May 2017 Archives

Tiffany Mathews is Volunteer of the Month!

Volunteer Ambassador
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Tiffany.jpgWe are thrilled to feature Tiffany Mathews as our May Volunteer of the Month. Since 2014, Tiffany has brought her cheerful personality to summer camp and Girl Scout classes, sharing her love for cooking acquired at age ten. "A lot of my family's social interaction took place in the kitchen," she recalls. And because her mother didn't like cooking, learning and enjoying how to cook was a natural step for Tiffany. Today, she considers one of her specialties mac n cheese, made predominately with cheddar and is "currently working on a recipe that has no processed cheese."

A Missouri native, Tiffany joined her two older sisters in Texas nearly eight years ago after graduating from University of Pittsburg. She is currently working a second degree in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Houston. Once she conquers the GRE, Tiffany will roll these undergrad credits toward a Masters in Dietetics. Once gradated, Tiffany hopes to relocate once again, possibly to Seattle. With several years of teaching experience, including six years as a tutor for HISD, Tiffany currently does administrative work for Jazz Education, a non-profit that introduces jazz music to children, and loves how the organization empowers young members of the community.

Despite her full plate and busy schedule, Tiffany continues to volunteer for Recipe for Success Foundation, building relationships with new and returning campers. One of her favorite memories occurred during her first year volunteering at summer camp when the campers were charged with producing a video for a granola recipe they'd created. One camper was inventive enough to write a parody to a familiar commercial jingle and Tiffany remembers being particularly impressed with this youth's aptitude and imagination.

Recipe for Success feels fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented volunteer onboard. Paola Tello, Volunteer Coordinator, adds "Tiffany's dedication to our mission has been outstanding...Her ability to jump right into any situation makes her an exemplary volunteer, but Tiffany's genuine love for teaching children is what makes her a star. I love seeing how children feel at ease with her while cooking and sharing stories."

We appreciate all that you do for Recipe for Success Foundation and the smallest members of our community. Thank you, Tiffany!

Cavnar a Top Mom

Recipe for Success
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Screen Shot 2017-04-14 at 10.22.35 AM.pngThe May issue of Family Circle Magazine featured Recipe for Success Founder, Gracie Cavnar as one of the country's 20 Most Influential Moms in recognition for her work. Follow this link for the online version. Screen Shot 2017-04-14 at 10.22.59 AM.png

Top Chefs Cook a $2,500 Dinner

Recipe for Success
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0207_RecipeForSuccessDinner_041917_MCW.jpgPaperCity Social Columnist Shelby Hodge reports: "Houston's Top Chefs Cook a $2,500 Dinner for a Fancy Crowd -- and a Beloved Foodie Charity Force Wins For the second annual "Delicious Alchemy" evening, Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar rounded up a stable of the city's top toques to create an unforgettable meal for an audience of 101." Read the whole story here. OR check out event coverage from The Houston Chronicle and CultureMap

Delicious Alchemy Banquet Smashing Success

Volunteer Ambassador
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BanquetBlogPhoto.jpgNearly $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!

Houston's Top Chefs Cook a $2,500 Dinner for a Fancy Crowd -- and a Beloved Foodie Charity Force Wins

10-course banquet with 20+ wines is the Recipe for Success at gourmet dinner party for a delicious cause

Recipe for Success' 'Delicious Alchemy' makes a splash

Delicious Alchemy for Recipe For Success