VNA’s 11th Annual Celebrity Chef Hosts Treasured Dallas Culinarian + Restaurateur Julian Barsotti
Event incorporates “Meals on Wheels” style meal delivery into virtual fundraiser
The Visiting Nurse Association is doing what it does best and incorporating their Meals on Wheels style of food delivery into this year’s 11th annual Celebrity Chef event, hosted by esteemed Dallas Chef Julian Barsotti on March 24, 2021.
While the event typically enlists in a celebrity chef outside of Dallas, given the last 12 months, including the significant impact the pandemic has had on our senior neighbors in need, our local restaurant scene and foodservice industry as a whole, it just felt right to stay close to home and collaborate with those who support VNA while giving back to those who have been challenged to stay afloat. We’ve found the best of the best to provide us with delicious and sophisticated comfort food to soothe our souls.
Julian Barsotti, chef and owner of Dallas’ favorite restaurants Nonna, Carbone’s, Sprezza, and Fachini is headlining the 11th Annual Celebrity Chef event. During the quarantine, Julian and his team quickly pivoted and created two, one-of-a-kind pop-up concepts, Ritas & Queso and The Grape Ape. Featuring Tex-Mex favorites and Italian eats respectively, the delivery and pick-up options have hit a sweet spot for Dallas diners.
Serving as Honorary Chairs are Andrea Hagar and Shelley Hudson of Food Company. As founders and co-owners of Food Company, a local custom catering company, they have been fiercely supportive of the Celebrity Chef event from the beginning. And, how fortuitous that Shelley just happens to be Chef Julian’s mom! Great taste runs in the family.
Guests will be treated to a Feast of San Giuseppe and including Italian American Antipasto-olives, artichokes marinto, roasted peppers, prosciutto, spicy salami, garlic bread and fresh mozzarella cheese; Caesar salad, and Ragu alla Sunday-Rigatoni pasta, Luciano sausages, Osso buco, meatballs a la Barsotti and spicy rabe. Italian wine and Prosecco are also included. Delivery of these items will be Meals on Wheels style with VNA vetted volunteers using COVID-19 safety protocols to hand-deliver the delicious feast.
Now in its second year, Cocktails in the Kitchen, held on March 23, 2021, will pair Chef Barsotti and a basket of Venetian-inspired delicacies known as andar a ciceti-small bites made with exquisite ingredients with a virtual behind the scenes look at the Haggerty Kitchen. The kitchen, which produces 8,000 meals daily for Dallas County seniors, is the home of the VNA Meals on Wheels program. All funds raised support VNA Meals on Wheels, Hospice and Palliative Care programs.
“I’m honored to support VNA’s mission by headlining both the Cocktails in the Kitchen and Celebrity Chef events and I’m excited to share my love of Italian food virtually. VNA has been important to our family for many years and we are grateful to be part of an organization that is so vital to seniors in our community,” said Barsotti.
Barsotti will converse with guests over the Zoom platform and will demonstrate a recipe from the menu. He’ll also provide his unique perspective as an Italian American and how Italian food has influenced his life. Additionally, he will share how the pandemic forced the innovation of his two new concepts, Ritas & Queso and The Grape Ape.
“We’re thrilled to be able to safely continue this beloved event on behalf of VNA. Supporting VNA’s mission is more important than ever and this event gives an opportunity to enjoy Chef Barsotti’s engaging personality and delicious food virtually while raising critical funds for North Texas seniors,” say Celebrity Chef Co-Chairs Julie and Eric Clark and Catherine and Will Rose.
About the Event: Cocktails in the Kitchen
Cocktails in the Kitchen benefitting VNA
Co-Chairs: Flauren and Jason Bender and Louise and Charles Marsh
March 23, 2021 7 pm-8 pm http://www.vnatexas.org/cocktailsinthekitchen
This event will be virtual.
Cocktails in the Kitchen Host Committee
Katie Aisner, Lindsay Billingsley, Jessica Bolander, Mia Brous, Molly Bruder, Ashley Cathey, Hannah Fagadau, Christina Gray, Margaret Hirsch, Sonny Konoeke, Hallie Lamont, Nicolette Lamont, Bridget Miller, Meredith Moore, Libby Ornani, Janelle Panelle, Cheryl Schoellkopf, Amanda Shufeldt and Meredith Wallace.
About the Event: Celebrity Chef
11th Annual Celebrity Chef Event benefitting VNA
Co-Chairs: Julie and Eric Clark and Catherine and Will Rose
March 24, 2021 |Dinner 7pm-8pm https://www.vnatexas.org/celebritychef/
This event will be virtual.
Celebrity Chef Event Committee
Lydia and Bill Addy, Mary Kathryn Bass, Amy and Brandon Bean, Carrie and Steven Becker, Mary Frances and Tim Bellman, Flauren and Jason Bender, Kathleen and Bob Berry, Lisa and Chuck Brown, Nita and Cullum Clark, Sara Fraser Crismon, Kathy and Harlan Crow, Amy and Sam Dabbous, Natasha and Antal Desai, Betsy and Richard Eiseman, Rebecca and Barron Fletcher, Sarah and Frank Hamlin, Holly and Jim Hands, Linda and Phil Hodgson, Regen Horchow, Amy and Scott Houdek, Amy and Robert Isom, Kirsten and Mike Kerrigan, Eugenia and Frank-Paul King, Leslie and Bob Krakow, Rachel and Brian Ladin, Hallie and Max Lamont, Carol and John Levy, Michelle and Bill Lockhart, Louise and Charles Marsh, Libby and Murray McCabe, Suzanne and Patrick McGee, Astrid Merriman, Jennifer and Jon Mosle, Meaders and Robert Ozarow, Stacy and Lawrence Piccagli, Karen and Richard Pollock, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Katherine and Eric Reeves, Nicole and Alex Ritcher, Lisa and John Rocchio, Nancy and Steve Rogers, Lizzie and Dan Routman, Deborah and John Scott, Amanda and Charlie Shufeldt, Abigail and Andrew Sinwell, Nicole and Justin Small, Danielle and Chad Stephens, Denice and Dale Swift, Dawne and Pat Tribolet, Gwendolyn and Richard Turcotte, Carol and Ben Vig, Merry and Chad Vose, Sarah and Russell Weinberg, CiCi and Giffen Weinmann, Paula and Charles Wills, Megan and Brady Wood, and Michelle and Peery Wood
About VNA
Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that helps people age with dignity and independence at home. VNA is the community’s most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, and VNA Hospice Care and Palliative Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt and Wise Counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 1 (800) CALL-VNA for more information.