(DALLAS) — Leader. Visionary. Philanthropist. Mentor. Chef. Just a few words that describe Janice Provost and Chad Houser, both El Centro alumni Hall of Fame members and honorees of the 2016 Bits and Bites annual celebration at El Centro College on April 10 from 4-7 p.m.
For one afternoon, Bits and Bites transforms the dining room, kitchen, and student center into a showcase of spirits, sweets, and savories.
“Bits and Bites is a very important part of the El Centro College Food & Hospitality Institute culture. This year we are honoring two of our own; Janice Provost and Chad Houser both exemplify the potential to which our students aspire,” said Steve DeShazo, director of the Food & Hospitality Institute. “To create opportunities for themselves, make a difference in our community and provide service to others through a career in the food and hospitality industry. We are thankful to Chad and Janice for their pursuit of these goals and the sacrifices they have made to see their visions come to life. It’s gonna be a great party!”
Janice Provost, widely known as the most philanthropic chef in Dallas, is the Executive Chef and owner of Parigi, an established restaurant in Dallas. While attending El Centro College, she was hired to work at Parigi, and three years later she bought the neighborhood bistro.
Dedicated to the education of future generations interested in the Culinary Arts, Janice created The Parigi Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides scholarships to students within the El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute. As an advisory board member and past president of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, and member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Janice has been a part of raising over $1,000,000 in scholarships for students of the Culinary Arts. In addition, Janice is on the advisory board for Letot Girls Residential Treatment Center, where she volunteers as a culinary instructor for the North Texas Food Bank, teaching students the basics of cooking. These young women will have the opportunity to pursue a career in the hospitality industry by working at Café Momentum, which Janice co-founded with Chad Houser.
Chad Houser often describes Café Momentum as “taking kids out of jail and teaching them to play with knives and fire.” It’s this charisma and passion to teach life, social and employment skills to Dallas’ most at-risk youth that makes Houser a hit with everyone from philanthropists and dinner-goers to the young men participating in the program.
Most recently, Chad was selected as Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” and as one of the United States Junior Chamber’s (Jaycee) 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Americans. He has been named to the “Top 50 Under 40” by the Social Enterprise Alliance, an “Urban Innovator to Watch” by the New Cities Foundation, as one of “30 Most Interesting People in the Metro Area” by the Dallas Observer, and one of Good Magazine’s “Good 100,” individuals at the cutting edge of creative impact across the globe.
More than 150 accomplished chefs in the Dallas area received their formal training at the Food and Hospitality Institute at El Centro College, including Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill; Nathan Tate of Boulevardier and Rapscallion; Dunia Borga of LaDuni Restaurants; Marc Cassel of 20 Feet Seafood Joint; and Shari Carlson of Dessert Dreams.
Proceeds from Bits & Bites contributes to a fund established to expand the FHI program: more Bits & Bites, more kitchens, and more services to nurture the next generation of food and hospitality experts in our own hometown, one of the nation’s top dining destinations.
The evening’s festivities will feature foods prepared by El Centro’s alumni and friends of the college. There will be plenty of delicious savory and sweet small plates to enjoy paired with craft beer and fantastic wine! Presenting chefs at Bits & Bites 2016 will include past honoree Paula Lambert of the Mozzarella Company, John Maas of Café 43 at the G.W. Bush Library & Museum, Adam West of The Porch, Hermann Hiemeyer of the Hyatt Regency, Executive Pastry Chef Arthur Surman of the Gaylord Texan and many more!
Tickets are $55 and can be purchased in advance online at http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/programs/bits-bites-2016 or at the cashier’s office on the second floor of the A Building at 801 Main St. in Dallas. Purchase tickets by mail with checks made payable to “DCCCD Foundation” and send them to: El Centro College, Cindy Bozzelli-Duke, Business and Public Services, 801 Main St., Dallas TX 75202.
For more information, contact Cindy Bozzelli-Duke by phone at (214) 860-2213 or by e-mail at bo-duke@dcccd.edu.
