Navy Blue's branzino (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
The monthly series is for wine- and food-lovers, and the next one is Feb. 12, which means you can duck the Valentine’s Day frenzy by attending. Molly Austad, the sommelier for Navy Blue and Bludorn, takes a deep dive into wine and food pairings and educates guests on wine varietals and the art of tasting wine. Four- or five-course meals and pairings are usually kept a delightful surprise, so it’s a little like opening a box of chocolates.
The superstar sommelier kicked off the four-part monthly wine club dinner series back in October. Her topic for the evening was “How to Sound like a Wine Expert” in an intimate and interactive dinner setting. Tables are set up the private room at Navy Blue, so you won’t have to compete with the main dining restaurant activities. You can be sure that restaurateur-chef Aaron Bludorn will include fresh seafood on the menu!
If you can’t make it Feb. 12, both Navy Blue and Bludorn will offer an a la carte specialty menu Feb. 14, as well as delectable desserts from pastry chef Marie Riddle. Guests also have a chance to add a bountiful bouquet for their significant other or a bottle of Champagne ahead of time.
Molly Austad (photo by Julie Soefer)
Key lime pie (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
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The theme was all Old World opulence — Vienna Fête Impériale. “Fashioned by Richard Flowers of The Events Company, the décor perfectly blended Vienna’s and America’s culture with crystal chandeliers, candelabras and tables covered in custom linens filling the room with varying sizes of floral arrangements, all assorted shades of pink,” noted a Houston Symphony rep. Special entertainment included professional ballroom dancers performing — what else? — the Viennese waltz.
Dinner was as posh as the environs. The menu highlighted a grilled radicchio Caesar salad, roasted filet mignon with demi-glace and potato puree, and, for dessert, tiramisu with amaretto cream. After the meal, guests crowded the dance floor as Q the band played a mix of standards, Motown and other party faves.
The ball was chaired by Tammie Johnson and physicians Charles Johnson, Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams. The honorees, all glittering and grateful, were recognized; they included Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Sippi Khurana, and Betty and Jesse Tutor, the latter feted for lifetime achievement. Other VIPs afloat in the ballroom included Margaret Alkek Williams, Joanne King Herring, Hallie Vanderheider, Bobbie Dees, Kristy Bradshaw, Daniel Irion, Kirk Kveton, John and Lindy Rydman, Reggie and Paula DesRoches, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Alicia Smith.
Betty and Jesse Tutor
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai
Co-Chairs Dr. Charles and Tammie Johnson and Drs. Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams
Dancers performing Viennese Waltz
Bill Stubbs and Kurt Grether
Dr. Alice Mao Brams, Ann Ayre and Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell
Hallie Vanderheider and Bobby Dees;
Joanne King Herring and John Magnum
Kristy Bradshaw and Carey Kirkpatrick
Margaret Alkek Williams and John Mangum
Quentin and Aerin Smith
Ralph Burch and Vicki West
Sippi and Ajay Khurana