Renowned Chefs to Collaborate on Special Family Meal Dinner

• November 09, 2022
• EPFH

EL PASO NATIVE CHEFS RETURN HOME FOR AN EVENING OF COOKING AND CAMARADERIE, ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE

On Sunday, November 13, ten chefs will return home to El Paso to host a special collaborative benefit dinner called Family Meal. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger who are actively procuring and distributing food to combat the hunger crisis in the region.

The idea behind the evening is to expose local and ex-pat talent—chefs, artists, and musicians—while bringing El Paso natives together for an evening of cooking and camaraderie, all supporting a good cause. The event will be held at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing (1 Ardovinos Dr, Sunland Park, NM 88063), and tickets are available at elpasofamilymeal.com.

“Family meal is an important part of the day for restaurants. It is a way to bond with your family away from home. This benefit dinner, in turn, is meant to transform that experience and help our extended (local and migrant) families. At the same time bringing to light the vast amount of talent and generosity this city has to offer. El Paso is one part of a large international and bi-national metropolis encompassing Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. What affects one family affects us all.,” says Mixtli Chef Rico Torres.

Confirmed chefs include:

• Rico Torres, Founder, Food and Wine Best New Chef 2018, James Beard Best Chef Semi-Finalist 2019, Best Restaurant 2022, Mixtli (San Antonio, TX)
• Andre Natera, Author and Podcast Host, Chef’s PSA (Austin, TX)
• Alan Delgado, Star Chefs Rising Star 2020, (New York, NY)
• Gabe Erales, Top Chef-18 Winner, Bacalar, (Austin, TX)
• Jaime Daniel Calleros, Executive Chef, Ardovino’s Desert Crossing (Sunland Park, NM)
• Jake Rojas, James Beard Semi-Finalist 2013, Star Chefs Rising Star 2014, Tallulah’s Taqueria (Providence, RI)
• Omar Flores, James Beard Semi-Finalist Best New Restaurant 2013, Best Chef Southwest 2015, 2016, Whistle Britches and Muchacho (Dallas, TX)
• Melissa Valenzuela, Mixtli, (San Antonio, TX)
• Andres Padilla, Chicago Tribune’s Dining Out Award 2015, Opening Executive Chef at Plaza Hotel/Ambar 2020, Culinary Director of Cruz Blanca (Chicago, IL)
• Emiliano Marentes, James Beard Outstanding Chef Semi-Finalist 2022, El Emi, (El Paso, TX)
• Nayely Castillo – Hestia, Austin TX

Additional confirmed talent: David Alvarado, Media Producer / Photographer, Mexico City, Mexico

Torres adds, “Family Meal will raise money to support El Pasoans Fighting Hunger. Their mission is to combat the hunger crisis in the region. From their procurement to their distribution departments, EPFH is tirelessly helping to feed hungry families in the region. The enormous operation partners with several partner pantries in the borderland area to feed upwards of 200,000 people, many of them children.”

The Native El Paso chefs will return for a weekend of camaraderie and live-fire cooking under the scenic landscapes at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing with views of all three cities. The evening will include live fire cooking, wine, specialty cocktails, live music, plus a special Chef Demo from Top Chef-18 Winner, Gabe Erales. The event will also feature a live auction, farewell coffee service, and a photo opportunity with the talent.

Tickets for Family Meal are $250 per person and will include 6-courses in a family style setting along with passed appetizers, wine pairings, coffee, and a chef demo. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit ELPASOFAMILYMEAL.COM