Houston’s Top Chefs and Big Hats Take a Bite Out of a Serious Houston Problem

What: Children at Risk‘s and Houston Food Bank’s “Spring Party: Big Apple Brunch”

Where: The Astorian

PC Moment: Hats were de rigueur at this lively midday fête where guests grazed across a field of offerings from some of the city’s top chefs before settling in for a program aimed at inspiring contributions to the “take a bite out of childhood hunger” effort.

Applause, applause for event chairs Norma and Beto Cardenas, Tracy and Harry Faulkner, Doe and Henry Florsheim and Theresa Hildreth; chef chair David Cordua; and auction chair Joy Chapman. Their efforts resulted in proceeds of more than $230,000.

Top toques whipping up tempting brunch fare included Kiran Verma of Kiran’s Restaurant, retired chef Mark Cox of Mark’s American Restaurant, Mark Holley of Holley’s Seafood fame, Robert Del Grande of Café Annie, Michael and David Cordua of Americas & Churrascos, Ricardo Vargas of Capital Grille, chef Drake Leonards of Eunice, and  Peter Montalvo of Houston Food Bank.

With Cynthia Cisneros serving as emcee, Children at Risk CEO Dr. Bob Sanborn and Houston Food Bank president and CEO Bob Greene addressed the importance of nutritious meals for youngsters. The grand finale was naming of winners in the hat celebration.

Who: Deborah and David Roylance, Yvonne and John Wallace, Krista Frazier, Larry Wisniewski, Rhee and Marcus Decuir, Nidhi Verghese, Sandhya Ayaar, Pooja Mohan, Laura and Steve Jones, Tara Kelly, Rhonda Sigman and Susanah and Chris Watt.