Food for the soul

Acclaimed Dallas chef gathers Harvest patrons to kick off food bank benefit

Food for the soul

Acclaimed Dallas chef gathers Harvest patrons to kick off food bank benefit

Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Erika McCarthyPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Maggie Kipp, Stephan Pyles, Melinda KnowlesPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Vodi Cook, Lora Farris, Rachel ScogginsPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Sara Albert, Leslie Diers, Susan Farris, John FarrisPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
JB Hayes, Chuck Jacaman, Lindsay Jacaman, Jessie PoolePhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Jane Swartz, Andrew Swartz, Jen O’NealPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Wilson Chu, Natalie ChuPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith
Katherine Reeves, Jana PaulPhoto by Tamytha Cameron Smith

What: Harvest kick-off party

Where: Flora Street Café

The 411: Chef and honorary chair Stephan Pyles hosted more than 100 guests at his acclaimed cafe to kick off the 5th annual fundraiser for the North Texas Food Bank. Co-chairs Maggie Kipp and Melinda Knowles mingled with attendees, who enjoyed wine and bites in the restaurant’s private dining room.

The chairs thanked food bank president Trisha Cunningham and event co-founders Nancy Gopez and Kristi Bare, and announced to patrons that this year's Harvest would take place September 21 at a new venue, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The event will feature cocktails, entertainment by DJ Lucy Wrubel, unique auction packages, and delicious food donated and prepared by Dallas’ top chefs and restaurants, they revealed.

Chef Pyles was honored for his commitment to the community, specifically his 30-year partnership with the North Texas Food Bank. The 2018 Harvest is expected to help meet the needs of more than 800,000 food-insecure individuals in the Dallas community.

Who: Lynn McBee, Erika and Dan McCarthy, Susan and John Farris, Sara Albert, Leslie Diers, Vodi Cook, Lora Farris, Rachel Scoggins, JB Hayes, Chuck and Lindsay Jacaman, Jessie Poole, Jane and Andrew Swartz, Jen O’Neal, Wilson and Natalie Chu, Katherine Reeves, and Jana Paul.

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Matcha News

Dallas TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha drink for flood relief

Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink. Instagram

The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Dallas' favorite TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

Lee, a social media sensation whose online food reviews have benefited hundreds of small restaurants, is partnering with Dallas-based La La Land Cafe on a special drink: Called the La La Land X Keith Lee Latte, it's a matcha drink in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Kerr County flood relief.

La La Land is the coffee chain founded in Dallas in 2019 with a mission to provide opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need. It now has 10 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth, plus three in Houston and six in Southern California.

The new Keith Lee Latte will consist of double ceremonial matcha, with secret syrup, matcha cloud, a whole fresh strawberry, flaky salt, and matcha powder. (Lee can be seen enjoying the beverage in this video.)

Matcha is the Japanese green tea powder that has experienced a surge in popularity, appearing in everything from drinks like the matcha latte to desserts like matcha mousse.

Keith Lee Latte is a matcha drink.Instagram

Lee, who relocated to Dallas in 2024, has been on a matcha kick ever since he tried it in Chicago, which he says "led me down a rabbit hole," and it has become his trademark drink. In May, he visited seven cafes across DFW in search of the perfect matcha in town, and that included La La Land, where he ordered a matcha with almond milk.

He also has a charitable history, including a special visit he made to Taste Project in Fort Worth to donate $4,000 to support the nonprofit's mission to fight food insecurity.

The Keith Lee Latte will be available at all La La Land cafes beginning Friday July 11, for a limited time only. From July 11-27, 100 percent of all proceeds will support flood relief efforts in Kerr County - "a community in our home state that’s hurting," La La Land Cafe says.

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