parties

High Cotton: Pete Bell and Co. Host Spectacular Cook-Off Shindig to Open Rodeo Season

Painted Peacock Photography
High Cotton: Pete Bell and Co. Host Spectacular Cook-Off Shindig to Open Rodeo Season

Sanette Austin, Michelle Brady, Stacey White, Chasity Spiller

FAMOUS FOR NEVER doing anything halfway, Cotton Holdings and CEO Pete Bell opened Rodeo season strong with a 10,000-square-foot chandelier-and-red-roses-bedecked tent dubbed the Cotton ’Q Club, hosting hundreds of guests at Rodeo Cook-off.

Cotton — the disaster and infrastructure support services company that served as title sponsor of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, aka “Cook-off,” for the second year in a row — has developed a reputation for lavish entertaining, and its Rodeo digs lived up to the rep.

“The cedar-framed ‘tent’ was completely draped in navy paneling with antler and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling,” explained a Cotton representative. “The room was decorated with seven-foot-tall mosaic horses draped with blankets of red roses by Flora & Eventi, antique mirrors, saddles and mounted taxidermy.” The latter came straight from Bell’s ranch, the rep added.

Cotton Culinary, an award-winning subsidiary or Cotton Holdings, put out a decadent spread. Apps of fried oysters, fried quail, and Figgy Piggy sliders with pork belly and fried brie were followed by barbecued rib-eye with Astro Alex Bregman’s Breggy Bomb sauce, as well as lobster mac ’n’ cheese, twice-baked potato casserole, and, for dessert, bread pudding with Jack Daniels cream sauce.

Also on the menu on opening night: a surprise performance by Grammy-nominated country artist Cole Swindell.

The souped-up tent also boasted a special VIP room, the “Gold Pony” lounge, where the décor featured white roses and disco-ball accents. VIPs in attendance included hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta, designer-milliner Teressa Foglia, TV personalities Chita Craft and Derrick Shore, and Cotton execs Bryan Michalsky, James Scaife, Johnny Slaughter, Russel White and Zinat Ahmed.

Tilman Fertitta and Pete Bell

Cole Swindell performs

Teressa Foglia, Tyler Wild, Zinat Ahmed

Norbert Tran, Travis Bice, Russell White

Samantha Knight, Lauren Halle, Bill Sisson, Madeline Dill

Over 650 guests joined Cotton Holdings and Quanta Services in the Cotton 'Q Club

Travis Bice, Hayden Layne, Matt Thompson, Louis Martinez, Jesse Luke

Cotton Holdings CEO Pete Bell and Quanta Services CEO Duke Austin

Entry Sign to the Gold Pony VIP Lounge

From Your Site Articles
Parties
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less
parties

Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson

Chairs Brady and Zane Carruth, Brittany and Adam Clark

IT ALREADY FEELS like spring in Houston and the spring social season is here with it! 375 guests donned in white-tie flocked to The Post Oak Hotel for the annual Houston Symphony Ball, one of the city’s most anticipated and A-list galas.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties
food

The Truffle Masters Returns — with a New Competition — Benefitting Southern Smoke

THE TRUFFLE MASTERS is returning for its 11th year on March 3rd. Now a Houston tradition of sorts, the competition sees top chefs creating a dish using black truffles all benefitting Southern Smoke.

Keep Reading Show less