Houston’s Top Chefs Team Up With Elegant Ballet Dancers for an Unforgettable Dinner — Unexpected Dream Teams Cook

WWhen top chefs come together to create a special meal, the results are always delicious. When they combine their culinary skills with the best of Houston Ballet talent, the result is a great meal and a deliciously fun event. So it was when the leaders Aaron Bludorn, Rebecca Masson, Hugo Ortego, Chris Shepherd And Chris Williams headlined the annual “Raising the Barre” evening to benefit the Houston Ballet.

We doubt there could have been a more illustrious gathering of the Bayou City’s best toques.

Bravo to the chairs Heidi And Marcus Smith And Roslyn Bazelle Mitchell And Derrick Mitchellwho led the evening which saw 200 people flock to Caracol and exceeded the Ballet’s goal by raising $110,000.

The curtain rose on the four-course feast with Chris Berger of the Southern Smoke Foundation, crafting its wine selections to accompany each dish.

Williams of Lucille fame teamed up with soloist Eric Meilleur to start the feast with a delicious lamb stew made with mashed sweet potatoes, coconut collard pesto and a garnish of roasted peanuts.

Corps de ballet dancer Zoe Lucich‘s California roots came into play when she and Bludorn of her namesake restaurant made delicious nine-herb ravioli with carrot-ginger puree, fresh gremolata, and pecorino romano cheese.

Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group and Director of the Houston Ballet Skylar Campbell Selected Pacific halibut with ginger broth and puya peppers for entrée service. The Chef and the Ballerina have a special affection for the Pacific Coast, specifically a picturesque beach town in Mexico called Puerto Nuevo. This shared love inspired the special seafood dish.

Owner and pastry chef of Fluff Bake Bar Rebecca Masson and a half soloist Kellen Hornbuckle donned aprons together to create a mouth-watering maple bacon crème brûlée. Prime: As they exited, everyone was treated to cosmic brownies courtesy of Fluff Bake Bar.

PC seen: Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown, Mignon And Stephen Gill, Jane DiPaolo, Lenni And Bill Burke, Allison And Troy Thacker, Helene And Jim Shaffer, Anita Smith, Marguerite Swartz, Ileana And Michael Treviño, Ann Ayre, Stephanie And Frank Tsuru, Jesse Jones And Terry Wayne Jones, And Zoe Cadore.