7th Annual Autism Speaks Chef Gala

Autism Speaks brings back its Chef Gala to the Bayou Music Center on Saturday, October 17, for its seventh annual run. It's a Houston fundraiser that pairs local chefs with young people with autism, who are named Culinary Champions for the evening. The gala runs from 5 PM to midnight, with a cocktail hour starting at 6 PM and the tastings kicking off at 7:30 PM. The dress code is optional black-tie, so you can lean into the formal side of things or keep it a bit more relaxed.

The night is built around the food: more than 20 chefs from around the city and beyond set up stations, each paired with one of the Culinary Champions. Between the cocktails and the tastings, there's an open bar, silent and live auctions, and entertainment throughout. Once the formal part winds down, it moves into an after-party with dancing that carries on until midnight.

It's a long evening, and the ticket price reflects that. Tickets start at $350, and the whole thing runs from 5 PM to midnight at the Bayou Music Center.