one hearty donation
Houston Restaurant Weeks serves up nearly $2M in 2023 for local food charity
Houstonians did a whole lot of dining during last year’s edition of Houston Restaurant Weeks. The Cleverley Stone Foundation revealed that the 2023 event raised $1,866,511 for the Houston Food Bank.
Founded by Cleverley Stone in 2003 and continued by her daughter Katie Stone Cappuccio through the foundation, Houston Restaurant Weeks partners with local restaurants to raise money for the Houston Food Bank. Participating establishments serve prix fixe menus at set price points that trigger a corresponding donation to the foundation, which then makes a donation to the Food Bank. In 2022, restaurants offered $25 lunch and brunch menus and $39 and $55 dinner menus that resulted in $3, $5, and $7 donations.
All that eating and drinking allowed Houston Restaurant Weeks to donate over $600,000 more than last year's total, which was $1,240,811. A record number of participants — almost 400 restaurant locations across the Houston-area — and raising donation amounts to their pre-pandemic amounts contributed to the event’s success.
Overall, Houston Restaurant Weeks has raised over $20.7 million for the Food Bank. Since the nonprofit turns every dollar into three meals, the event has generated more than 62 million meals.
“The Houston Food Bank looks forward to Houston Restaurant Weeks every year and is honored to be the beneficiary of such an established and successful event” Houston Food Bank president and CEO Brian Greene said in a statement. “We are grateful to Katie Stone for continuing the legacy that her mother set to help our neighbors in need and support restaurants at the same time.”
Houston Restaurant Weeks will return for its 21st year from August 1 until September 2. Eat Drink HTX, the Foundation's event for more casual, less expensive restaurants, will return for its third year February 15-29.
Organizers also provided the top 10 donations. Once again, B&B Butchers leads the way.
- B&B Butchers: $53,924
- Brennan’s of Houston: $41,183
- Trattoria Sofia: $34,721
- Traveler’s Table: $33,957
- MAD: $33,806
- Marmo: $30,694
- Le Colonial: $28,287
- Étoile Cuisine et Bar: $26,270
- 51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktails: $22,887
- Pappas Bros. Steakhouse - Downtown Houston: $21,133