Local program looks to connect at-risk children with acclaimed restaurants, introduce them to culinary arts Published HOUSTON - A local program is working to help introduce at-risk youth to the culinary arts! It's called Restaurant U, and based on a press release, it's a Houston program meant to serve at-risk youth and introduce them to world-class eateries through a series of immersive field trips. The program is dually run by The Greater Houston Area Restaurant Association and Homemade Hope, a local non-profit founded in 2014 that helps children living in Houston shelters through a variety of programming. "Houston is the greatest food city in the world, and anyone can be part of it," said Cameron James, President of the Greater Houston Texas Restaurant Association. "Our restaurant community is so excited about the opportunity to connect with young people through mouth-watering food, mentorship, and interactive experiences that don’t just illustrate the professional opportunities that exist for them in our industry, but actually put them on the paths to seize them."