parties

En Pointe! Houston's Best Chefs and Ballet Dancers Pair Up to 'Raise the Barre'

Wilson Parish
En Pointe! Houston's Best Chefs and Ballet Dancers Pair Up to 'Raise the Barre'

Chef Chris Shepherd and the Ballet's Syvert Garcia

MONTROSE HOT SPOT Bludorn was in full bloom for the Houston Ballet's Raising the Barre dinner. Decked out with colorful springtime arrangements of roses, lilies and more, courtesy of Central Market, the restaurant hosted around 150 dancers and diners for the annual event.

Four of the city's most beloved chefs were paired up with Ballet dancers to create and execute dishes inspired by their backgrounds and stories. The night began with a tasty artichoke-and-asparagus salad from Hugo Ortega and his "sous chef," dancer Rafaela Henrique. Chris Shepherd and demi soloist Syvert Garcia followed up with Alaskan king salmon sinigang, and the main course — veal tenderloin with English peas, morel mushrooms and veal jus — was created by Aaron Bludorn and principal dancer Beckanne Sisk.

Pastry chef Rebecca Masson and first soloist Chandler Dalton created a S'mores Tart with graham cracker ice cream for dessert — and Masson's Fluff Bake Bar also provided sweet treats to-go in the form of a chocolate-chip-cookie party favor.

The night brought in nearly $100,000, which will go toward the Houston Ballet's educational programming, among other causes.

Akemi Saitoh, Reiko Smith, Simone Acri

Tom and Martha Paterson

Inside Bludorn

Tammy and Wayne Nguyen

Chef Hugo Ortega and dancer Rafaela Henrique

Tami Hiraoka, Lou Borrego

Ortega and Henrique's artichoke and asparagus salad

Chef Aaron Bludorn and dancer Beckanne Sisk

Chef Rebecca Masson and dancer Chandler Dalton

Ross and Caroline Smith

Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Heidi Smith

Christine Underwood and Phyllis Mandola

Marc and Duyen Nguyen

Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees

Kristy Bradshaw and Lindsey Brown

Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones

Jessica Trincanello, Brett Stephenson

Joe and Jeni Matula

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Parties
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

Keep Reading Show less

Fall Philanthropy Report: Kids’ Meals Aims to ‘End Childhood Hunger in Houston’

What is your mission? Launched in 2006, Kids’ Meals’ mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free, healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children and through collaboration, provide their families with resources to end the cycle of poverty.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs

What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.

Keep Reading Show less