Chefs in the Field Turn Houston Farm Dinner Into Foodie Heaven

What: Recipe for Success’ “Chefs in the Field” dinner saluting the tomato

Where: In the barn at Recipe for Success‘ Hope Farms

PC Moment: This truly fresh-from-the-field dinner evening began with a tasting of two dozen varieties of Hope Farms’ heirloom tomatoes, which were served along with Basil Lemon Collins, a craft cocktail created specially for the event.

Dylan Murray, executive chef of Local Foods and Benjy’s, launched the seated portion of the feast with a Summer Field Salad with cucumber-chili vinaigrette, charred fennel, Hope Farms heirloom tomatoes and Brazos Valley smoked Texas Gouda cheese.

Putting the tomatoes to very creative use was Ben McPherson, chef/owner of BOH Pasta & Pizza, who created a stunning dish of tomato leaf rigatoni with Hope Farms smokey heirloom tomatoes, garlic, chives, basil, 1836: Texas olive oil and Grana Padano cheese.

Troy Guard, chef/owner of Guard and Grace, wowed guests with his open-fired Gulf red snapper entree, which was served with Hope Farms cucumber and heirloom tomato acqua pazza with soy bean and shitake mushroom pico.

Tomatoes for dessert? Chef Murray should be on the Food Network’s Chopped. The talented fellow created a remarkable tomato pistachio cake with basil-lemongrass crème anglaise.

Orchestrating the fundraiser for Recipe for Success community outreach programs were Gracie and Bob Cavnar, founders of the nonprofit.

PC Seen: Board members Ally Shell-van Koolwijk and husband Martijn, Bryan Christ and wife Stacey, Priya Coffey and husband Brad, Amanda Boffone, Rudy Guerra, Nico Gleza, Melissa Sugulas and Elizabeth Williams; advisory board members Suzanne Williams and husband Brad, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl and husband, Sverre; and fans including Mike Parmet, Yoon and James Smith and Barbara Van Postman.