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    ultimate garden party

    Star chefs serve up fab foodie feast to Houston's society set at ultimate al fresco party

    Steven Devadanam
    May 22, 2018 | 6:00 am

    An A-list group of Houstonians were recently transported to the Italian countryside for an intimate dinner at the villa-style home of Lisa and Michael Holthouse, which is perched lakeside, tucked away in the tall trees of Memorial. Decked out in garden chic/no ties dress code, guests gathered around long family-style tables lined with silver and crystal and referred to handmade menu portfolios to keep up with the culinary action. Presented by Brunello Cucinelli, the evening featured 10 extraordinary Houston chefs who created ten exquisite courses matched with nine superb wines to benefit Recipe for Success Foundation.

    Thanks to the generosity of Cucinelli — and a host of in-kind donors of food, beverages, service, music, and décor —100 percent of the ticket income ($235,000), equaling 20 percent of the foundation’s annual budget, went directly to Recipe for Success programming. Cucinelli offered a specially-tailored, private two-day/one-night tour of Solomeo—the organization’s home village in Tuscany—and bidding was so exuberant that they ended up awarding trips to four donors.

    Cucinelli and Recipe for Success Foundation share a passion and purpose in inspiring people to celebrate shared meals, local food and healthy eating. Cucinelli’s Project for Beauty focuses on agriculture as a way of restoring man’s dignity. It has renovated abandoned properties throughout the Umbria region of Italy, transforming them into green and vibrant spaces, much as what the Recipe for Success Foundation is doing at Hope Farms, its seven-acre farm and training center located in Houston’s historic Sunnyside neighborhood.

    Recipe for Success partnered with many chefs, some who have been involved with the Foundation for years and others new on the Houston scene — Arturo Boada (Arturo Boada Cuisine); Vincent Celeste (La Table); Olivier Ciesielski (L’Olivier); Giancarlo Ferrara (Amalfi); Maurizio Ferrarese (Sud Italia); Felix Florez (Black Hill Ranch and Cherry Block); José Hernandez (Lucienne); Kevin Naderi (Roost); Charles Ho (Le Colonial); and Claire Smith (Canopy). Through their dishes, the chefs celebrated the influence of Italian cuisine on the foodways of the world.

    “Chefs are at the very heart of what we do,” says Gracie Cavnar, founder of Recipe for Success. “It was 24 chefs – including many of this year’s amazing talents — who rolled into fourth-grade classrooms with me 13 years ago to inspire and empower children to make healthier eating decisions.”

    Brunello Cucinelli was presenting Sponsor while Hosts Lisa and Michael Holthouse, along with Founders Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Van Cleef & Arpels and River Oaks District, were major event underwriters of the evening. Barbara Friedel McKnight, whose Culinaire catering company sponsored service for the event, was also the Dinner Chair. Guests were welcomed to the Holthouse’s Italianate-style home with a cocktail created by Hal Brock, the Tito’s Daisy, which featured Tito’s Handmade Vodka, lemon juice, and a shrub made from sage, rosemary and dill grown at Hope Farms.

    Brock’s floral company, 22Fresh donated the table arrangements, a variety of white roses interspersed with thistle, hydrangeas, lisianthus, tulips, sage flowers, rosemary and dill, some of which were harvested at Hope Farms, the foundation’s working farm in south Houston.

    The evening’s meal was paired with wines from the portfolio of Rootstock Wines. Other sponsors providing food, beverage and party elements included The Events Company, The Macallan Single Malt Whisky, Hendrick’s Gin, Neiman Marcus, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Martin Preferred Foods, Socialitè Americas, Java Pura Coffee Roasters, M Penner, and Hotel Granduca Houston.

    Spotted in the crowd: Barbara and Lance McKnight, Holly and Austin Alvis, Fady Armanious, Emily and Art Armenta, Rosangela and David Capobianco, Kara and Ray Childress, Emily and Robert Clay, Ernie and Stephanie Cockrell, Hilda Curran, Ralph and Lisa Eads, Clayton Erikson, Marita Fairbanks, Sheree and Norman Frede, Karen and Roland Garcia, Curry Glassell, Ford Hubbard, Shamika Johnson, Stacey and Al Lindseth, Lucinda and Javier Loya, Sultana and Moez Mangalji, Virginia and William McMullen, Fatema and Wasim Naqvi, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Tom and Jessica Roupe, Melissa and Doug Schnitzer, Melissa and Dan Sugulas, and Zina Garrison.

