As one of Houston’s most well-renowned and loved chefs, Chris Shepherd takes great care when planning for some of his most popular events – all of which benefit restaurant workers in need.
Ahead of his annual event, Respect the Rosé: Run for the Rosés - Southern Smoke, Shepherd hit one of his favorite places to prepare: Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market.
The event, which started in 2015, began as a party to get together, cook for people and drink rose, but it quickly turned into yet another way to raise money for food and beverage workers who have fallen on hardships.
“It transformed into an actual party that could raise money for Southern Smoke, which takes care of folks in the food and beverage industry in their times of crisis,” Shepherd said. “So, we get to throw a party that does good.”
For context, Southern Smoke, founded by Shepherd and sponsored by Lexus, holds a festival each year that hosts some of the industry’s most talented chefs and personalities, with the help from plenty of local chefs and establishments. They all come together and throw one big party to help support any hospitality workers in crisis.
Last year, the nonprofit raised a record-breaking $1.8 million in one weekend.
[Related: How Southern Smoke is changing the lives of hospitality workers nationwide]
Shepherd said preparing for an event like Respect the Rosé begins with the layout of the menu.
“Understanding the menu is a road map and sometimes you may have to take a turn and that’s OK, he said. “You think you need green beans, well, no green beans, but yellow wax beans are there. You want one type of lettuce, but you have to get another -- that’s OK. Once the product is secured, then it’s just all about execution of the dishes.”
Shepherd said he’s always shopped at Urban Harvest for a couple of important reasons.
“There is a strong connection to our area when supporting the local vendors,” he said. “When you purchase items that are grown or harvested from less than 175 miles, it truly does support the local economy.”
Tyler Horne, Urban Market director of farmers markets, said it is the longest running nonprofit farmers market in the city, in business for 20 years.
“We have set ourselves apart by being strictly a producer’s-only market -- no crafts and trinkets, just food that has a focus on locally sourced ingredients,” he said.
It’s likely the reason why it’s common to see the who’s who of Houston’s culinary scene.
During Shepherd’s most recent shopping trip, he encountered chefs who are either James Beard award winners or nominated chefs: Anita Jaisinghani, chef and co-owner of Pondicheri; Monica Pope, a former competitor of “Top Chef” and former owner of several notable restaurants; and Stephen Stryjewski of Cochan in New Orleans.
Stryjewski was in town and shopping for Shepherd’s event.
[Related: “Local legend’ talks food, flavor and eco-friendly business practices]
Horne said the top seasonal items that drive chef traffic to Urban Harvest are its fruits, veggies and farm eggs.
“We have the freshest Texas peaches, strawberries, blueberries, figs, blackberries, persimmons, pears, plums, melons and citrus,” he said. “We also have chefs who do big pre-orders with our growers and pick up at the market to make it a fun morning. They do a little personal shopping and enjoy breakfast while loading up the best ingredients for their restaurants.”
For this year’s Respect the Rosé event, Shepherd loaded up on produce, eggs, bread and seafood. He said his shopping cart is typically full of seasonal items: “Citrus and root vegetables in the fall, and tomatoes, corn and peppers in the summer. Houston has such long growing seasons that it always has something delicious growing.”
This year’s Respect the Rosé event raised $85,000.
To learn more about Southern Smoke, its mission and all the fundraising events, click or tap here.