Culinaire joins "I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING" Inaugural Benefit on April 8, 2018

(From left to right) Barbara McKnight (Culinaire Inspired Cuisine and Events), Mimi del Grande (Cafe Annie), Lynette Hawkins (Giacomo's), Erin Smith (Feges BBQ), Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri), Chef Monica Pope (Sparrow and Cookshop), Tracy Vought (Backstreet, Hugo's, and Xochi), Claire Smith (Canopy and Alice Blue), Chef Jamie Zelko (Zelko Concepts), Janice Schindel (Words and Food), Lisa Seger (Blue Heaven Farms), and Lindsey Schechter (Houston Dairymaids)

Something for Everyone Inaugural Benefit in Three Acts - April 8, 2018
The three events pair established female stars of Houston's food and beverage industry with up-and-coming cooks, providing opportunities for the mentorship of tomorrow's culinary leadership and uniting all in the name of women's health.

I’ll Have What She’s Having invites you to a fundraising event in three acts (3 events on 1 day and location), bringing together over 50 of our best known female chefs, up-and-coming culinarians and beloved industry professionals to create an unprecedented dining experience in Houston. This trio of events aims to raise funds $1 million dollars in support of Texan healthcare. Similar to the atmosphere of the Taste of Things to Come pop-up series, Something for Everyone aspires to create an inclusive opportunity for all Houstonians to support women's health and women in the restaurant industry.

Beneficiaries
All proceeds will fund essential women’s health services at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC), Legacy Community Health, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) and The Rose. 

• Texas has more uninsured women than any other state, including many women in the restaurant industry and our own organization. These organizations serve as principle providers of affordable, high quality healthcare to uninsured people in our region. The physicians and healthcare workers at these institutions are fighting to provide care in an era of diminishing healthcare funds. We are proud to stand with them.

• IHWSH, with your help, aims to contribute funds to benefit women who cannot otherwise afford cancer screening and treatment, birth control, STD testing, perinatal care and family planning. With the near constant political threat of Medicaid cuts and “defunding” of our vital community health centers, events such as ours serve to demonstrate our city’s broad support for health care access and are a funding source of growing importance for uninsured and under-insured women of Houston.

April 8 Schedule of Events

Hosted by Lori Choi, Tracy Vaught, Gracie Cavnar and Mimi Del Grande at Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire. Three acts—three opportunities to support the cause at different price points on the same day at the same location. 

4-6 pm: Amuse Bouche. A mix and mingle affair with open access to seven cocktail, beer and wine stations, with passed small bites by up-and-coming Houston culinary stars Kaitlin Steets (T Rex), Madelyn Lester (Nancy’s Hustle), Mary Cuclis (Pondicheri) and Patricia Burdette. Tickets are $99 each. Patrons may bid on silent auction items.
6:30 pm: Al Fresco. A picnic-style party with mocktails, beer and wine and picnic baskets for 2 featuring a cold picnic dinner with locally sourced ingredients crafted by Barbara McKnight (Culinaire), Janice Schindeler (Words and Food) and Claire Smith (Canopy, Alice Blue). The basket includes re-usable utensils, plates and a shopping bag. Picnic baskets for 2 are $250 and patrons may bid on silent auction items.

6 pm: Charitable Feast. Welcome reception begins at 5:30 pm, followed by a three course dinner prepared by Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri), Erin Smith (Feges BBQ), Jamie Zelko (Zelko Concepts), Lynette Hawkins (Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino) and Monica Pope (Sparrow Cookshop), sourced by local farmers. Sommeliers Vanessa Trevino Boyd and Monica Townsend will curate wine pairings produced by women winemakers and women-owned wineries. Live auction begins at 7:30 PM. $500 per person.

Purchase Tickets

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