French white asparagus at Le Jardinier
Bastion Collection culinary director Alain Verzeroli graced Houston last week to oversee the direction of the kitchen. The Michelin-starred chef is in town every few months to check in with the chef de cuisine and perfect the evolving menus. “We like to change the menus and add local flavors every season. It gives our guests something new and fresh to look forward to,” Verzeroli tells CityBook.
Classics remain, including French white asparagus and Murray’s burrata with rhubarb compote, while newcomers have joined the party through spring. Dishes executed by chef de cuisine Felipe Botero are light and bright but always taste indulgent made with prime ingredients. Botero, who worked at Le Jardinier in New York City before moving to Houston, is dishing out poached shrimp with cucumber herb yogurt as well as crawfish bisque and spring onion risotto with blue oysters and morel mushrooms. Mains include grilled swordfish with black garlic coulis and beef tenderloin with braised turnip and broccolini and horseradish.
For a culinary trip, opt for the five-course Seasonal Expression tasting menu: Flavors of the Islamic World ($185). Highlights include spiced roasted lamb with aubergine (eggplant) mousse and basmati rice and delicately seared Ora King salmon crowned with smoked trout roe. For dessert, go for the artisanal selection of fine cheeses, or something sweet like the passion fruit cream and citrus pavlova. Courses can be paired with wine for an additional fee. Note that Le Jardinier newly offers Monday dinner service from 5-9PM, which means the restaurant is now open nightly.
And then there’s the weekend, which means brunch. “With wall-to-wall windows overlooking the sculpture garden, the space is ideal for brunch and lunch as well as beautiful evenings. Daytime brings a colorful, fun atmosphere,” culinary director Verzeroli told Houston CityBook. Tuck into the smoked salmon rillette Benedict and asparagus; garden salad with avocado, shaved vegetables and tarragon vinaigrette; beef tenderloin, or spinach mushroom omelet. The whimsical Key lime tart finale with coconut ice cream offers the perfect balance between tart and sweet with stunning plating.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, now you know where to go — hint, hint!
Murray's burrata
Felipe Botero and Alain Verzeroli
Spice roasted lamb
Tom Herrick, Allison Pfeiffer, Ashley Coombs, Michael Hogan
This year’s ball boasted the world-premiere of a cirque-style Alice in Wonderland-inspired show — ribbon dancing, acrobatics, even a burlesque-y partial striptease-while-juggling number — to delight the 180 guests of chairs Alicia and Garrett Gordy (yes, that same Gordy family) between cocktail hour and dinner.
The meal, which featured wines chosen by ardent Stages supporter Chris Shepherd, included melon ball gazpacho with jumbo lump crab and cucumber ribbons. The soup was followed by medallions of beef tenderloin with cabernet-caramelized shallot glaze, mascarpone polenta and wilted greens.
Popular items in what turned out to be a record-breaking silent auction included “a True Yellow Experience with a stay at Double Arrow Ranch nestled between the Crazy Mountains and the banks of the Yellowstone River, an authentic cattle drive, and plenty of trout fishing,” per a Stages rep. “Other top items included an 18K Gold necklace from acclaimed jewelry creator Robert Wander; a private dinner at the home of James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd; and a VIP Astros experience.”
Notable guests included Glenda and Russell Gordy, George Lancaster; Charles Walker, Stages board chair Myrtle Jones, James and Nicole Lassiter and Marnie Greenwood.
In all, the gala raised $550,000 for Stages’ important mission.
Alicia Gordy, Christopher Mitchell, Glenda Gordy
Brandon Weinbrenner and Mauri Oliver
Cabrina and Steven Owsley
Charles and Kerry Walker
Garrett Gordy, Chris Shepherd, Russell Gordy
George Lancaster, Myrtle Jones
Jerry Barnett and Michael Byars
Jill Roth and Ben Lipson
Kalinda Campbell and Sledge Leonidas
Katie Maltais, Beth Lane, Lindsey Brown, Stacy Soefer Gomar
Lauren and Bob Hagerich
Marnie Greenwood, Alicia Gordy, Alexandra Bruskoff
Rick Pasqualone and Denise Fennell
Rina and Ryan O'Malley, Garrett Gordy, Rich Bruskoff