I found my Dimple Twin at the 2014 Pay is Forward with Daniel Curtis

Another great Lone Star Paralysis Foundation Pay it Forward with Daniel Curtis has delighted us, touched our hearts, and invigorated our dancing moves.  

 

This year for me was a pretty exciting.  I finally met my dimple twin via a conversation prompted by my Google Glass.  You’re thinking “what on Earth is a dimple twin?”  I’ll take a step back.  I have an unusual dimple on my cheekbone - on just one side.  It is a distinctive trait that garners attention.  It was just another trait that made me a statistical outlier.  
 

Attendees danced the night away to the Spazmatics.

 

Being a statistical outlier is pretty fun. You stick out like sore thumb (which I like to use to my advantage), but you also get a yearning for someone who might share your same feelings.  Well, I met my dimple twin.  He doesn’t look much like me, but darn, if it I didn’t feel like we had a small community of two.

 

So I got to chatting with AJ - that’s my twin’s name.  He suffered an injury about 3.5 years ago and was told that he would never walk again.  While I can’t understand what he felt to be told that your entire way of living would be turned upside down just when your life is getting started, I do know that he’s standing and walking because of the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.  

My dimple twin! 
 

AJ is still active in physical therapy and lives with chronic pain.  But he’s working, happy, and full of life.  Stories like his carve an even deeper place in my heart for the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.  I’d like to say that you’ll come to Lone Star Paralysis Foundation events for the great food, great entertainment, and the great auction prizes.

 

The truth is that you should really come for the great people - the people who have formed an amazing community around recovery and the people who have triumphed past those difficult recovery stages of their lives.  Cheers to AJ and all the others on the road to recovery!

I would be remiss if I didn’t show off at least photo of food porn and thank our generous supporters.  Fabulous bites and sips courtesy of:  

Chef David Bull of Congress & Second Bar + Kitchen

Chef Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine and Odd Duck

Chef Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen’s Kitchen

Chef Ben Nathan of Café Blue

Chef Philip Speer of Uchi & Uchiko & St. Philip

Chef John Bates of The Noble Sandwich Co.

Chef Mat Clouser of Swift’s Attic

Chef Shawn Cirkiel of Chavez

Chefs Jenn Costello and Chris Hurley of The Bonneville

Chef Jason Dady of Tre Trattoria

Austin Cake Ball

The Carillon

Searsucker

Casa Brasil Coffee

Tipsy Texan David Alan

Salt and Time

Save the World Brewing Marble Falls, TX

 

Thank you so much to everyone for your support and making it a great evening!
 

Brown butter bruleed shepherd’s from Jack Allen’s.  Don’t forget that both Jack Allen’s and HopDoddy’s donates regularly to Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.

Pay it Forward with the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation August 8th

I'm excited to announce that Pay it Forward is back.  The Austin food community is pretty awesome.  Chefs and food industry members are constantly giving to the community and helping each other out.  There aren't always that many opportunities for us to give back.  Austin Food for Life is one of the new ways that people can give back to the food community. 

Not only is this an opportunity to pay it forward by celebrating fantastic Austin Chefs and the supportive food community, this particular event benefits the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.  The first event of this style with the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation was in 2011, shortly after Daniel Curtis sustained a life-altering injury to his spine.  This year's event, Pay it Forward with Daniel Curtis, is on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 6-10 pm in the Grand Ballroom at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center.  Tickets are $75 for entry from 7 - 10 pm.  VIP tickets are $125 for entry from 6-10 pm.  Included with the tickets are tastes from local chefs, beer, wine, and Tipsy Texan cocktails, and entertainment from Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes.

The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation is one of the most amazing non-profits I've known.  Not only do they run excellent events (for real), their mission and the advantages they provide is priceless.  The community that the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation has built is one of the most robust and effective ones I have met.  When someone is needing to recover from spinal injury, the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation envelopes them in support in ways that isn't even imaginable. 

Knowing that others do good is a good feeling.  Being close to others that do good is even better.  Being able to support others who do good is a fantastic feeling.  Here's how you can help. 

• Tell someone who is in need of assistance in recovering from spinal injury to get to know the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation
• Donate to the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation online.
• Donate something to their auction.  I must say that their auctions are one of the best around.  Can we say Uchi dinner for 8 in your home?
• Attend Pay it Forward with Daniel Curtis
• Bring a friend to Pay it Forward

Daniel and Crew!  Photo by John M. P. Knox. 

Not only will you be surrounded by some of my favorite people, you'll also be surrounded by their food.  Participating will be:

• Josh Watkins and Plinio Sandalio of The Carillon
• Tatsu Aikawa of Ramen Tatsu-ya
• John Bates of The Noble Sandwich Co.
• David Bull of Congress & Second Bar & Kitchen
• Shawn Cirkiel of Parkside, Olive & June & The Backspace
• Steven Cak of Parkside
• Mat Clouser and Callie Speer of Swift's Attic
• Jason Dady of Bin 555 & Tre Trattora
• Ned Elliott of  Foreign & Domestic
• Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ
• Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen's Kitchen
• Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine
• Harold Marmulstein of Salty Sow
• Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki of La Condesa & Sway
• Philip Speer of Uchi & Uchiko
• Shane Stark of Kenichi
• Casa Brazil Coffees
• The Tipsy Texan.

Last year's dessert offering by Uchiko.  Photo by John M. P. Knox. 

You know where I'll be.  I hope to see ya there!

Pay it Forward with Daniel Curtis benefiting Lone Star Paralysis Foundation @CarillonAustin

You might have remember that Austin has a pretty awesome food community.  In that community are really awesome people.  Unfortunately, sometimes not awesome things happen.  Just over a year ago in a diving accident, Daniel Curtis's life changed completely.  He suffered a life threatening injury to his spinal cord, and with the support of many, he is well on his way to recovery.  Here's last year's event.

