Celebrity Houston chefs serve four-course dinner at local homeless shelter Top chefs from Xochi, State of Grace, Ritual, Riel and more help the Beacon day center raise $575,000 for Houston homeless

Ryan Lachaine, Mike Puccio, Rob and Susan Reedy, Philippe Gaston, Hugo Ortega, Ruben Ortega, Kathy Elkins, and Bobby Matos Ryan Lachaine, Mike Puccio, Rob and Susan Reedy, Philippe Gaston, Hugo Ortega, Ruben Ortega, Kathy Elkins, and Bobby Matos Photo: Jenny Antill Photo: Jenny Antill Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Celebrity Houston chefs serve four-course dinner at local homeless shelter 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

It's not every day that the Beacon - a day center, law service and transitional housing program for Houston's homeless - transforms into a pop-up dinner party catered by the city's top chefs. That only happens once a year. But knowing exactly who benefits from the $575,000 raised, and what is needed to restore hope and help end the homeless cycle, has played an integral role in the organization's annual Come to the Table gathering.

That's how Joe Cervantes of Brennan's of Houston, Kathy Elkins of Harold's in the Heights, Maurizio Ferrarese of Sud Italia Ristorante, Eric Laird of Ritual, Ara Malekian of Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Jeff Weinstock of Cake & Bacon, Wafi Dinari of Ouisie's Table, Robin Berwick of Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company wound up serving savory bites to 380 supporters during the Garden Party segment, which became an indoor affair at the last minute thanks to unpredictable Bayou City weather.

Afterward, the group moseyed across the street New Orleans-style (police escorted with libations and small plates in hand) for the big event.

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En route to the Beacon's dining room for a four-course feast, gastronomes couldn't resist peeking into the kitchen where top local culinary talent were hard at work alongside the day center's own chef Mike Puccio.

The program opened with a vocal performance of "#HoustonStrong" by Night Court, an original song featuring photography by Houston Chronicle staffers and Houston Community Newspapers contributors. As emcee Ernie Manouse introduced event co-chairs Susan and Rob Reedy, board president Wick Rowland, and CEO Becky Landes, waitstaff delivered plates to each table that couldn't have been further from typical gala fare.

Chefs Philippe Gaston (Izakaya) and Bobby Matos (State of Grace) kicked things off with chicken liver on marble rye toast with oyster mayo, mushrooms and a bone marrow vinaigrette; next, Hugo Ortega and Ruben Ortega (Hugo's, Backstreet Cafe, Caracol and Xochi) packed serious heat into their ceviche de chile canario; for the main course, Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri) served slow-braised oxtail with mint chutney and pomegranate seeds complemented by Claire Smith's (Alice Blue, Canopy and Woodbar) bread basket with warm ghee; Kathy Elkins (Harold's in the Heights) and Ryan Lachaine (Riel) ended the meal with a well-received maple panna cotta - at least one table asked for seconds.

Though per usual, former Beacon clients stole the show.

"Hi, I'm Barbara, a woman of long-term recovery," opened keynote speaker Barbara Watkins, after being introduced by another former client-turned-board member and last year's speaker, Loretta Ray. "I'm a woman of worth, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, and best friend."

Watkins recalled losing her mother, father, husband and 17-month old twins in an accident, and why she then turned to substance abuse to cope with the pain. Now she's three years sober.

"The Beacon helped put her life back together," Ray said. "Not as before, but as new."

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Auctioneer Shorty Yeaman funneled the power of Watkins' story into the live auction. Bidder no. 111 snagged both Haley Bowen's live painting and Reverend Patrick Miller's infamous "Get Out of Hell Free" card; the value of both items fell just shy of $50,000. Longtime volunteers Flo Ray and Frances Kittrell's hilarious video from inside the Beacon's laundromat led to $45,000 raised towards new washing machines and dryers; Ray and Kittrell go through up to 150 loads each day. And after an anonymous donor announced a $20,000 matching gift, the crowd contributed more than $100,000 - a new record - toward Brigid's Hope, a program which graduates women through 12 months of transitional housing and mentorship.

The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson and his daughter Eliza gave their final performance, an acoustic rendition of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love," before attendees departed on a doubly sweet note: with bags of Katz Coffee's signature Beacon blend and homemade cookies.

Then at 7 a.m. the following morning, the day center re-opened to serve its regulars.