Restaurants by Michelin-Starred Chefs Heading to the Med Center

Restaurants by Michelin-Starred Chefs Heading to the Med Center

A rendering of AB Sushi

THE MED CENTER will soon boast not one but two new restaurants by Michelin-starred chefs. Blossom Hotel, the area’s newest high-end hotel, announced yesterday that the two distinct concepts will open on its property early next year.


The first is a Cantonese-inspired restaurant by Malaysian-born chef Ho Chee Boon, who recently opened his first restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and is the former international exec chef of Hakkasan, which operates popular concepts such as Yauatcha.

Called Duck House, his Blossom Hotel spot will fuse traditional with contemporary techniques and flavor profiles to create unique duck dishes, plus stir-fries, dim sum and more. The duck will be sourced from fourth-generation family-owned farm Joe Jurgielewicz & Son.

The second restaurant is from chef Akira Back, who has an impressive portfolio of 16 restaurants across the globe, with another 10 slated to open in the next two years — including AB Sushi at Blossom. The former professional snowboarder, who was born in Korea and raised in Aspen, will source premium sushi and sashimi in a “congenial atmosphere that is both refined and unpretentious.”

The 267-room, four-diamond property is situated off Fannin between Old Spanish Trail and Braeswood, and offers amenities such as a library, translation services, laundry, long-term storage, meeting spaces and a sprawling pool deck. Blossom Hotel also served as the location for CityBook’s fall fashion spread.

Akira Back

Ho Chee Boon

Food
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

THE STANDARD BEARER FOR LUXURY

We built The Village communities to exemplify sophisticated retirement living in Houston, surrounded by the heritage neighborhood of River Oaks, Tanglewood and Southampton. Each offers impeccable designer finishes and Aspenwood service detail with dining and resortstyle amenities making them premier locations for discerning Houstonians and their families. Impressive, spacious residential floor plans, generous natural light, and expansive terraces allow a new level of indoor-outdoor living. Beautiful spaces are designed for entertaining, fitness, and relaxation with a dedicated team to provide a secure lock and leave lifestyle for our members.

Keep Reading Show less

Valentino, Debbie and Rudy Festari

A STYLISH CROWD of more than 350 gathered at a River Oaks Country Club luncheon to celebrate Italian culture in Houston and take in a bright fall fashion show from Saks Fifth avenue.

Keep Reading Show less
Fashion+Home