Event preview: Joi Chevalier runs Cook’s Nook chef designed food security program with same love she has for music

Culture is huge in Austin. It’s the backbone of what we do as a community at large. As the city grows and changes, some things that make the city uniquely “Austin” shouldn’t ever be taken for granted – which is why supporting local events like “Texas Table: A Feast for A Cause” on February 27 is essential.  

The Cook’s Nook is a local business dedicated to wellness through healthy eating, specifically, that “food is medicine.” The Cook’s Nook fights against the systematic factors reoccurring repeatedly, resulting in parts of the Austin area and other areas of Texas not getting the nutritious food they need. Owner Joi Chevalier remains dedicated to the company’s mission, “We work to ensure Black and brown people have access to their food – but as a healthier option. We develop healthcare programs that feature culturally relevant, medically tailored meals that help communities, hospitals, and insurers fight diabetes and heart disease and that aid expectant mothers who need foods that help reduce the high rates of maternal mortality.” (Joi is also so cool that Bright Light Social Hour even wrote a song about her. Not many of us can boast such a feat.) So, with that mission in mind, The Cook’s Nook works to solve food insecurity that complicates health conditions within underinsured and undernourished communities.

The food The Cook’s Nook distributes is chef-designed. They’re not dishing out hospital-grade food, but instead, this is the real deal, the stuff that’s delicious but tastes and smells like someone’s beloved culture, like something their mom or auntie made. A chef looks at a plate’s balance, that there are grains and vegetables, and that what’s given to someone tastes like home. That dedication to getting it right, to serving the communities often overlooked around here, has led to successes that matter. The Cook’s Nook has been instrumental in helping Travis County residents: they’ve dished out almost 400,000 meals and have delivered around 10,000 to people around the city. Chevalier is chair of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board and is a recognized  ‘Woman of Purpose’ from Les Dames d’Escoffier International.  

With this kind of acumen, when The Cook’s Nook throws an event, it’s one laced with purpose. The Texas Table is a night created to celebrate the impact of how food truly is medicine, not just for the body but for the soul. This fundraising dinner highlights the must-tell stories of the Austin-Travis County community. Hosted at Lenoir in South Austin on February 27, the event will be a four-course dinner that celebrates Texas traditions but ultimately provides seed dollars to support innovative, upstart organizations that impact Austin-area communities through nutrition and education. 

This year, the event supports two Austin organizations rooted in making a change: Black Mamas ATX and Partners for Education, Agriculture & Sustainability (PEAS)—both working to create sustainable and self-sufficient communities. 

Black Mamas ATX are everyday women dedicated to saving the lives of Black mothers. The doula-led organization works to eliminate maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black women through awareness, training, outreach, and research. Black Mamas ATX leads the charge in Central Texas to get the education and access to resources needed for healthy pregnancies and birthing experiences. 

PEAS is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded to cultivate joyful connections with the natural world through outdoor learning and edible education. PEAS operates a community farm, runs camps, and leads professional development to help teachers bridge critical science, nutrition, math, and health concepts from the garden to the classroom. PEAS currently works with 32 schools in the Austin area, engaging more than 3,000 students. 

But, at the heart of the event is still the food. Hey, this is still Austin. The food is always at the heart of what’s happening around here, and a Texas Table is no different, considering the event will be held at one of the city’s best restaurants, Lenoir.  

The who’s who of the event include:  

• Joi Chevalier – founder of The Cook’s Nook, Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Les Dames d’Escoffier, James Beard House guest chef 
• Uyen Pham – Executive Chef and Instructor at Culinary Institute of America, UNESCO Chef Ambassador, Food Network Judge, Disciple d’Escoffier, Les Dames d’Escoffier 
• Todd Duplechan is the chef/owner at Lenoir and chef/partner at Lefty’s Gin Bar, Gin Bar, Vixen’s Wedding, and Dovetail Pizza. Thrillist Chef of the Year, Edible Austin Local Hero, CultureMap Tastemaker 
• Robert Hale – Chef and Manager of Culinary and Foodservice at Texas Beef Council, Current Director of Austin Chapter of Texas Chefs Association 
• Pavla Van Bibber – Chef-Instructor at Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Westwood Country Club, Lakeway CC, UT Austin, keeper of Central Texas Czech pastry tradition 

The event will also feature classical guitarist Justice Phillips who’s been playing locally and nationally. Hey, this is Austin; you can’t have an event with fantastic food and not have the music to back it up. And if you’ve not seen Phillips, the dude can PLAY.  

To learn more about the event, click here for ticket info. Every dollar spent will go to helping Austin continue to be one of the best places to live but also one of the places that cares about those who call it home. 

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