Molly McCook endured the unspeakable when she experienced the death of one of her children. The necessity of support in the face of tragedy is why McCook, chef at Ellerbe Fine Foods, resonates with the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas’ (RMHD) mission of assisting families with sick children.
The chapter is commemorating its 40th birthday, and so far it has provided relief to 40,000 families who travel to DFW in search of medical care for their children. To celebrate, RMHD is releasing “Come to the Table,” a cookbook compiling diverse family favorite recipes from 40 acclaimed DFW chefs.
The collection of recipes is designed to bring communities together through good eats, honor RMHD board chairs, and help the chapter reach its $400,000 fundraising goal. Available for purchase online, the compilation of recipes features selections from McCook and another Cowtown chef, Mark Guatelara of the Ober Here food truck.
Guatelara contributed a nostalgic rendition of lumpia, a Filipino-style eggroll dish typically served as an appetizer.
“It brings people together, even people that are not Filipinos and [don’t] understand what lumpia is,” Guatelara says. “It reminds them of what [it means] to gather.”
Guatelara emigrated from the Philippines as a young adult and resonates with RMHD’s mission because of the strain hospitalization can put on an entire family — especially in his home country where resources can be scarce.
“Growing up in the Philippines [and it] being a third world country, I know how hard it is when there’s not a whole lot of help from the government,” Guatelara says.
Guatelara says he feels blessed to have lived in two different countries, and he views his involvement in the cookbook as a full-circle moment.
“Everything’s screaming to have a whole community, and I think this a perfect step towards that,” Guatelara says. “This is my way of actually doing and walking the talk through food.”
McCook, too, was eager to contribute, citing the importance of RMHD providing a sense of community to families going through tough times.
“Children are our most vulnerable so if there’s anything we can do to help, we are always looking to help in that sense,” McCook says. “I have three children — my son is in heaven, and two girls here with me that are four and six. The fight of a family with a child that is sick and what that means is very close to me.”
McCook hopes to provide a sense of comfort and familiarity with her family-oriented contribution of a chocolate chip cookie recipe.
“The kitchen is the soul of the family,” McCook says. “Just having that sense of community and being able to sit all together and have that special time to relax and talk and be together.”
