The Mom 100 Cookbook by Katie Workman

Katie Workman came through Dallas on a national tour on May 23, 2012 to promote her new cookbook, The MOM 100: 100 recipes every Mom needs in her back pocket.  My friend, Dedie Leahy, called and asked me if I would help her put together a luncheon and book-signing with some "Mom influencers, media and food bloggers". Since I do consider myself quite the connector of fabulous folks, I agreed.

My first call was to the ever so amazing Candace Evans.  You might know Candy from her years at D Home Magazine. She is now the editor and creator of Candy's Dirt and Second Shelters.  You want to know the scoop on Dallas Real Estate, hot houses, the best realtors? Candy's your gal. She's an incredible Mother with an amazing home, so I asked her to host this soiree and she generously agreed.  

Cynthia Smoot, Katie Workman, Dedie Leahy and Candace Evans

A beautiful spread for guests

Katie talked a bit about her inspiration for the cookbook

Katie signs for Kimberly Whitman and Shona Gilbert

The MOM 100 is the lifesaving cookbook that every mom needs, filled with delicious, no-fuss, easily adaptable recipes, plus tips, attitude and wisdom for surviving and staying happy in the kitchen while proudly keeping it homemade. Because homemade not only tastes best, it is best for you.

The Mom 100 dazzles with main-dish meats, Monday Night Brisket to Apple-Glazed Pork Chops, fish dishes they’ll actually eat, healthy snacks and pretty healthy desserts, like fun Fruit Salad on a Stick.  Picky eaters? Breakfast insanity? Last-minute company? Don’t worry – the Mom100’s got you covered!  Grab your copy wherever books are sold. Or there's always Amazon. 

HUGE thanks to Thomas Garza for these amazing photographs.

Taste of the NFL 2012: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party

CBS 11 Anchor Tracy Kornet, Former Dallas Cowboys Running
Back Preston Pearson & CBS 11’s Gina Miller

Former Dallas Cowboy Chad Hennings joined an all-star roster of hosts, including Chef Kent Rathbun of Abacus, Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware #94, and Cowboys legend Preston Pearson for 2012’s Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party benefiting the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).

Foodies and football fans huddled up at the Omni Hotel's Trinity Ballroom to take a bite out of childhood hunger at the eighth annual “party with a purpose,” aiming to raise its one-millionth dollar in 2012.

This year’s Tailgate Party had all the ingredients of a winning evening, including:  20 gourmet food stations from chefs representing some of DFW’s hottest restaurants and purveyors (see list below); Current and former Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; Live music by Emerald City and a silent and live auction.

“I am proud to Co-Chair this winning team, and to support this great event as it looks to raise its one millionth dollar in 2012 to feed North Texas kids in need,” said Chad Hennings, former Dallas Cowboy #95.

Live auction with Auctioneer and Chef Kent Rathbun of Abacus with girls

The following star chefs took time out from their own kitchens to participate:

• Kent Rathbun – Kent Rathbun Concepts: Abacus, Jasper’s, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen, & KB’s WoodFire Grill
• Sean Merchant – Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Omni Dallas Hotel
• Jake Law & Sarah Katherine Francis – Cavallini Coffee & Tea
• Graham Dodds – Central 214, Hotel Palomar Dallas
• David Holben – Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
• Bronwen Weber – Frosted Art Bakery & Studio
• Matt McCallister – FT 33
• Orazio LaManna – Legends Hospitality, Cowboys Stadium
• Anthony Bombaci – Nana, Hilton Anatole Hotel
• Rodman Shields – Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse
• James Williams – North Texas Food Bank, Community Kitchen
• Leslie Beach – The Owner’s Box, Omni Dallas Hotel
• James Johnson – Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
• The Saxton Group – Pinkberry
• Jaime Corona – Place at Perry’s
• Tiffany Derry – Private Social
• Shuji Sugawara – Shinsei
• James Mockerman – Sullivan’s Steakhouse
• Gilbert Garza – Suze Restaurant
• TJ Lengnick – Whiskey Cake
• Daniel Nemec – Woodfire by Kirby’s (Dallas) & Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse (Southlake)

Sue Calvery with Dallas Cowboys Coach Rob Ryan

“This fun evening has become a springtime tradition, and we are grateful to be on the receiving end of the enormous generosity of our amazing hosts, a great lineup of talented chefs and dedicated sponsors,” said Jan Pruitt, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank.  “You are helping to elevate the issue of hunger as our organization works to raise funds to provide healthier, more nutritious options to families in need of food assistance.”

All event proceeds will go towards supporting NTFB’s children’s programs including: the Food 4 Kids backpack, Kids Cafe and pantry programs, which aim to tackle childhood hunger here in North Texas.

