Sometimes I find myself in some pretty amazing situations….though I am a firm believer in hard work and determination, sometimes being in the right place at the right time, developing great relationships and being a good friend, and truly believing in yourself can make good things happen.

Technically I have two things to thank my buddy, Chef Janice Provost of Parigi, for. First, she, along with Katie Natale, nominated me to be a member of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier Internationa – Dallas Chapter, which joyfully I recently found out that I have been accepted into. (YAY!) Les Dames is made up of some of the most talented and influential women in the food/beverage/hospitality industry all with a common goal to promote each other, and create opportunities for the next generation of females in the industry through scholarships and grants. To say I am honored is an understatement.

Along that same line of celebrating great women in the industry, Janice called me a few weeks ago and asked me to be a part of a pretty amazing group of women for a fantastic auction item at this year’s Cattle Barons Ball, raising money for the American Cancer Society. Since its inception in 1974 Cattle Barons has raised over $60 million for cancer research through live and silent auction items, and icredible donations….some of which has come on the heels of another great chef in town and some of his buddies. Each year Chef Kent Rathbun has called on some of his friends, like Chef Sevy, Dean Fearing and Richard Chamberlain, to create a dinner live auction item, raising upwards of $2 million…but thanks to Janice, an impressive group of women are about to give Kent and his friends a run for their money!!!

And again, I am truly honored to be a part of this as these women are amazing!  In addition to our farm-to table focused, fearless red-headed leader in pink, Janice asked Chef Tiffany Derry, former contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef and current star of Hungry Investors on Spike-TV; Chef Joanne Bondy, formerly of Ciudad and The Gaylord Texan; the whimsical and wonderful Pastry Chef, Dunia Borga, creator of the best quatro leches cake in the world at her restaurant La Duni; Leann Berry, the incredibly funny, creative and energetic mixologist behind the award winning cocktails at Abraham Salum’s Komali Restaurant; and me….well, we know who I am.

Our dinner will be for an impressive crowd of 40 people, either at Parigi or at the home of the high bidder with each chef creating a seasonal course for the group, with Leann starting the night with one of her amazing cocktails, followed by spot on pairings with a stellar glass of wine from me with each course. Full details will be on the Cattle Barons site shortly, but until then, get your tickets now and get your bidding cards ready…this is going to be fun!  Cattle Barons Ball 2014 will take place at Gilley’s on October 18.