In an announcement this morning via both press release and live broadcast on Fox 26, Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverley Stone revealed that the annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank posted its most impressive results to-date for last year’s effort. The event, a highly anticipated one by Houston diners every August, raised $2,015,157.77 in 2016. That tops the $1.9 million raised in 2015—the previous record-breaking year—by over $115,000. According to the press release, the donation will enable the Houston Food Bank to make 6,045,473 meals for those in need.

Also revealed were the top fundraising restaurants of 2016 as follows:

1. B&B Butchers and Restaurant
2. Peli Peli (Galleria location)
3. Brennan’s of Houston
4. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
5. Masraff’s
6. The Capital Grille (CityCentre location)
7. Americas (River Oaks location)
8. Del Frisco’s Grille (Houston location)
9. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse
10. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood (CityCentre location)

Five of the restaurants in the top 10 are decidedly steakhouses, which makes the number two and three rankings of South African restaurant Peli Peli and upscale Creole eatery Brennan’s of Houston seem even more impressive. To date, Houston Restaurant Weeks has raised over $9.6 million dollars for the Houston Food Bank.

In the press release, Stone was quoted as saying, “What started as an idea in 2003 to raise money for the Houston Food Bank, has happily become a citywide marriage of food and fundraising. It’s a win-ˇwin-ˇwin. The restaurants, Houstonians who enjoy dining out and the Houston Food Bank all look forward to HRW each year. I give my heartfelt thanks for the extraordinary efforts by participating restaurants, the sponsors and volunteers who all donate their resources, time and money to make HRW happen every year. And thank you to the diners for patronizing HRW restaurants in August. Without all of you there would be no HRW.”

In addition to coordinating Houston Restaurant Weeks every year, Stone also hosts The Cleverley Show, a local food nd dining talk show on CBS Sports Radio 650 and frequently appears on Fox 26.

It’s a safe bet to say Houston diners will look forward to Houston Restaurant Weeks in 2017 just as eagerly. Will it be another record-breaking year? With Houston’s economy on the move again, the odds look good.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.