help they need,” says Choi. Proceeds from the campaign benefit Legacy Community Health mental health services, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Southern Smoke Foundation.

For more on Choi and Pera, see “Make It a Double! H-Town Power Pairs,” CityBook’s list of Houston’s most dynamic duos, in this newsletter and in the October issue out now.

Wellness+Giving Back
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

Duck N Bao's bento boxes are part of Dine Out Rice Village

HOUSTON'S EVER-GENEROUS restaurant scene is already at it in 2025. Here are three ways foodies can dig in, raise a glass, and support important causes in January.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

CHANGE IS A good thing, and with the start of a new year, I always like to reflect on how far I've come and start fresh by setting self-care goals for the coming months. Personal growth is a passion for me, and also something I enjoy. Guiding a business through growth and change is also one of my passions, so I am very pleased to announce that Escape Spa is going to be expanding in 2025! We’re honored that we’ve built such a loyal following since opening in Cypress in July of 2022, and we’re thrilled to be in a position to grow our wellness and recovery sanctuary just outside of Houston.

Keep Reading Show less