Chad often describes Café Momentum as “taking kids out of jail and teaching them to play with knives and fire.” But levity aside, it’s this charisma and passion to teach life, social and employment skills to Dallas’ most at-risk youth that makes Houser a hit with everyone from philanthropists and dinner-goers to the young men participating in the program. After 17 years as a chef, Chad sold his partnership of Parigi Restaurant to become Executive Director of Café Momentum in 2012.

Chad has previously served as President of the board of directors for Dallas Farmers Market Friends and has received multiple nominations from D Magazine for “Best Up-And-Coming Chef” (2010) and “Best Chef” (2011 and 2012). Most recently, Chad was selected as Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” and as one of “30 Most Interesting People in the Metro Area” by the Dallas Observer.

Café Momentum’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant and classroom space opened in January 2015 at 1510 Pacific Ave. at Akard in downtown Dallas. The restaurant has been featured on local, regional and national media outlets including the ABC’s “The Chew,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” CBS, and The Atlantic to name a few.