I am pleased that Chantal Duvall and Dragana Harris are our volunteers for the month of May!
Chantal Duvall is originally from Belgium, but moved to Virginia in the 70's to marry the love of her life. Chantal received her first cookbook at the age of 10 which sparked her love for food and cooking. She taught French pastry and cooking in Kingwood for 15 years and owned her own catering company. She lived the charmed life in a small village in Provence for ten years before moving back to the States.
Dragana Harris brings a diverse background to our organization. She is Serbian, but grew in South Africa and attended college in Toronto, Canada. She loves to travel, photograph, and write - all about food. Her talents are showcased in one package through her writing and food styling for My Table Magazine, and her personal food blog "Prijatno!"
The duo met as senior docents 26 years ago at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Together they attended culinary events around town before running into Molly, RFS' Director of Operations. When Molly told them about our mission, they immediately hopped in to volunteer at Rodriguez Elementary. They have since helped with programs such as Chef Surprise and Dress for Dinner. The Chef Surprise series has been a favorite of Chantal and Dragana's because it allows them to support the best chefs in Houston, and also learn a few new tricks of the trade!
While Chef Surprise is Chantal's beloved RFS series, our Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ classes have had the most impact on her. She loved it when the students at Rodriguez Elementary snacked on lettuces that they grew in the school's garden. Chantal says, "The students are great examples for my grandchildren. I've taught them how to eat better using some of the tips I learned in the classroom."
Dragana loves the teamwork and excitement of our students while they prepare healthy meals sourced from their Recipe Garden. She keeps a collection of RFS recipes, including Eat It! Food Adventures, that she refers to often.
When Chantal is not helping with one of our programs, she is typically traveling and discovering new foods and wines. In 10 years, Chantal sees herself living in a small village in Provence enjoying the slow life, good wine, and fresh vegetables and cheeses. Dragana, on the other hand, hopes to continue to volunteer with Recipe for Success Foundation, which she predicts will be a well-known national organization!
Chantal's and Dragana's friendship extends outside of Recipe for Success Foundation. They are owners of a small chocolate business and love to experiment with sweets. Check out some of their tasty treats here: http://cdgourmethouston.com/
Learn more about our Chef Surprise dinners here.
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