Taste of Austin

Fair Market shindig gives party-goers a taste of Austin for good cause

Taste of Austin

Fair Market shindig gives party-goers a taste of Austin for good cause

Christian Canencio and Bailey Howell.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Charred winter squash, espelette creme fraiche, salmon roe, and micro shiso by Austin Rocconi of Goodall's Kitchen at Hotel Ella.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Rhonda McKinney and Jordan Liles.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Texas State Director of No Kid Hungry Cathy Green, Kate Hardin, and Peter Hardin.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Rick Lopez of La Condesa.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Cherry chocolate tartlet, smoked cherry gel, and an almond cherry crunch with black pepper meringue by Lindsay Flagg of South Congress Hotel.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Bill Betrella, Andres Rizo, and Paul Yuhico.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Kasey Pierce of Barley Swine.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Jasmine tea custard with citrus by Natalie Gazaui of Tatsu-Ya.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Smoked Lamb on Barton Springs Mill cornbread with pumpkin seeds and morita chili by Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, featuring John Brand of Hotel Emma.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Cyril Bernier, Taryn Wise, and Brian Rees.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Robin Jacobs and Christiana Haddad.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Wagyu bavette, bulgar, apricot, feta, za'atar, and mint by Patrick Jackson of Paperboy.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Creamy burrata, chamomille, strawberries, avocado, mint, and sesame crostini by Erind Halilaj of Il Brutto.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Serena Garza, Kristin Shilson, Jen Mulhern, and Kathleen Galvan.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Shayda Torabi and Jasmine Peterson.Photo by Shelley Neuman
The White Squall featuring Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Olmeca Altos Tequila, passionfruit, lime, and ancho reyes by Steven Robbins of Half Step.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Cookie bar by Laura Sawicki of Launderette.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Zachary Horst and Taylor Kidd.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Sunshine Cake featuring clementine cake, basil, and white chocolate on an orange dreamsicle cloud by Amanda Rockman of New Waterloo, featuring Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Shaina Golay and Megan Kimble.Photo by Shelley Neuman
DJ Jester spun tunes for guests all night.Photo by Shelley Neuman
John Seel, Rebecca Masson, and Cody Seel.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Dusty Smith and Lainey Smith.Photo by Shelley Neuman
Jill Cacic and Tania Ortega.Photo by Shelley Neuman

Where: Fair Market

The lowdown: Central Texas-based chefs, restaurants, sommeliers, mixologists, and culinary lovers gathered at Fair Market on February 7 to help end child hunger at Austin's Taste of the Nation event series debut for No Kid Hungry.

Co-hosted by Austin chefs Bryce Gilmore, chef-owner of Barley Swine, and Amanda Rockman, culinary director of New Waterloo, the event brings together 30 of the city’s culinary leaders for a delicious night of bites and libations.

DJ Jester spun tunes while attendees dined on dishes from Austin's hottest restaurants and bars, including Launderette, Half Step, Il Brutto, Paperboy, and Goodall's Kitchen. All of the proceeds from the event benefitted No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

Who: Rhonda McKinney, Jordan Liles, Kathy Hardin, Pete Hardin, Robin Jacobs, Christiana Haddad, Cyril Bernier, Taryn Wise, Brian Rees, Serena Garza, Kristin Shilson, Jen Mulhern, Shayda Torabi, Jasmine Peterson, Christian Canencio, Zachary Horst, Taylor Kidd, Bailey Howell, and Kathleen Galvan.

charity-guide charity dinner

The Long Run

Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas gets engaged on Austin staycation

Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes are now engaged. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Five-time Olympic medalist and social media powerhouse Gabby Thomas is sporting some new metal — an engagement ring from luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co.

Vogue magazine reported March 25 that Gabby's longtime boyfriend, Spencer McManes, 29, recently popped the question on the rooftop of a staycation rental in Travis Heights. The 28-year-old Thomas accepted the proposal. Thomas and McManes live together in Austin with their dog, Rico Thee Pug.

See on Instagram

The couple started dating in 2022, one year after she stumbled upon his pizza reviews on Instragram. “I’m a huge fan of pizza myself,” she tells Vogue. “I was like, ‘This looks like really good quality content.’”

Impressed by his pizza prowess, Thomas followed McManes on Instagram.

“I got the notification that I had a new follower. I was like, ‘That’s crazy! Gabby Thomas?’” he tells Vogue. “I immediately DM’d her and asked, ‘What did I do to earn a follow?’”

It wasn’t long before that Instagram follow led to love.

Four years after that initial Instagram encounter, Thomas’s best friend and a photographer witnessed the surprise proposal in a setting that overflowed with fresh flowers. “Oh my gosh, this is happening,” Thomas recalls thinking.

“Normally he’s very bad with surprises — and this was the one surprise I think I’ve ever witnessed him keep,” she tells Vogue.

Thomas, a world-class sprinter, earned three gold medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and one bronze medal and one silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Thomas has spun her golden success on the track into sponsorship deals with footwear and apparel brand New Balance, Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava, and smartwatch brand Amazfit.

Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and global health from Harvard University and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Thomas and McManes get along despite the fact that he’s an alumnus of Yale University, an Ivy League archrival of Harvard.

McManes founded an Austin-based non-alcoholic seltzer brand called Kaviva. A former Yale football player, McManes competes for the Austin Huns Rugby Football Club, according to TMZ.

Right now, the newly engaged Thomas has little time to celebrate or plan her impending marriage. She kicks off her 2025 track-and-field season this weekend at the Texas Relays in Austin — where she may or may not be flashing her new bling.

celebrities olympics engagement