Dallas named sixth Worst Dressed City by Travel & Leisure Magazine

A recent survey by Travel + Leisure found that Dallas is the sixth worst-dressed city in America.  Twenty cities, including two different Portlands, made the reader-nominated list. Anchorage, Alaska is the worst-dressed city, according to the survey.

 

Ann Richards

 

T&L reports, "#6 DALLAS: Bigger seems to always be better in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; just take one look at the infamously over-the-top JumboTron at the Cowboys Stadium. And when it comes to getting dressed, big hair, conspicuous designer labels, and slick snakeskin boots are the norm. “Less is more” is not a phrase heard round these parts."

Damn skippy!

 

We may not be the most fashion-forward city in America, but we are a far cry from all being extras in a 1980s country music video.  The editors of the magazine are based in New York, so it’s easy to understand why they may not appreciate our wardrobes. Temperatures here reach almost 120 degrees in the summer; and for most of the winter, it’s still hot enough to bake cookies on the sidewalk.

 

They can put us wherever they want to on the list, but until there is a mass outbreak of pairing socks with flip-flops in downtown Dallas, we have nothing to worry about.

 

Gina Ginsburg

PS: I think it's hilarious that when I went to Google for an image for this post and typed in"Texas big hair cowboy" a photo of my friend, Gina Ginsburg popped up on the first page.  Gina is one of the most stylish women I know and I'll put her up as my Texas representative for fashion any day! 

 

You go, girl!

NOT surprisingly, a couple of photos for Big Rich Texas were also on the first page.

 

source: NBC DFW

Fresh Faces of Fashion Wrap Up 2012 in Style

This year's Fresh Faces of Fashion program all began several months ago when Modern Luxury magazine collected nominations for this year's roster. To be selected as a FFF, one has to be not only stylish on the outside, but be able to serve up a dossier of charitable works and contributions to the community at large. Every year, 12 lucky women are selected to represent the program and serve as stylish ambassadors to raise awareness and much needed funds to benefit the North Texas Suicide and Crisis Center.

(left) Fresh Face Ambassador, Amy Havins (top right) Mother/Daughter beauties
(bottom right) Tracie McElhaney, Cristi Wilcox and Jamie O'Boyle

There is always a fierce competition to see which Fresh Face Ambassador can sell the most raffle tickets for a chance to win a new Mercedes-Benz from Park Place Motorcars! The winning ticket was drawn at an event on May 23, 2012 at Park Place Motorcars. Over 700 guests came out to see if theirs was the lucky raffle ticket.  Congrats to Katy Messersmith who sold the most raffle tickets - 205 to be exact, raising $20, 500 for the charity.  Bailey Coon came in second with 147 tickets sold raising $14,700. Way to go ladies!!

The winner of a beautiful brand new Mercedes-Benz C250 sedan was... wait for it....  Vy Tran who bought her ticket online and wasn't even at the event! Wa wa wa. It was kind of a bummer for everyone else who was there and holding their breath to see if there's was the winning ticket, but... that's just how it goes sometimes.

(top left) Tiffany Divis and Jill Rowlett   (top right)  Yvonne Crum and Jenyce Gush
(bottom) Caroline Terry, Cynthia Smoot, designer Ashley Burghardt and Alison Volk all sporting Ashard Richley handbags

To wrap up their tenure for FFF, the ladies did one last stomp down a runway modeling clothing from Stanley Korshak featuring designer Joy Cioci.  Guests enjoyed bites from Wendy Crispin, a beauty lounge where Mickey Williams read lip prints, and pics from Foto Favor. Once again, co-chairs Jill Rowlett and Yvonne Crum produced a spectacular event raising a ton of money for a very worthy cause.

 Fresh Faces of Fashion 2012

• Katy Messersmith, Founder and CEO of Katydid Collections
• Samantha Davies, NBC 5 Meteorologist
• Caroline Cooper, Student at UT Austin and Shop Across Texas student blogger
• Carla Miller, Civic Volunteer
• Kaylyn Montgomery, Client Liaison for Coquerel Family Estate Wines
• Bailey Coon, Sales and Marketing Associate for North American Spine
• Amy Wells Havins, Owner of Dallas Wardrobe
• Grace Victoria Davis, Fashion Blogger and Executive Director for SMU Fashion Week
• Allison Wiley Lent, Owner of TheSocialButterfly.com
• Lauren Parsons, Consultant with Parsons Agency
• Lynsey Wiley Provost, Fine Art Consultant
• Krystal Schlegel, SMU student and Fashion Blogger

photos courtesy of Peter Wynne a.k.a. Plano Pete

Discover Uptown's Safe Haven for Fashion

Mallory Harrison & Abby Hoak

Abby Hoak and Mallory Harrison's partnership was practically pre-ordained. The childhood besties met in 7th grade at Hockaday, then went on to SMU together.  Their fathers were business partners, so it wasn't so far-fetched for them to carry on the family tradition. 

