Equally successful as both restaurateur and chef, Charles Clark has made an indelible imprint on Houston's dining culture. Chef Clark has given time and time again of his talents to raise money and awareness on behalf of Recipe for Success through our Gala in Small Bites dinners and in the classroom at Rodriguez Elementary. We are thrilled that he will host Delicious Alchemy: The Banquet on May 19 at his dramatic and dazzling new venue The Dunlavy at Lost Lake on Buffalo Bayou.
"Charles and his crew came to cook at my house for our very first Gala in Small Bites--we were raising money even before we had a program," remembers founder, Gracie Cavnar. "It's only fitting that we celebrate our tenth Anniversary at his place, and we can't wait!"
When Charles and his partner Grant Cooper opened Ibiza more than fifteen years ago, Recipe for Success Foundation Founders Gracie and Bob Cavnar were immediate fans, and Gracie wasn't shy about complimenting the chef each time she dined there. Years later, she easily convinced him to host a fundraising dinner for her newly established foundation. "She was so nice, well-travelled and truly liked food. And she dined at Ibiza frequently," he remembers.
Chef Clark says he has really enjoyed the casual, in-home settings of the Gala in Small Bites dinners--and he should know, having been the featured chef at ten of them! "Holding a charity event in in someone's home makes it more personal, more connected to the cause," says Clark. "Plus it brings more money directly to the charity because there less overhead for the chef or restaurant than with a larger venue."
He says he loves that the fundraising events are not in a big hotel ballroom. "It's more personal, quaint and genuine. After doing this for years, these are almost no-brainers for me. It's great to plan dinner for 50 to100 people, good people (which usually includes pretty women). It's great to have the sponsorship of Recipe for Success' partners like Sysco and Whole Foods to help offset the cost. Gracie always thinks of different angles to help chefs minimize the cost."
Chef Clark says he highly recommends other chefs work with Recipe for Success. "There's such a good network of chefs, usually from chef-driven restaurants, not major chains," he says. "You work among your own colleagues and peers, so it's a great environment."
Clark teamed with business partner Grant Cooper more than 15 years ago to form Clark Cooper Concepts. Since their first venture at Ibiza, the partners have opened a slew of popular dining destinations, including Brasserie 19, Coppa Osteria, Punk's Simple Southern Food and Salt + Air. The Dunlavy at Lost Lake, which overlooks Buffalo Bayou off Allen Parkway at Dunlavy Street, is the company's latest concept to wow Houston diners. The modern space takes advantage of its scenic setting with vast, floor-to-ceiling windows and sparkles with more than 45 vintage chandeliers, collected over nearly two years.
When asked what do you hope people take away from the Delicious Alchemy anniversary weekend, Chef Clark talks about the appreciating everything Recipe for Success Foundation has accomplished. "I hope people will appreciate that reaching 10 years is really something," he says. "With the Foundation's incredible achievements, I hope the anniversary events will give the cause even more momentum. I certainly want the dinner to live up to the expectations, given the tradition of excellence that all the great volunteer chefs involved with Recipe for Success have established."
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