To relieve the medical expenses, his friends, family, and co-workers raised $65,000 by producing an amazing fundraiser with the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.  I'm not biased or anything.  :o)  Through this event, I was able to get to know the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, an organization that amazes me over and over.  The supporters of this group are earnest in their support and work ethic.  It is pretty cool just to be near a group that is so pure of heart.  Here's another post on a previous Lone Star Paralysis Foundation Vodka Dinner at the Carillon. 

Two years ago, I put on the Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 on my birthday.  It was a pretty awesome day, and even Dave Chappelle showed up.  This year, you have a chance to celebrate my birthday with me again.  Now that Daniel is on his way to recovery, he is intent on fulfilling his vow to payback all that was done for him last year.   

The 1st Annual Pay it Forward with Daniel will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at ATT Conference Center in Austin.  All proceeds will benefit The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation in helping people with spinal cord injuries.   Tickets can be purchased at: www.payitforwardwithdaniel.org.  Tickets are $100, and VIP Tickets are $150.  Don't forget to their your checkbook for the auction items. Music will be provided by Kat Edmonson and a Special Guest.

This year's chefs are:

• Josh Watkins — The Carillon
• Plinio Sandalio — The Carillon
• Kenzie Allen — Asti
• John Bates — The Noble Pig
• David Bull — Congress, Second Bar & Kitchen
• Shawn Cirkiel — Parkside, Olive & June, The Backspace
• Jack Gilmore — Jack Allen's Kitchen
• Zack Northcutt — Swift's Attic
• Callie Speer — Swift's Attic
• Philip Speer — Uchi & Uchiko
• Shane Stark — Kenichi
• David Alan — The Tipsy Texan

If you want your un-birthday to be as awesome as my birthday, enjoy some delicious bites from some of Austin's accomplished chefs, have a cocktail, and hang out with a truly moving nonprofit.  Buy tickets here. 
Here's some pictures from The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation's golf fundraiser in April.  At every few holes, there was food, drinks, and good company.  Serious, Serious fun. 

Pulling off an event of this size is no small feat.  Check out all those happy golfers!

This station was Cover 3.  Green Chile Mac and Cheese with Grilled Chicken was pretty darn tasty.

Bacon wrapped shrimp from El Arroyo!

Bacon wrapped quail leg from Jack Allen's on a Goat Boat. 

This signed poster was auctioned off later that night. 

And Daniel Curtis in the flesh.  He walked across the stage that night.  Amazing. 

Dining with The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation @CarillonAustin @ChefJoshWatkins

*I helped produce the Benefit for Daniel, and I was invited as a guest to The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation Vodka Dinner at the Carillon. 

With the giving season upon us, you might be looking for organizations that need some holiday funds or warm body volunteers.  The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation is an organization that I recently got to know through an unfortunate accident.  One thing that I noticed about the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation was the immense (and I mean IMMENSE) passion and unwavering focus on the organization's goals.  In meeting many of the board members, I was bombarded with warm greetings and huge smiles.  Dang, that is one happy, yet intensely focused board.  Since I hadn't mentioned it yet, the mission of the organization is "to cure spinal cord paralysis through funding research, advanced recovery, and community outreach."

Photo by John M. P. Knox. 

Daniel Curtis is looking fantastic.  If you haven't met Daniel (donations for his recovery accepted here) yet, you should soon!

Another thing that you might not know about the board is that they front all their expenses.  All donations go directly to their cause, and not to pay for incurred expenses.  As a member and current/past board members for a number of organizations, that is not an easy thing to do.  Expenses can range from air fare, hotel rooms, and car rentals.  To take on those expenses out of one's own pocket in addition to serving an organization with time is a testament to the board's dedication.  Though I'm not closely involved with the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, I certainly appreciate and look up to their board members. Every time board members of the foundation speak, there's not a dry eye in the crowd.  These people are exceptionally moving. 

There are several ways that you can donate to this wonderful organization by hosting events, donating to their raffles, or by directly donating cash.  You can also donate by ordering the Carl Miller’s Layered Chunky Queso at Jack Allen's Kitchen.  The queso is green chile pork, queso and guacamole served with a basket of chips.  Also, don't you know that all food that supports non-profits is calorie free?  *statement not empirically tested.

Photo courtesy of Bread and Butter PR.

Throughout the year, the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation hosts a number of events including a vodka pairing dinner.  This year's dinner was sponsored by Tito's and held at the Carillon.  You probably know by now that I'm a HUGE fan of the Carillon and Chef Josh Watkins.  We've got a surprise for you in store on Dec. 9th, 2011.  Hang tight for more information.  Also, hang tight for a baby Watkins on the way.  Don't forget to congratulate Chef Josh and his lovely wife, Sarah on their upcoming family addition!

Photo by John M. P. Knox.

The Vodka Pairing Dinner dinner started off with some creative cocktails.


Photo by John M. P. Knox.

The first course was Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Corn, Balsamic Cream, and Garlic Croutons.   Aren't the colors of this dish just fantastic?


Photo by John M. P. Knox. 

Here's a photo of best friends, Chef Josh Watkins and Daniel Curtis.  I'm excited to report that Daniel (donations for his recovery accepted here) is recovering well.  Last I saw him, he was kicking, literally!

Photo by John M. P. Knox.

Board member Doug English (YES! The football player!) and members present one of the raffle items, a painting of Doug in his Longhorn uniform.  If you want to give to an organization that will really make a difference, please keep the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation in mind.  I can attest that any donation you make will make an impact and that your help will be greatly appreciated.  Happy Giving!