Shelby's Social Diary

Channeling Audrey Hepburn adds glam notes to Elaine Turner's two-tiered holidaybash at CityCentre

Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman

With Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly as inspiration for her fall 2011 collection, fashion designer Elaine Turner continued the theme of sophisticated elegance with a holiday soirée she at her new boutique in CityCentre.

Ladies and a sprinkling of gents gathered to sip bubbly, graze through a party spread provided by neighboring Hotel Sorella and sample sweet treats from Ooh La La Dessert Boutique. The festive silver-and-pink decor played off of Turner's signature hot pink, in the form of bows and ornaments, decorating everything from trees to packages.

The designer stepped out in Hepburn sophistication, putting her long brown locks up in a tight bun and donning a black leather jacket, gold sequinned skirt and accessories by Elaine Turner, who else?

The party in the boutique was the first round of a double-header fete that then moved over to Studio Movie Grill, where guests viewed four behind-the-scenes Elaine Turner videos that she had made featuring her fall collection and playing off of the Hepburn theme.

Then with cocktails flowing and popcorn popping, guests settled into their theater seats for a screening of Hepburn's Funny Face. And, yes, there was lots of laughter and singing along to the familiar George Gershwin tunes.

The partying group included Heather McLeskey, Linda Bell, Jackie Fair, Callie Trigg, Libby Burgher, Gina Fritz, Heather Nelson, Katharine and Stephen Newman, Tammy Coker, Kathy Dannemiller and Tamsen Jessup.

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5-Course Feast

Houston Food Bank chefs' dinner serves up generosity and gourmet flair

Photo by Emily Jaschke

William Crutcher, Benchawan "Chef G" Jabthong Painter, David Skinner, Ope Amosu, and Alejandra Salas.

Houston’s culinary crowd traded kitchen heat for philanthropic firepower on May 5 as the Houston Food Bank hosted its 26th Annual Chefs’ Dinner at Hotel ZaZa Museum District.

The evening of haute cuisine and thoughtful giving served up more than a five-course feast. The gourmand affair delivered a major boost for food-insecure families across southeast Texas.

Event chairs Farah Ahmed and Tahir Qadir rallied an energetic room of foodies, philanthropists, and civic leaders, capping the evening with remarks that inspired a flurry of last-minute generosity. A surprise anonymous matching gift of up to $25,000 sent donations soaring, with more than $61,000 raised during the dinner alone.

The menu read like a Houston restaurant hit list. Guests dined on creations from Benchawan “Chef G” Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen, Ope Amosu of ChopnBlok, David Skinner of Eculent & Ishtia, William Crutcher of Monarch at Hotel ZaZa, and pastry chef Alejandra SalasAl.

Meanwhile, Doe and Henry Florsheim accepted the 2026 Barbara Falik Humanitarian Award for their longstanding commitment to food security efforts. Brian Greene, president and CEO of Houston Food Bank, also shared details about the organization’s upcoming groundbreaking for its newest building while outlining the food bank’s long-term vision and continued work serving the community.

The event raised $633,640, enough to provide more than 1.9 million meals to the community.

Not bad for a Tuesday night.

Seen on the scene were Teresa and Jose Ivo, Monique Abernathy, Gordon Murray, Michele and Jeff Dodson, Cathy Easter, Sarah and Ken Fisher, Joan Hessidence and Rick Wall, Colleen and Michael Keegan, and Drs. Ruth Lopez and Steve Turley.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

William Crutcher, Benchawan "Chef G" Jabthong Painter, David Skinner, Ope Amosu, and Alejandra Salas.

chefs fundraisers houston food bank