Grand Cru: Cultivating Community for 25 Years

We are delighted to celebrate the resounding success of our 25th Anniversary Chefs’ Dinner, a remarkable evening that combined culinary artistry with a powerful commitment to our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to featured chefs Hugo Ortega, Marcos Juarez, with Austin Simmons, Brandon Wilhelm, Evelyn Garcia, and Marie Riddle, with Aaron Bludorn, for sharing their extraordinary talents and passion. Special thanks are also due to event chairs Barbara & Steve Retzloff for their exceptional leadership.

The evening was made even more special by the presentation of the Barbara Falik Humanitarian Award to the Keegan Family, whose transformative generosity has revolutionized our ability to nourish Houston’s most vulnerable children through the Keegan Kitchen. We also honored Jim Mills, the visionary founder of Chefs’ Dinner, with a special recognition award. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our underwriters, attendees and donors, we raised over $519,000 which equals over 1.5 million meals that will support our neighbors as well as children’s programs like Summer Feeding.

The 25th Anniversary Chefs’ Dinner was made possible by our esteemed sponsors. With school meals ending during the summer, many Houston children face increased food insecurity. We are dedicated to the Summer Feeding Program, which provides approximately 350,000 meals throughout the summer, ensuring no child goes hungry during these critical months.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our Host Committee members—Holly and Jim Baker, Jeff and Michelle Dodson, Melissa and Bob Duran, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Teresa and José Ivo, Virginia and Lee Lahourcade, Marci Rosenberg and Ben Samuels, and Jennifer and Tadd Tellepsen—whose dedication was vital to the Chefs’ Dinner’s success.

We are especially grateful to our food underwriters—Chef and Rancher, Teresa and José Ivo, Kroger, and Marine Foods Express—whose contributions allowed our chefs to create exceptional culinary experiences.

Finally, we extend our sincere appreciation to our partners—Hotel ZaZa Museum District, The Wine Group, and Art Attack—whose support was invaluable in making this milestone event a reality.