James Beard Award-winning chefs to cook for a cause: Freedom for Austin Tice
James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd will kick-off a new remote cooking demonstration series designed to bring awareness to the case of Austin Tice, the Marine veteran and award-winning journalist who was detained at a checkpoint in Syria while covering the civil war there back in 2012.
Sponsored by the National Press Club, each episode in the Cook for a Cause series will pair a James Beard Award-winning Chef with either a member of the Tice family, or a press freedom advocate well-versed in Austin’s case.
Shepherd, the owner and executive chef behind several award-winning restaurants in Tice’s hometown of Houston, will team up with Tice’s sister Meagan Malone to demonstrate how to make the perfect tacos when the series premieres Friday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m.CT/6:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets start at $35 for the class. Click here to purchase tickets.
The Cook for a Cause series follows the success of the national Night Out for Austin Tice held in 2019, which drew support from 80 restaurants in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Thousands of people who went out to eat that night learned about Austin’s case, and millions more read about him in newspaper ads, articles and op-eds, and listened to the Tices tell their story in dozens of radio and television interviews. In addition to raising awareness, last year’s Night Out For Austin Tice raised more than $60,000 to supplement the FBI’s $1 million reward for information leading to Austin’s safe return and generated new leads to the FBI.
Shepherd was one of the principal drivers of Night Out For Austin Tice’s success, who said he knew he had to be part of the effort to bring Austin home after learning about his case from some of his regular restaurant patrons. When the Tice family approached him about participating in this year’s efforts, he did not hesitate.
“Austin Tice left his hometown of Houston to serve his country: first serving three tours of duty as a captain in the United States Marine Corps, and then as a journalist on the frontlines of the civil war in Syria,” Shepherd said. “Austin is an American hero and it is time we bring him home. I am proud to support him and his family, and to support everything he represents.”
All proceeds raised from the series will go to the National Press Club's non-profit affiliate, The National Press Club Journalism Institute (a 501-c3), where it will be held until further instruction from the FBI. It is the Club's hope that the funds raised will be used to rehabilitate Austin back into society when he returns safely home after eight years in captivity. To learn more about Austin Tice and how you can help, please visit: www.austinticefamily.com.