Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1180194
28 A NIGHT OF FOOD & PHILANTHROPY CATHERINE D. ANSPON RAISES A GLASS. PHOTOGRAPHY ROSWITHA VOGLER. H ere's the recipe for gala greatness. First ingredient, a beloved pair of honorees: PaperCity society and style editor Shelby Hodge and her husband, UH professor of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shafik Rifaat. Add in a chairman who has long held court in the kingdom of Houston hospitality, but who is calling in all her favors for her first time as an event chair: Mary Grace Gray. Then stir in a worthy cause: the American Cancer Society (Hodge is a survivor) and its hard-working volunteer chapter, Victory. Combine the above for a philanthropic dish flavored with success: the fourth annual Corks and Forks at the Ballroom of Bayou Place. A record-setting 410 guests netted $275,000 for ACS, tripling funds raised in years past. The munificent bottom line also benefits Hope Lodge in the Texas Medical Center, which will offer no-cost lodging for cancer patients and families when it opens in early spring 2020. Fourteen chefs from Houston restaurants battled it out in the culinary competition judged by five food pros: writers/editors Kate McLean, Greg Morago, and Mai Pham, joined by Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus and Tony's Tony Vallone. The Culinary Crown was captured by Amalfi chef/owner Giancarlo Ferrara for his diver sea scallops pan-seared in olive oil and sea salt. Winning the audience award was executive chef Joe Cervantez of Brennan's of Houston, who prepared Tasso & Grits dumplings with NOLA-style barbecue shrimp. (For the full chef lineup, see papercitymag.com.) PC SEEN: Lynn Wyatt; Linda McReynolds; Rose Cullen; Ginger Blanton; Patsy Fourticq; Regina Rogers; Aliyya Stude; Courtney Sarofim; Lucinda and Javier Loya; Karen and Mike Mayell; Donna Vallone; Kathryn and Jeff Smith; Frances Marzio; Victory prez Bebe Falik; Alan Helfman, who deftly fielded the live-auction bids; in from their Phoenix HQ, Steak 48 honchos Oliver Badgio and Jeff Mastro; Bucky Allshouse; auction chair Sherri Zucker; Mark Sullivan; Tracey Cleckler; Kira and Alex Borlenghi; Helene and Dror Zadok; Adrián Dueñas; Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl; Kristina Somerville; Phyllis Williams; Karina Barbieri; and Neal Hamil. CORKS AND FORKS TOASTS SHELBY HODGE AND SHAFIK RIFAAT. Chair Mary Grace Gray, Alan Helfman Auction chair Sherri Zucker Aliyya Stude, Courtney Sarofim, honoree Shafik Rifaat, Dr. Dian Ginsberg Lynn Wyatt, Linda McReynolds Adriàn Dueñas, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Kristina Somerville Regina Rogers, Ginger Blanton, Rose Cullen Kate McLean, Tony & Donna Vallone Phyllis Williams Karina Barbieri, Ursaline Hamilton Tiziana & Dr. Fabio Triolo Honorees Shafik Rifaat & Shelby Hodge Helene Zadok, Raquel Lewis, Dror Zadok