Animal activism
The 21st annual Zoo To Do lures in top chefs and roaring crowd to benefit DallasZoo
We understand why the 21st annual Zoo to Do event was themed "Go Big or Go Home." It's hard to imagine anything more grand than a lavish, Vegas-inspired fete with 26 of Dallas' top chefs and an enthusiastic crowd in the Giants of Savanna and Wilds of Africa Plaza at the Dallas Zoo.
President and CEO of the Dallas Zoological Society, Michael Meadows, couldn't have said it better: "Our team of talented chefs and amazing restaurants, paired with the beautiful setting at the Dallas Zoo, make this one of the most unique fundraising events in Dallas."
Just ask any one of the 650 guests — including event chairs Shelley and Tom Codd, the Edgar A. Robinson family (honorary chair family), Laura and Scott Moore, Melissa and Trevor Fetter, Gina and Scott Ginsburg, Amy Meadows, Sharon Hudson, and Maura and Dan Houchard — who soaked up the glam safari scene.
Before they tasted the chefs' handiwork, devotees sipped on cocktails, bid in the live and silent auctions, and rolled dice in casino games.
Among the featured chefs were honorary chefs Dan Landsberg of Dragonfly and Jim "Sevy" Severson of Sevy's; Patton Robertson of Five Sixty; Kent Rathbun of Abacus, Jasper's and Blue Plate Kitchen; Jeff Harris of Bolsa and Bolsa Mercado; Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain restaurants; Peter Harrison of Dakota's Steakhouse; Dan Bevis of Dallas Zoo Catering; Meaders Moore Ozarow of Empire Baking Company; Nico Sanchez of Meso Maya; Janice Provost of Parigi; Tiffany Derry of Private Social; and Tim Byres of Smoke and Chicken Scratch.
This year, the Dallas Zoological Society raised more than $800,000. Now that's something to buzz about.