Voices of Our Times with Alex Hitz
In Honor of Chef Narvell Patton
Hosted by the HMA Black History Month Committee
Cocktails, Lecture, Dinner & Book Signing
Thursday, February 9, 2023 | 5:30 – 9 p.m.
Members: $200 | Non-Members: $230
Alex Hitz is an award-winning American celebrity chef, culinary speaker, columnist, event designer, tastemaker, and expert host. He was named “the very best host in the world” by The Wall Street Journal. His first book, My Beverly Hills Kitchen, and first Rizzoli cookbook, The Art of the Host, are widely popular. He is a contributing editor for Town & Country and writes regularly for C Magazine, Quest, and Southern Living. Hitz is a former food editor for House Beautiful, a post he assumed from Ina Garten. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including Today, and lectures frequently around the country. He splits his time between Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach. His latest cookbook, Occasions to Celebrate, features recipes by Huntsville’s own Chef Narvell Patton.
Narvell Patton is a caterer and owner of Catering by Narvell. Food plays an important role in the African American culture. Taught to cook by her mother at the age of 7, Patton developed a love for cooking that served as a means of taking care of her family, but became a platform to share her food with people from all walks of life. One of 5 children of sharecroppers Bernie and Georgia Allen, Patton often cooked meals for her family while her parents worked in the fields. In 1998, the opportunity presented itself to start her own catering business. With the help and encouragement of her daughter and husband, she became a licensed caterer and opened Catering by Narvell. She, along with her staff, have cooked for a plethora of people including astronauts, governors, actors and renowned musicians. She caters corporate events, private parties, weddings, lunches and cocktail parties. Although she can cook a wide range of foods, Southern comfort food is her specialty.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created challenging times for Catering by Narvell. One by one, the large events scheduled were cancelled. Patton decided to offer weekly Sunday dinners for curbside pickup. Serving the community and keeping her staff employed were her main objectives. Today, Patton continues to cater events of all sizes sharing the love of God and her passion for cooking.