Nearly $200,000 Raised to Support the Foundation's Mission!
We are thrilled to announce our second annual Delicious Alchemy Banquet was a run-away success! The energy in the room was buzzing and not just because the wine and spirits were flowing freely (because they were)! There is such joy from a sharing a meal and scintillating conversations with friends old and new. To finish it off with a sweet note, we are delighted to report that we raised nearly $200,000 to help fight childhood obesity and food injustice! This couldn't have happened without wonderful guests, our hard-working chair, Karina Barbieri, our gracious hosts, Becca and John Thrash, our amazing chefs, and generous sponsors, including Bonneté, Beviamo International, Sysco, DR Delicacy, D'Artagnan, Lexis Florist, Socialite Entertainment, and Chopard. You can check out all the fabulous photos!
The splendid evening was hosted in the exquisite Thrash home, and one hundred special guests were treated to ten delicious courses from chefs all committed to the mission of Recipe for Success. Martha de León of Pax Americana; Ryan Pera of Coltivare, Eight Row Flint, and Revival Market; Kevin Naderi of Roost; Justin Kouri of Recipe for Success; Bryan Caswell of Reef, El Real, and Little Big's; Wayne Nguyen of Maba Pan-Asian Diner; Kiran Verma of Kiran's; Greg Martin of Bistro Menil, Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie; Barbara McKnight of Culinaire; and Claire Smith of Shade and Canopy all crafted course designed to tantalize the guest's palate and then shared heartfelt stories on why partnering with Recipe for Success is so important to them.
Thoughtfully paired with each course were beautiful Italian wines from Jack Fassetta's Beviamo International, and elegant French wines and cognacs from Jean-Francois Bonneté. Guest raved over the opportunity to compare delicious wines from two renowned wine regions.
In the transition from dinner to the el proste presentation, complete with dry ice swirling around three delectable desserts, a live auction featured four unique items. Our winners included, Marnie Greenwood who will soon be sipping on vintage Bache Gabrielsen Cognacs with twenty of her closest friends; Bill Baldwin who walked away with artwork by Kermit Oliver thanks to Hooks Epstein Gallery, Robert Tijerina who snatched up the gorgeous Chopard necklace, and Bo Collins and Rene Carson who will soon be sipping and supping their way through Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Cognac, France, thanks to the generosity of Jean-Francois & Nathalie Bonneté.
Completing the evening, Gracie Cavnar unveiled her plans to plant a lasting tribute to her dear friend Mickey Rosmarin, at the Foundation's Hope Farms. Rosmarin was an early champion of the Foundation's mission to combat childhood obesity, so it's only fitting that Mickey's Grove surrounds Hope Farms with gorgeous fruit trees to provide not only nutritious food for the community, but a beautiful and peaceful walking path. Guests were given the opportunity to plant a tree in Mickey's Grove for $1,000 in his honor.
This memorable evening was a huge success and brought into focus the important aspects of Recipe for Success, friends, good food and a commitment to providing accessible fresh produce to all communities.
We received lots of great press--read all about it!
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