    Austin Alvis, Holly Alvis, Anna Lindamood, and Darren Lindamood.

    Delicious Alchemy Austin & Holly Alvis with Anna & Darren Lindamood
      
    Photo by Dave Rossman
    Austin Alvis, Holly Alvis, Anna Lindamood, and Darren Lindamood.
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    Power and Style

    Fashion show and tequila toasts light up Latin Women’s Initiative lunch

    Joel Luks
    Jun 13, 2025 | 4:30 pm
    Latin Women's Initiative gala luncheon 2025
    Photo by Dave Rossman
    Jessica Perez, Vicky Nehme, Raquel Thomas, and Alejandra Elizondo.

    Houtson's Latin Women’s Initiative pulled off a tres chic triple threat — style, celebration, and serious giving — during its 30th anniversary luncheon and fashion show, drawing more than 850 supporters to the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom. The event blended culture, community, and catwalks into one spectacular midday affair.

    Event chairs April Ramirez Fabre and Julie Garza, alongside board president Jovanny Orellana, welcomed guests to a ballroom teeming with fashionistas, philanthropists, and a whole lot of Latin sass. The annual luncheon, show, and bustling marketplace marked a major milestone for the nonprofit, which has supported Houston’s Latin community for more than two decades. This year’s honorees, Lisset Garza and Naimeh Salem, were recognized for their years of dedicated support to the organization and beyond.

    Festivities kicked off early with a shopping marketplace that opened in the morning and quickly became standing room only. Stylish attendees sipped tequila samples from local brand Titanium Tequila while browsing vendors. A specialty cocktail bar and music from DJ Freddy B kept the energy festive. Event designer Johanna Terry delivered an elegant setting, infusing the ballroom with rich emerald green tones, a nod to the organization’s 30th anniversary, paired with lush florals.

    The program began with Orellana welcoming the crowd from a dramatic Y-shaped runway, as Mariachi Reyes de Mexico filled the room with music that hushed the crowd for a heartfelt invocation.

    Then came the moment every fashion lover waited for: Lo Mejor de Saks Primavera 2025 (The Best of Spring Saks 2025), a luxe runway show presented in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue, led by Heidi Turney and Hasina Starks. Applause echoed as models and a few brave Houston firefighters showed off the season’s must-haves. But the true showstopper? Actor and TV host Julián Gil, who surprised the audience by strutting the runway himself, earning whoops and cheers from the crowd. His appearance was generously sponsored by Salem.

    The catwalk came alive with Latin beats and massive LED screens flashing colorful visuals, thanks to a production team led by Lenny Matuszewski and Tamara Bonar. Behind-the-scenes storytelling and videos, created by exclusive media partner Telemundo Houston, added a poignant layer to the spectacle.

    As guests settled in for lunch, anticipation built for the raffle, which included a dazzling diamond tennis necklace from Zadok Jewelers. Helene Zadok herself took the stage to crown the lucky winner. All that excitement translated into impact: the event raised more than $500,000 to benefit Justice Forward, Rebuilding Together Houston, Segundo Barrio Children's Chorus, El Centro de Corazon, and Naba Shoes for Kids.

    And what’s a Latin party without a proper toast?

    Guests clinked glasses in a tequila-fueled cheers to three decades of fashion for a cause, then danced the afternoon away to live music from Grupo Kache. The grand finale included more marketplace shopping and lite bites, with plans already announced for next year’s fête on May 1, 2026.

    Houston’s Latin glitterati showed up, including Ceron, Patricia Herrera, Leticia Fallick, Rosi Hernandez, Gloria Luna Bounds, Trini Mendenhall-Royalty, Vicky Dominguez, Becky Reyes, Maritza Gonzales, Vicki Luna, Chree Boydstun, David Cordua, Frances Castañeda Dyess, Patricia Garcia, Alba Huerta, Daisy Mendoza, Arcy Muñoz Marshall, Jolene Treviño, Mari Salazar, Leanne Schneider, Hoda Sana, Xochitl Ljuboja, Jackie Garcia, Cathryn Martinez, Mariangeles Orti, Vanessa Ramirez, Matty Restivo, Lisa Flores, Susan Dray, Marilu Garza, Conchita Reyes, Lorena Gomez, Lucia and Michael Cordua, and Leisa Holland-Nelson.

    Latin Women's Initiative gala luncheon 2025
      

    Photo by Dave Rossman

    Jessica Perez, Vicky Nehme, Raquel Thomas, and Alejandra Elizondo.

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