Kevin Naderi, Roost
Taking his passion and the experience he gained staging at Picholine in NYC and Madrona Manor in Napa along with his work at Brennan's, Haven, Soma and most recently as consulting Chef for Saint Genevieve in West Ave, 26-year-old Kevin Naderi opened his first restaurant, Roost, in December 2011.
Roost's 50-seat space is cozy and unpretentious amid walls paneled with old shutters and Edison-like light fixtures fashioned from gutter drains. Roost's rustic and diverse menu is revised every three weeks, inspired by local availability of farm-fresh seasonal ingredients and flavors of the world including the American South, Asia and the Middle East, taking advantage of Naderi's Persian heritage. Says Naderi, "I've taken a little bit from everywhere I've worked. It's a good showcase for what we do."
2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost
Chefs Advisory Board
Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.
These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Drop Paris an email and get started today!
The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.