Friday Favorites: High-Fiving My Dream Team, Good Carma Studio

Posted on September 4, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Celebrating a High-Five circle with the best team ever (Good Carma Studio) at The District in LA, after the No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch I hosted.

Celebrating a High-Five circle with my dream team – and the best team ever (Chrissy and Melissa of Good Carma Studio) – at The District in LA, after the No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch I hosted.

Today’s fave? A picture that was captured as I was high-fiving my dream team, also known as Good Carma Studio, after our No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch on Wednesday. (*Please Note: Blog post to come)

While it was a truly stunningly beautiful affair, I am even more proud that it was an event – full of heart – that accomplished what we set out to do: get out the word about childhood hunger and breakfast in our schools.

I am so thankful to have a team that works as hard as I do. Trust is EVERYTHING to me and I trust these women implicitly.

Chrissy Kling & Melissa Wallace, you are gifts—and you produce the best events to boot!!!

Again, special thanks to our sponsors Tyson Foods, Kellog’s and Citi for all you do to help eradicate childhood hunger in America.

xoxo,
Dawn

A Shade Of Orange: No Kid Hungry Back-To-School Influencers Brunch Eve

Posted on September 1, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Getting ready to host the No Kid Hungry Back-To School Brunch for Influencers in LA tomorrow. *Custom No Kid Hungry Manicure by Note at Enamel Diction

We’re in an orange matchy-match mood over here at @TheCupcakePalaceLA today. But, ummm, Miss Ellie, can you puhleez get off my @HossIntropia dress for the @NoKidHungry Influencers Brunch I’m hosting tomorrow? No?

I’m a proud ambassador and advocate for No Kid Hungry because all kids need to be fed to be fueled to flourish. After all, breakfast and lunch should be a requisite for all, not just a luxury for a choice few.

If you’re interested in getting involved with @NoKidHungry, head over to www.NoKidHungry.org, where helping can be as simple as hosting a bake sale for the whole month of October, like I am, when Domino Sugar is matching registered bake sale donations dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000.

SO excited to raise awareness tomorrow with my editor, blogger, writer, host and actor friends!!

And, stay tuned for more ‘tails on my Bake Sale announcement. Hint! There may be a Texas element…

xoxo,
Dawn

Where Foodies Meet Fundraising: No Kid Hungry Taste Of The Nation LA in Culver City

Posted on June 8, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

This tree could just have easily have read, “DM hearts NKH”

Today, I’m feeling miiiiiiiighty grateful, because yesterday, I got to eat so that kids can be fed.

I know. This sounds like a dichotomy. How can eating actually feed others?

Well, if I know anything from my collaborations with No Kid Hungry, it’s that with these guys, anything is possible.

Linds & I at Taste Of The Nation LA, benefitting my beloved No Kid Hungry

No Kid Hungry’s Taste Of The Nation events do just that. Food-loving patrons pay for a ticket to get the opportunity to try bites from a bevy of the best chefs in their city, and 100% of the profits earned go to No Kid Hungry programs. That certainly fills me up more than any pizza could.

So, yesterday, I headed to Media Park in Culver City for Taste of The Nation LA, with my friend, Lindsey, and we ate and drank to our hearts’ content.

Gearing ourselves up to be stuffed silly!

Among the hundreds of options, there were…

Delicious scallops…

Scallops and ravioli goodness from Maru in the VIP lounge

and peach tarts from Maru in the VIP lounge.

Peach tarts, served with ice cream from Maru. This is what you get when bread pudding and peach cobbler have a baby.

Deconstructed Philly cheese rolls with the melted cheese INSIDE from The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS.

All I can say is…YUMMMMMM.

One of my favorite lunch spots, Mainland Poke, served up some fresh goodness to balance out the decadence.

Mainland Poke is one of my favorite lunch spots!

Chile Con Corny from Dog Haus: Masa-Battered Smoked Queso Sausage, Haus-Made Pepper Jack Sauce & Crushed Corn Chips. Holy heck.

Chile Con Corny, from Dog Haus

Plan Check burgers with cheese crostini, sunnyside up egg, bacon two ways (why yes, there WAS bacon jam), melted cheddar and dehydrated ketchup (think fruit leather). Amazeballs, y’all.

These divine little Plan Check burgers had the longest line by far: too much, and just enough all at the same time. Just decadent.

As for dessert? Oh, a little Moët Chandon bubbly certainly never hurt anything.

Champagne, anyone?

And did I mention SNOW CONE cocktails from Davey Wayne’s? Oh, I didn’t. Well, I did now. Summer in a basket, my friends.

Nothin’ says summer like snow cone cocktails!

So, whatever city you’re in, do your darndest to get yourself to a Taste Of The Nation this year. I’ve been to two now, and it’s just one of the best – and most rewarding – culinary experiences you’ll ever have.

Upcoming No Kid Hungry events: The No Kid Hungry Chef’s Cycle is coming up THIS WEEKEND! (http://chefscycle.org/) Nearly 50 chefs and restaurant industry professionals are riding bikes 300 miles to raise funds and awareness for No Kid Hungry. The East Coast ride takes place June 7-9 and the West Coast ride happens June 14-16.

