Annual Okrapalooza outgrows its old digs, moves to family farm

From P.O.P. Staff Reports

Promise of Peace Gardens (P.O.P.) began its journey on the road to food equity 10 years ago, and immediately encountered some of Dallas’ best chefs in the process. 

The annual Okrapalooza event was born in 2009 as Elizabeth Dry and local chefs — including Graham Dodds, Janice Provost, Sharon Van Meter, Mark Wootton and Adam West — explored making locally grown food accessible to all. Since then, P.O.P has established 11 gardens in the Dallas area where diversity has grown, and communities can harvest not only nutritious locally grown food, but beautiful kinships on common ground. Many remarkable chefs and musicians in DFW have kept this non-profit rolling throughout the years by supporting more than 25 Farm-to-Table dinners and nine Okrapaloozas. They are the nonprofits “heroes!” 

On Saturday, Sept. 14, P.O.P. will gather for an exquisite evening to enjoy a delicious meal set in the middle of the okra field on the Reeves Family Farm in Princeton, Texas. 

Chefs Anastacia Quinones, Alex Astranti, Casey Nicole, Daniel Pittman, Mark Wootton and Adam West will deliver the flavors of the farm as P.O.P. raises funds to support the Promise of Peace Gardens and Reeves Family Farm. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. with music by Grammy nominated Russ Hewitt; dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. 

Then on Sunday, Sept. 15, P.O.P. will celebrate its 10th annual Okra Cook-Off at Okrapalooza 2019@FARMstock also on the Reeves Family Farm. In addition to the chef cook-off competition, this year the event includes Fun on the Farm. The fun begins at 11 a.m. with down-home wholesome free activities for the children. 

The Okrapalooza 2019 Chef Cook-off begins at 1 p.m. with an amazing line-up of talented chefs. Chefs Thomas Archer, Annie Greenslade, David Pena, Keith Cedotal, Mayra Garcia, Josh Harmon, Joey Dawkins, Andrea Shackleford, Adam West, Taylor Rause and Baker Pamela Thibodeaux of Patina Green will be creating never-seen-before culinary creations for all to taste and judge. Tickets are $45 (kids under 12 are free).

Live music provided by Mack Price Sr. & Jr., Sydney Price, the Maylee Thomas Band, Scarlett Deering, the Joel Pipkin Group, Haley Coleman and Marshall McFerrin. 

Local brews provided by TUPPS, cocktails from Calamity Gin, wines from Caudalie Crest — and a silent auction showcasing local goodness! 

Okrapalooza 2019 is generously sponsored by State Farm, Veritex Community Bank, Edible Dallas & Fort Worth, TUPPS Brewing Co., Caudalie Crest Winery, Calamity Gin and Love Life Foundation. Proceeds benefit the missions of Promise of Peace Gardens and Reeves Family Farm. 

  Featured