What: Luxe food competition, Truffle Masters 2018, which boasted delicious dishes made with fresh black truffles, provided by Houston-based truffle importer DR Delicacy.
Where:The Astorian
The scoop: The decadent bites were created by 22 of the Houston area’s hottest restaurants. All competed to win top honors, as decided by both a panel of 10 judges, including CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler, TV and radio personality Cleverley Stone, and Texas Monthly executive editor and restaurant critic Patricia Sharpe —and bythe 500 guests in attendance in the contest for the People’s Choice award.
The fourth annual throwdown, emceed by Michael Garfield, included BCN Taste and Tradition, A’Bouzy, Riel Restaurant, Killen’s STQ, Emmaline, Lucienne, Étoile Cuisine et Bar, Potente, Liberty Kitchen, and A Fare Extraordinaire.
Also participating were Hubbell and Hudson Bistro, La Table, Yauatcha, Cru Food and Wine Bar, Weights + Measures, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Fielding’s Local Kitchen+Bar, Central Market, Eculent, Le Mistral, Steak 48, and Cafe Annie.
Hubbell and Hudson Bistro’s grilled cheese sandwich, made with truffles and four cheeses (house-cultured cheese, formage, aged Comte, and Gruyere) won over the judges, who voted it first place. Meanwhile, guests voted the potato leek and truffle pierogi with crème fraiche and chives by Riel Restaurant as their favorite, awarding it People’s Choice.
Yauatcha Houston was first runner-up, with its chocolate and truffle delight, featuring bitter dark chocolate, caramelized truffle-honey panna cotta, and custard cremiux. A'Bouzy was second runner-up, thanks to its extravagant bite of roasted Indian Creek mushrooms with truffled foie gras and black truffle caviar.
Proceeds from the Truffle Masters event benefit Casa de Esperanza, a safe place for children in crisis due to abuse, neglect or the effects of HIV.
Who: Enjoying the foodie extravaganza were Roz Pactor,Shelley and Shawn Virene, Suzy Simons, David Cordua, Tyler Horne, Ruchi Mukerjee, Courtney Zavala, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Scott Evans, Allison Hartley, Gigi Huang, Diane Roederer, Cuc Lam, Chris Amez, Victoria Hampshire,and Michael Broderick.
Allison Hartley, Courtney Zavala.
