WINTER PARK, Fla. – Cows ‘N Cabs has raised more than $2 million for Central Florida charities since it got its start in 2011.
The event was co-founded by David Larue, Executive Vice President at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, and John Rivers, the owner of 4 Rivers restaurant group.
“My wife and I were talking about how to use, like my ABC platform, because we have so many great contacts and the liquor business, and we’ve raised so much money for other things — but how to create something on our own? So we figured out, actually saw something on the Food Network called Pigs ‘N Pinot. I’m like, ‘Well, that is really cool,’” Larue said.
Larue had drinks covered, but he did not have the restaurant contacts he would need for the event. That’s when he was able to pull on Rivers and his vast network in Central Florida’s dining scene.
The pair wanted this event to be different from a typical charity event, more casual.
“We decided, let’s, let’s try to figure out if you are the person walking into an event and you’re by yourself. Would you have a great time being there for four hours by yourself? And so we kind of started with that mentality,” Larue said.
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They settled on a Western theme, which the regular attendees have embraced.
“We got a guy that comes with, like, an inflatable cow costume. A lot of people just with cowboy hats, which we’ve actually given away a bunch of cowboy hats the last couple of years through one of our supplier partners. They’ve given away like, 700 hats,” Larue said.
Amid the sea of cowboy hats, chefs from 38 restaurants will be offering up bites and snacks to the hungry attendees.
“I would say 25 of the restaurants are coming back because they just love it so much and then we’ve got a couple of new ones,” Larue said.
The participating restaurants include Kaya, Hawkers, The Monroe, Otto’s High Dive, Bar Kada and Black Rooster Taqueria, among others.
Of course, the food may draw people in, but the charities helped by the event are the star of the show.
“It’s so much fun just to be able to make that list (of charities) and, more importantly, deliver the checks,” Larue said.
The charities helped by the event include 4 Roots Farm, After-School All-Stars, Central Florida Diaper Bank and Harbor House.
Cows ‘n Cabs is set to take place in Winter Park on Nov. 9. Tickets are available now.
In the latest episode of Florida Foodie, Larue talks more about the growth of Cow ‘n Cabs and its expansion with a new event, Burgers, Bubbles & Beer, which is taking place on Nov. 7. He also shares the family history behind ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
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