Curated Texan
Chefs Help To Raise Funds For The Special Challenges Of Children Through Music And Media
By Cynthia Smoot Photography by Tamytha Cameron and Danny Campbell
THE SETTING: The much-anticipated 14th Annual Symphony of Chefs was held recently at the Armstrong Fieldhouse at SMU. Event Chairs Beanie and Martin Newman, along with Honorary Chef Chairs Justin Box, Private Chef, Consultant and Restaurateur, and Luke Rogers, Executive Chef and Owner of Beckley 1115, were the driving forces behind this year’s ultimate chef-driven culinary dinner experience benefiting KidLinks.
The evening kicked off with The Rayleigh Underground providing delicious hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail reception. The reception was followed by a seated dinner where over 20 of Dallas’ most notable chefs prepared a unique four-course dinner tableside for guests with wine pairings from some of the world’s best vineyards.
THE VIBE: WFAA’s Rebecca Lopez served as the evening’s emcee and introduced Bob Enriquez, who shared how music therapy sessions provided by KidLinks had impacted his great-grandson, Lucas, who was born with Myotonic Dystrophy which affects the facial muscles making it difficult to form and pronounce words and consequently, he had been essentially non-verbal. Thanks to KidLinks, 8-year old Lucas is now speaking in complete sentences and his family has hope for continued development. Hamilton A Sneed of HAS Events was the visionary behind this culinary concept, which had DJ Steffi Burns spinning tunes as guests entered through draped curtains, revealing tables placed throughout SMU’s practice course setting the scene for a lively evening of culinary composition.
Following the several course meal, Featured Pastry Chef Jill Bates of Sugar & Sage Bakery created masterful desserts as an end note to the evening. Notable supporters in attendance included Cristi and Kevin Ryan, Christie and Elbert Choi, Bonnie and Nathan Shea, Lisa and Stuart Sides, and Georgia and Marc Lyons. In addition to Honorary Chef Chairs Justin Box and Luke Rogers, participating chefs included Aaron Collins, Chef de Cuisine of Cafe Momentum; Luca Corazzina, Executive Chef of Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge; Eric Dreyer, Executive Chef of Monarch Restaurant.
Also participating were: Miriam Jimenez, General Manager and Partner of Miriam Cocina Latina; Henry Johnson, Executive Chef of Bistro 31; Jennie Kelley, and Brandon Moore, Chef/Owners of Fond; John Kleifgen, Executive Chef of Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse; Dan Landsberg, Executive Chef of The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch; Kevin Martin, Chef de Cuisine of TERRA; Giuliano Matarese, Chef and Restaurateur of Miss Pasta; Michael Matis, Chef de Cuisine of Fearing’s Restaurant; Nikky Phinyawatana, Chef & Founder of Asian Mint Restaurant Group; Janice Provost, Chef and Owner of Parigi; Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, Executive Chef of José; Jeramie Robison, Director of Culinary and Executive Chef of Thompson Dallas; Rodman Shields, Culinary Director of Milkshake Concepts; Jordan Swim, Owner of Vestals Catering; and Leo Ramirez, Sous Chef of Dee Lincoln Prime.
THE NON-PROFIT: KidLinks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides healing, hope and happiness for children and families through therapeutic music entertainment and music therapy programs and resources. For well over three decades, impacting more than 385,000 children and caregivers, KidLinks has provided healing experiences for children with special needs through performing arts and media, therapeutic music initiatives, university-level music therapy training and free/low cost treatment programs. Learn more at www.kidlinks.org.