The gals have teamed up to create Haven - an upscale boutique carrying modern and polished lines, from the trendsetting designs from New York designer Charlotte Ronson, the collection of sexy, flirty contemporary dresses from Ali-Ro to the “new” vintage dresses from Los Angeles based designer ani lee.

They will also carry swimwear from Tori Praver, Henry and Belle jeans and Bon Bon by Dallas based jewelry designer Micah Yancey.

Hoak muses, "We want to have clothing that is wearable and affordable. Nothing in the store is over $500 and you'll find designs to fit any body style."  I asked the girls what the best part of having their own store was? Harrison replied, "It's so awesome when our favorite designers actually return our calls and show interest in being in the store. We will get off the phone and be like, 'Oh my gosh, House of Harlow just called us back!  That's really cool."

Haven, 2422 Worthington St., Dallas, TX 75204, 214.969.1005

GCB Author Kim Gatlin Gets Bitchy

Kim Gatlin, author of Good Christian Bitches, held a swanky soiree at Winston's Supperclub last night where she signed copies of her book and posed for photos with rapt fans.  In case you've been living under a rock, let me remind you that Darren Star of Sex In The City fame optioned the book in 2010 and turned it into a show for ABC called GCB which aired earlier this year.

All fans could chatter about last night was the recent demise of the ABC show and lament its passing after only one season. Did you know that there is an online petition to save the show and it currently has over 60,000 virtual signatures!? So who knows... maybe ABC will change its mind! Fingers crossed.  Word has it that another network is so impressed with these numbers that they are currently casting for a reality-based rip-off of the show.  What network, you might be wondering??  One that a lot of Housewives watch... Uh huh.

Bri Crum, Kim Gatlin and Alison Volk

Gatlin told me her next book is called Good Christian Bastards, and will be a male version of her first book.  No word as to when we can expect to read it because she's currently shopping around for a publisher. She's already at work on her third tome called Little Bitches which will be a prequel to GCB and take us back to the beginning, when the ladies were in high school. Ironically, GCB star, Kristen Chenoweth was performing at the Winspear Opera House last night, so Kim hightailed it out of Winston's to catch her performance and posted on Facebook today, "If you have to walk 1,000 miles to see her show, it will be worth it. She is an ENTERTAINER in every sense of the word and was amazing!! She has a hilarious bit about how disappointed she is with ABC's decision to cancel GCB!!! She's such an amazing talent and an amazing person! Go see her if she's anywhere close to you!!! You'll be glad you did!!"

Alexandra and Cathy Williamson, Kim Gatlin and Cynthia Smoot

A little bit about Kim: Kim was born and raised in the Park Cities area of Dallas, Texas where she still lives with her two children Austin (21) and Lauren (15). After her divorce from country music legend Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers in 2006, Kim’s divorce counselor advised her to write “Good Christian Bitches” as an outlet for the traumatized divorcee. The journals were used as the basis for the story in which was eventually turned into a book in October of 2008. As her greatest heartbreaks were caused by a very few women in the neighborhood who were always championing themselves as “good Christian women,” Kim jokingly referred to them one day as "Good Christian Bitches" and a new label was born in addition to a book title.

Photos courtesy of Shana Anderson.  Thanks to Katydid Collections for providing me with this fabulous maxi dress! I will be wearing it all Summer!

Tiffany Derry hosts Chefs from Top Chef for Dinner Series

Executive Chef Tiffany Derry is shaking things up at Private|Social this summer by rolling out a celebrity chef dinner series, as well as cooking and mixology classes.  Each month this summer, Tiffany will be co-hosting a celebrity chef dinner at Private|Social with a few of her Top Chef friends. Diners will be treated to a four or five-course meal with wine pairings expertly created by Chef Derry and her co-host. Dinners are priced at $125 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

Kevin Sbraga of Sbraga

June 19, 2012

Angelo Sosa of Anejo Tequileria, Social Eatz

July 10, 2012

Carla Hall of Alchemy, The Chew

August 9 & 10, 2012

Cooking and Mixology Classes

On the second Saturday of each month, Chef Tiffany Derry will host intimate cooking classes focused on various regional cuisines. Following cooking lessons, Beverage Director Rocco Milano will school students on the art of mixing the perfect cocktail. 

Classes with Chef Derry include a three-course meal and begin at 10 a.m. Rocco’s classes will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. the same day. Cooking classes are priced at $80, while mixology classes run at $25. Classes can be paired for $100. A portion of the proceeds will be used to purchase backpacks for the North Texas Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids program. 

Italian: June 9, 2012 
Asian: July 14, 2012

French: August 11, 2012

To make reservations or book a class, please call 214.754.4744 or visit www.privatesocial.com. Private|Social is located at 3232 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204.