Recipe for Success hosts Haute Hippie at Neiman Marcus for VIP dinner party Annual "Dress for Dinner" bash celebrates healthy eating and bohemian fashion during two-part bash Reported by Amber Elliott for The Houston Chronicle on March 3, 2017
"When I heard about Recipe for Success, it really touched my heart," [chair Tammie] Johnson said in between courses. "Young children need to understand that their brain, heart, and body all function best with good food."
The whole story from Amber: "Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar is usually all about the food. On Thursday evening, however, she invited mother/daughter duo Tammie Johnson and Brittany Randolph to chair an evening in celebration of another popular f-word: fashion.
Neiman Marcus hosted the party-in-two parts located on the Galleria department store's third floor. There, a stylish crowd gathered for Haute Hippie's bohemian-chic runway show; Neal Hamil models sashayed down the catwalk in gunmetal-accented, vintage-inspired pieces - a timely presentation for last minute Houston Livestock and Rodeo-wardrobe shopping.
Afterward, select VIPs slinked away for an intimate dinner at in-house eatery, Mariposa. Most got the "intimate" memo, anyway. One particularly raucous table brought Steak48-level energy to the private soiree, though Cavnar handled their revelry in stride.
"We manage to teach kids that healthy foods can be delicious, easy, and fun," she said above the noise, concisely explaining her organization's MO. "Now I invite you all to pull out your phones and search for an app called 'VegOut.' Vegetables are the new black."
The digital tracker helps "VegOut! 30 Ways in 30 Day Challenge" participants try 30 different vegetables in 30 days during the month of March. In keeping with the theme, Union Kitchen's chef Henry Hopkes served minestrone soup, zucchini and mushroom stuffed lasagna, and a berry tart to dinner-goers.
"When I heard about Recipe for Success, it really touched my heart," Johnson said in between courses. "Young children need to understand that their brain, heart, and body all function best with good food."
Good food will be the focal point of the organization's signature spring fundraiser, Delicious Alchemy, a 10-plate dinner event held at Becca Cason Thrash's legendary party pad next month. Only 10 seats (out of 100) remain.
Haute Hippie's newly appointed creative director, Cady Vaccaro, won't be at the April bash, though she made sure to get her fill of local flavor during this - her first - trip to the Bayou City. A knowledgeable server at Pax Americana gamely wrote recommendations on a napkin the night prior. His top suggestions? The Pastry War, Bad News Bar, and Anvil all came highly endorsed.
Thursday's attendees walked away with buzz-worthy swag. In addition to Aerin rose oil and body cream, guest Theresa Roemer placed copies of her new book, "Naked in 30 Days: A One-Month Guide to Getting Your Body, Mind, and Spirit in Shape," inside each bag.
After a month of healthy eating, one would hope to be in peak physical shape, right?"
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