In the world of the food and beverage industry, success and struggle can often intertwine.
Chris Shepherd, a local renowned and award-winning chef, has dedicated his efforts to providing a means of support to food and beverage workers across the nation. In April, the Southern Smoke Foundation -- a nonprofit created by Shepherd -- held an inaugural wine auction that raised $700,000 to do just that.
Shepherd first started the Southern Smoke Foundation nonprofit to help a friend who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The first fundraising event -- the Southern Smoke Festival -- started as a party in a parking lot in 2015.
The goal of the nonprofit quickly turned into putting money directly into the pockets of food and beverage workers when it’s needed most, and it can be for anything from mental health needs to unforeseen hardships.
Fortunately, Shepherd has plenty of friends with a similar goal.
The inaugural Southern Smoke Decanted Wine Auction -- presented by Lexus -- brought together a combined 220 guests that included winemakers, wine professionals, Houston chefs and tastemakers, all with a united purpose.
“Decanted brought Texas’s wine lovers together to support a great cause: aiding F+B workers in crisis across the country,” said Southern Smoke Executive Director Lindsey Brown. “We are grateful for their support and to all our partners who helped make 2024 the inaugural year.”
The weekend long event began with a reception at Shepherd and his wife’s home, where 50 winemakers and professionals shared wine they brought themselves, and the main event was a live auction, where guests bid on wine, dinners and trips.
Just a few of the items that went for the highest bids included a dinner at Shepherd’s home, a trip to Napa with a dinner for six at French Laundry, and a trip to the French wine country in Beaune.
In all, the live auction raised almost $400,000 for food and beverage workers, while additional funds were raised for:
- The Roots Fund, which supports wine education and resources to communities of color.
“The MS Society was the beneficiary of the Southern Smoke Festival back in 2015 and 2016, before we shifted our focus to crisis relief for the food and beverage industry,” said Brown. “We donate back to the MS Society every year; we have to remember where we came from.”
In addition to Decanted -- the newest fundraising event for the Southern Smoke Foundation -- there are other events held, including the Southern Smoke Festival and the upcoming Respect the Rosé: Run for the Rosé party on June 29 at Brennen’s of Houston.
Respect the Rosé will feature a multi-course meal from chefs Ryan Prewitt, Chris Shepherd, Steven Stryjewski, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, along with first-class rosés and other wines from top producers.
Click or tap here to purchase tickets.
To learn more about the Southern Smoke Foundation, its initiatives and upcoming events, click or tap here.