Jerod and Madison Durst, Bailey Bell, Hayden Layne
Cotton, once again the Cook-Off title sponsor, called its fancy digs the Cotton ’Q Club. The outfit, a leading disaster and infrastructure support services company headquartered in Houston, welcomed some 2,000 guests over the three nights of Cook-Off, with a special event on the first evening featuring a performance by superstar country acts Big & Rich, whose extended rendition of “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” brought the house down. The “Redneck Woman” herself, Gretchen Wilson, also took the stage, as did young country heartthrob William Beckmann of Del Rio, just 24 years old, who crooned in both English and Spanish.
The environs were, as ever, over the top. “More than 10,000 gold, hand-painted roses by Flora & Eventi filled the Cotton ’Q Club to mark the milestone anniversary of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest,” noted a Cotton rep. “The navy fabric draped ceilings, antler and crystal chandeliers, mounted taxidermy from … Bell’s ranch, and three iconic seven-foot-tall mosaic horses with cascading rose saddles all returned for the third year.” Even more cowboy-style glam was to be found in the V-VIP Gold Pony Lounge behind the stage, where caviar and bubbly awaited a small, handpicked posse.
The main menu at ’Q was extravagant and award-winning. The Cotton Culinary team’s “Duck Duck Crunch,” which took second-place honors at this year’s Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, was a highlight of Executive Chef Wade Schindler’s voluptuous vittles. Also on offer: Angus Ribeye with Chimichurri and Bacon Bearnaise Sauce, Pecan Smoked Pulled Brisket Tacos, Cotton Brie Balls with Peach Bourbon Chutney, Pepper Chicken Bites with Whistlepig Whiskey Glaze, and Hickory Smoked BBQ Brisket.
Notable guests included Duke Austin, CEO of Quanta Services, who joined Bell onstage on opening night to welcome the crowd. Also on hand were Mayor John Whitmire, Tilman Fertitta, Cal McNair and Hannah McNair, rapper Slim Thug, Andre Johnson, Najee Harris, Hallie Vanderhider, Alicia Maguire Smith, Tony Bradfield, Frank Billingsley, Kevin Gilliard, Chita and Lane Craft, Deborah Duncan, Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque, Fady Armanious, Shelley Taylor, Heather Almond and Rodeo honchos Chris Boleman, Pat Mann Phillips and Lisa Schutzenhofer.
Pete Bell, Zinat Ahmed, Hannah McNair, Cal McNair, Slim Thug
Lauren and Tilman Fertitta
Amy Birdwell and Jenci Bice
Cotton Holdings CEO Pete Bell, Mayor John Whitmire, Quanta Services CEO Duke Austin
Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Najee Harris with Zinat Ahmed
Country music band Big & Rich performing
Fady Armanious and Tony Bradfield
Kevin Fowler, Melysa and Bryan Michalsky
Stephanie Chou, Mandy Kao, Brigitte Kalai, Pitsami Norm, Mable Tang, Alice Mao Brams, Cindy Cheng, and Sippi Khurana
The evening honored Sabria and Kevin Lewis for their decades-long commitment to that same mission of inclusivity and international understanding. More than 500 guests turned out to toast the couple, and were greeted by dhol drummers before heading inside the Pavilion, which was erected in the parking lot and encompassed some of the area's existing trees.
Unsurprisingly, the food, provided by City Kitchen, was delectable: short ribs braised in soy and sake; deviled quail eggs with tahini and za'atar; and medallions of fried eggplant topped with jumbo lump crab; miso-glazed seabass (hungry yet?!).
When they weren't eating, guests perused silent-auction items — the spread included two Harry Winston timepieces, a first-class trip to Santa Monica, and original works of art by Tsherin Sherpa and Richard Tinkler. Then DJ Alx lured galagoers onto the dance floor, where the party continued.
Y. Ping Sun, David Leebron and Mei Leebron
Albert and Anne Chao
Bonna Kol and Tripp Carter
Sushila Agrawal, Dr. Renu Khator, and Aparna Manjunath
Chinhui and Eddie Allen
Starlee Sykes and Al Vickers
David and Heidi Gerger and Sabria and Kevin Lewis
David Harvey, Nancy C. Allen, and Eddie Allen
Shiang Ling and George Yang
Donna Fujimoto Cole and Robert Berryman
Roberto and China Contreras
Emily Hanley and Feifei Ma
Rishi and Michelle Varma
Geraldina and Scott Wise
Peter and Theresa Chang and Kathy and Glen Gondo
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Mohsin and Farhina Imtiaz
Laxmi Anirudh Sarwal and Temsiri Lao
Moez and Sultana Mangalji
Margaret Alkek Williams and David Wuthrich
Leslie and Brad Bucher
Leigh and Reggie Smith
Lily and Charles Foster