Hometown Hero: Café Momentum

DALLAS - Clarice Tinsley’s Hometown Heroes this week created Cafe Momentum to give at-risk youth the skills they need in the kitchen and in life to become successful.

Janice Provost and Chad Houser are the Chef Partners of Dallas' Parigi restaurant. They toured the Dallas County Youth Village and saw the culinary program and the garden.

The Dallas County Youth Village is for teens in the juvenile system. The culinary program is only open to non-violent offenders. Chef Provost and Chef Houser wanted to help give those kids a fighting chance when they're released.

The two chefs created Cafe Momentum, giving these teens the chance to continue moving forward. It's a non-profit restaurant that pops up once a month in a different place. Youth Village Resources of Dallas is one of its many partners.

Each month a different star chef creates a gourmet menu and is assisted by eight teens from the Dallas County Youth Village. The teens prep, cook and serve the meal to guests who pay $75 to $100.

The kids gain culinary skills as well as self-esteem. The goal is to help them develop abilities to keep them out of trouble and give them a job in a professional kitchen.

Three Cafe Momentum dinners have been held and two of the teens have found jobs with top chefs in Dallas.

The dream is to give Cafe Momentum a permanent home; have it open for lunch and dinner and employ more at-risk teens who have an aptitude for cooking.

Chef Provost and Chef Houser said the public is an important ingredient in the success of Cafe Momentum. To make a reservation, go to www.cafemomentum.org or call 214-957-7057.