Photos by Samantha Jane Beatty
Styling by Kate Stukenberg
Grooming by Tonya Riner for Page Parkes Agency
Models Madison Johnston for Wallflower Management and Jake Atterberry for Page Parkes Agency
Photo assistance by John Lewis
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Men’s styling consulting by Cody Sever
and Whitney Wiggins for M Penner
Shot on location at Hotel Alessandra in Downtown
Aamir Maniar, Aniq Ahmed, Sabeen Pirzada, Leena Shah, Schehzad Shah
Founder Jodie Hoffer of Hoffer Furniture has helped thousands of families over the decades, thanks to fellow family-run businesses including Finger Furniture and Star Furniture. All were honored at the evening function, which was emceed by Khambrel Marshall.
A "giving tree" was stocked with surprise items for purchase, and a silent auction touted exclusive wine lots, among other fine prizes. In all, the No Kids on the Floor event raised more than $275,000 to purchase beds for youth.
Steve Finger, Karen and Murry Penner
Tom and Carol Sawyer
Audrey Davis, Phillip Davis, Adele Bentsen
Scott and Gayle Hoffer
Catherine Wile, Randy Wile, Ellen Robinson, Cindy Ward
Samantha Hoffer, Ryan Bonnet
Chris Case, Steven Finger, Alan Finger, Marlene Finger
Roz and Alan Pactor
Dexter and Chelsea McCoy
Phil and Colleen Smith
Francie Wilis and Bernie Falco
Oli Mohammed, Selina Rahman
Janice and Charlie Hall
Mike and Fancie Willis
Karen Cress, Laura Bradshaw
Michele and Youval Meicler
Lisa Helfman, Lee Haverman
Shrimp and Pork Shu Mai
The newly renovated West University restaurant joins Duck N Bao’s Cypress and Memorial locations, offering Sichuan specialties, including nostalgic favorites from their childhoods in China. The Rice Village location has been a long-time goal for the Xias. They’ve curated a spacious and light-filled dining room with a shaded patio and updated the menu with new food offerings, luxe upgrades, and inventive cocktails.
“We look forward to meeting our new neighbors and introducing our menus to them,” says Grace. “We have a bit of everything — dumplings from middle China, Sichuan dishes, our delicious roast duck that’s beloved in Beijing —so you can travel around China through the menu without leaving Houston.” Grace encourages cocktail lovers to try the new drinks, admitting she sometimes “saves her calories for the cocktails because they are so yummy.” However, teetotalers have plenty of fine hot teas to sip here.
At the entrance, witness noodles and dumplings being prepared behind a window, a testimony to their freshness. We dove into the new menu and shumai (steamed pork and shrimp dumplings) were a superb beginning – make sure to ask for chili oil! Lightly fried Kung Pao Brussels sprouts bathed in a sweet and spicy sauce and garnished with a shower of chopped peanuts also impressed.
Moving on, we were tempted by lo mein with options for add-ins, but our server steered us toward stir-fried flat noodles with beef, which was a rib-sticking option. Speaking of! New to the menu are the tea leaf smoked pork ribs — definitely worth sinking your teeth into, and ample enough to share. Ditto the steamed whole fresh seabass with ginger sauce, fresh ginger and scallions. Portioned out and easy to serve, it’s a beautiful sight to see.
Next time: lobster two ways!
Leo and Grace Xia
Magic Potion cocktail
Angus ribeye
Mapo tofu with lobster tail