Houston Restaurant Week Lunch at Tony’s Builds Anticipation for the Biggest Foodie Gala of the Year

The bottle of Veuve Clicquot was not part of the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu but that darling Tony Vallone sent it over to the three ladies discussing the October 3 Corks and Forks evening benefiting the American Cancer Society. Vallone has signed on as one of the judges for the event which is honoring this scribe and her husband, Shafik Rifaat. Comprising the lunching trio were moi, gala chair Mary Grace Gray and ACS’s Tiziana Triolo.

Tony’s was hopping midday as regulars poured in and newbies took advantage of Tony’s generous Restaurant Weeks menu to sample the culinary delights from the sophisticated kitchen. At one table, beauty entrepreneur and investor Janet Gurwitch dined tete-a-tete with Hevrdejs Foundation chairman Frank Hevrdejs while at another heavyweight table of gents, including Vallone, chewed over news of the day. Among gents filling tables throughout the restaurant were businessman Alan Stein, Citigroup exec Steve Trauber, commercial real estate mogul Greg Lewis, philanthropist Andy Diamond, developer David Greenberg and attorney Ben Rose.

While some diners opted for the regular menu brimming with sea bass, veal scaloppini and the delish Wyatt Salad (think lobster, crab, shrimp, mango and citrus vinaigrette), our threesome went for the inviting Restaurant Weeks menu. But how could we decide between seven appetizer offerings and the eight entree selections including Tony’s Famous Chili (made with beef tenderloin), the ahi tuna and crab Napoleon, the vegetarian roasted Roman artichoke and all the rest? The two courses adding up to only $20 — at Houston’s top fine dining restaurant! Three dollars of each meal is headed for Houston Food Bank.

For the Corks and Forks event, Vallone will join Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverley Stone, Tony’s former chef turned food writer Kate McLean, Houston Chronicle food whiz Greg Morago and food scribe Mai Pham as judges in the competition.

With some two dozen chefs participating in the Corks and Forks evening of tasting, competing, and celebrating the good works of the American Cancer Society, the night is bound to be a success. Just imagine taste sensations from spanking new Ouzou Bay, Le Colonial, Seak 48, Uchi, Amalfi, Cavour, Toulouse, Ninfa’s on Navigation, and more. Join us by getting your tickets here.