In Honor of Peg Lee

Remembering Peg, by Gracie Cavnar

I arrived in Houston in 1976. As a classically trained, avocational cook, I immediately fell in love with the classes at Rice Epicurean Market and their impressive schedule of world-renowned chef/teachers. I signed up for as many as I could, learning from Julia Child, Marcella Hazan and so many others.

Though she really didn’t know me then, I fell in love with Peg during those classes, and years later when we crossed paths again, we immediately bonded. In early 2000s, I found myself obsessed with wanting to help change the direction of the childhood obesity epidemic, which continues to rage. I turned to friends who shared my perspective on food, especially the idea that our kids should be introduced to real, home cooked food at an early age, rather than be fed the children’s menu at fast food drive throughs. It’s the way I raised my own kids and the way my friend Peg Lee raised hers. I shared my concerns and ideas, and she set about helping me reach out to others who might be willing to help us do something meaningful.

After a few years of pitching volunteer activations to various culinary and food groups we belonged to, she turned to me and said “It looks like you are going to have to do this yourself. I’ll help.” And help she did, with connections, fundraising, advice and counsel.

Since then, Recipe for Success Foundation has grown to impact tens of thousands of children and earn  national attention, awards, accolades and recognition for our impactful work to teach, empower, and inspire healthy eating. Throughout, Peg was my North Star, asking myself ‘What Would Peg Do?’

In 2015, we saluted her at our 10th Anniversary Luncheon and in 2021 we honored her at our annual Delicious Alchemy Banquet. But it was my deepest honor to pay homage to unveil the Peg Lee Culinary Classroom at Hope Farms in 2022 where we will keep the spirit of her work alive for generations to come.

“We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.” JOHN OF SALISBURY, 12TH CENTURY THEOLOGIAN

A MEMORIAL FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN PEG’S NAME TO CONTINUE OUR WORK TO TEACH CHILDREN TO COOK.

CLICK THE QR CODE TO DONATE.