Roll me away…

xoxo,
Dawn

Eat To Feed Others: Taste of The Nation Laguna Beach, Benefitting No Kid Hungry

Posted on May 22, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

At the Montage Laguna, for No Kid Hungry’s Taste Of The Nation Laguna, wearing WAYF

Well, I figure the best way to get y’all excited about No Kid Hungry’s Taste Of The Nation in Culver City (coming up on Sunday, June 7th) is to show you what a fun time I had at Taste of The Nation in Laguna Beach this past weekend at The Montage Laguna Beach.

Yep. Pretty much me in a nutshell the whole night. No date? No problem. Delicious food. Wine. Friends. Good cause. And best yet? All for @NoKidHungry at @montagelaguna . Bite I’m eating right now? @FordsFillingStation Ben Ford’s Seared Sea Scallop with Pea Sprout Salad, Preserved Lemon & Toasted Hazelnuts. Holy yum.

Details are at the bottom on how you can buy your tickets to have your own foodie dreams come true, all while helping our nation’s kids get fed! But, for now, here’s my Taste of The Nation Laguna story.

As a Team No Kid Hungry member & influencer, I arrived, with a hungry belly – and a full heart – ready to eat, drink, and raise money and awareness for No Kid Hungry.

On the carpet for No Kid Hungry Laguna Beach

First up? Delicious Riverain Cabernet and cheeses and charcuterie from The Cellar and Center Street Cheese Shop.

The perfect first course to kick off my tastebuds! Riverain Cabernet and delicious cheeses and charcuterie from The Cellar and Center Street Cheese Shop.

Next up? The vegetarian portion of the evening. And it was surprisingly downright delicious to this Texas girl!

Beefsteak’s Marcel Vigneron’s Smoked Bowl with Brown Rice, Quinoa, Veggies, Spicy Sauce, Avocado and Crispies

Then, it was time for the flavors of the sea with the plentiful ocean-fresh seafood options! After all, our view was all ocean, there at the beautiful Montage.

The Montage’s Craig Strong’s Grilled Octopus and some Sauv Blanc

Twenty Eight’s Shirley Chung’s Chilled Noodle with Uni

My 3 favorites of the evening? THESE GUYS.

Faith & Flower’s Chef Michael Hung’s Yellowfin Tuna Poke, Soy Braised Konbu, and Foie Gras Panna Cotta

The Filling Station’s Chef Ben Ford’s Seared Scallops with Pea Sprout Salad, Preserved Lemon and Toasted Hazelnuts

Gastropub’s heavenly Venus Clams with Tabasco Butter and Reyes Blue Mousse…and beer!! The beer would be Noble Ale Works Spicoli

And, lastly, the meat options!
I started out light with Alma’s Chef Ari Taymor’s Beef Tartare with Fermented Walnuts and Blackberries. It was a divine balance of savory, nutty and sweet!

Alma’s Chef Ari Taymor’s Beef Tartare with Fermented Walnuts and Blackberries

The line was out of control for this one:

Chianina’s Steakhouse’s Chef David Coleman’s Spit Roasted Whole Chianina Beef Leg Trio, California Style BBQ Sliders, House Made Corn Tortillas, and Grilled Flatbread with Pickled Ramps

And, the eating & drinking didn’t end when the event did!

With new friends, s’moresing it up around the fire pit at the VIP reception

I stayed on for the special VIP reception, where I got to enjoy more of what the Montage chefs had to offer, got to meet the chefs, and eat s’mores!

Clearly excited to meet Chef Ben Ford (fun fact? He’s also Harrison Ford’s son)

The VIP reception eats, courtesy of The Montage:

Fried Mac & cheese balls

Fried Lobster

Grilled Cheese & Sweet Tomato Bisque

My FAVE!!

Foie Gras Cones

S’mores!!!

Late night antics in the photobooth with new friends:

Why yes, there WERE cigars

So, NOW, it’s your chance. Tickets for the LA Taste of The Nation event at Media Park in Culver City are on sale now! General admission tickets are $110 and VIP tickets are $160. I say, go ahead and spend that extra $50 because it’s for my FAVORITE cause, and you get all that VIP access you’re gonna want. And talk about a romantic date!! Be sure to bring your sweetheart, because what’s better than eating, drinking and being with the one you adore?

Feed the kiddos by tasting to your heart’s content!

I’ll see YOU there!

xoxo,

Dawn

Pay It Forward: #GivingTuesday with No Kid Hungry

Posted on December 1, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

This past Thursday, we spent all day giving thanks and eating delicious food.

This Tuesday – tomorrow – let’s pay it forward.

Pay it forward with No Kid Hungry

Every $1 donated to No Kid Hungry can help connect a hungry child with up to 10 meals. This year, if you donate tomorrow, on Giving Tuesday, all donations will be matched up to $50,000!

That means we have the opportunity to help kids connect with up to ONE MILLION MEALS!

So, skip a latte this week and donate that $5 to No Kid Hungry. And if you can, donate more.
There’s no greater gift than the gift of feeding a hungry child.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: How will donating to No Kid Hungry make you feel?