Top Houston Chefs Turn the Manor House into a Hot Summer Paradise

What: A Summer Fete at The Houstonian

Where: The Manor House on The Houstonian grounds

PC Moment: Houstonian executive chef Neal Cox, Manor House chef Roland Soza with sous chef Jeff Boudreaux, Olivette chef de cuisine Jeff Leichliter, Center Court chef Isaias Alba with sous chef Warner Gonzalez  and pastry chef Catherine Rodriguez worked their culinary magic for the evening that combined tasty bites, fine wines and mid-summer schmoozing for the fashionable crowd. Seersuckers, sundresses and hats were de rigueur for the throng that dispensed with the notion that July in Houston is no man’s land. Also welcoming guests were Houstonian GM Steve Fronterhouse and Houstonian director of outlets Kevin Kenyon.

The sweeping buffets included pastrami-spiced tuna, salami and muffaletta croutons, Painted Hills ribeye with peppercorn sauce, pulled pork macaroni and cheese, quinoa stuffed avocado with sweet peppers and lemon vinaigrette, and more. The dessert buffet have even the most calorie-conscious stepping out of bounds for the Valrhona brownie bites, Nilla Wafer banana pudding shots, strawberry short cake, and Barbara Bush chocolate chip cookies. As guests needed something primo to wash down the vittles, wines served included Cakebread Chardonnay, Beringer Private Reserve, ZD and Keenan Caberenets, and Miner Family Wines chardonnay.

Who: Elaine Jefferson, Mary Christ, Lindsey and Scott McReaken, Seliece and Lee Womble, Sandra and Kevin Munz, Charlotte Marchesseau, Will Elting, Ankita Puri, Christina and Donovan Greer, Sharon Wiliams-Kirwan and John Kirwan, Margo Irwin, Megha and Sumeer Tejpal, Tina Maddox, Shayna Andrews, Whitney Merrill, Misty Bensreti, Kendall Jamie, Nancy and Rick Kendall, Don Schlossberg, and Ann Pigue.