Dallas Chefs Host Dinner To Benefit Mercy Chefs in LA

The Giving Table is hosting a dinner this Sunday to support Mercy Chefs, a faith-based nonprofit that is preparing to deploy to LA to feed communities affected by the recent fires.

The Giving Table, founded by longtime Dallas restaurateur and chef Sharon Van Meter and Dude Sweet Chocolate's Katherine Clapner, is an initiative to unite the local hospitality industry. In times of need, they shake out the tablecloths and host dinners to raise money.

"It's a chance to get together in a coordinated effort to a sit-down dinner, and support the world," Van Meter says. "This year, The Giving Table is 'Love for LA' and it's benefiting Mercy Chefs."

Van Meter, who is a Mercy Chef, explains that although it's faith-based, religion is not the focus. The goal is to provide three hot meals a day to communities in need; their tagline is "Just go feed people."

Mercy Chefs isn't a temporary measure. They build community kitchens in disaster-stricken areas and provide hot meals for three to five years, depending on how long they're needed. Mercy Chefs deployed to Maui after the wildfires there and to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. They usually partner with a church to use their facilities (a lot of churches have big kitchens), and the congregation takes over the effort in the long run.

This Sunday, more than a dozen chefs will help fill plates at The Giving Table to raise money for the LA-bound effort. Tickets are $125 per person for a five-course, sit-down, family-style dinner. The dinner is at 1340 Inwood Road, Klapner's commercial kitchen space. There's space for 75 guests.

Local chefs participating include:
Andrea Shackelford
Anastacia Quinones-Pittman
Brandon Moore
Chris Patrick
Dunia Borga
Eduardo Osorio
Emporium Pies
Jared Harms
Jay Valley
Jeffrey Hobbs
Jennie Kelley
Katherine Clapner
Matt Balke
Matt McCallister
Noah Hester
RJ Yoakum
Samir Dhurandhar
Sharon Van Meter
Tim Lavender

If you can't make it, but want to help, donate here.