Summer Attraction

Art coup: Rare Dutch and English masterworks to make U.S. debut at MFAH thanksto London revamp

Joseph Mallord William Turner, A Coast Scene with Fisherman Hauling a BoatAshore (“The Iveagh Sea Piece”), c. 1803-1804, oil on canvas, Kenwood House,English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest, 1927
Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, Princess Henrietta of Lorraine Attended by a Page,1634, oil on canvas, Kenwood House, English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest, 1927
Rembrandt van Rijn, Portrait of the Artist, c. 1665, oil on canvas, KenwoodHouse, English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest, 1927
Thomas Gainsborough, Mary, Countess Howe, c. 1764, oil on canvas, Kenwood House,English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest, 1927

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is set to host an exquisite collection of European paintings from London's Kenwood House, including masterworks by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough and J.M.W. Turner.

Perched atop North London's Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House has been home to the renowned paintings for more than a century, drawing more than a million visitors each year. With this summer's "Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The Treasures of Kenwood House, London" at the MFAH, American audiences will get a rare opportunity to view one of England's most important art collections.

The works offer a window into the aristocratic tastes of its own time: Full-length portraits of London courtesans, Italian and Dutch landscapes and a self-portrait of Rembrandt himself.

Acquired from 1887 to 1891 by the manor's last private resident, Edward Cecil Guinness — the 1st Earl of Iveagh and the heir to beloved Irish brewery — the group of Dutch, Flemish and English works from the 17th and 18th centuries offer a window into the aristocratic tastes of its own time: Full-length portraits of London courtesans, Italian and Dutch landscapes and a self-portrait of Rembrandt himself.

Built in the early 1600s and remodeled by famed neoclassical architect Robert Adam in the late 18th century, the Kenwood House will close to the public in the summer 2012 for a year-long series of major renovations to repair a dangerously-aging roof and restore the building's exterior.

A portion of the conservation efforts will be funded by loaning portions of the collection to museums in the United States, where many of the paintings will make their first American debut. Organized by the American Federation of Arts (AFA), "Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough" features 48 pieces from Kenwood which will travel first to the MFAH before making stops in Milwaukee and Seattle.

“We are extremely proud to be able to give greater exposure to this magnificent selection of paintings while Kenwood undergoes a major refurbishment,” AFA chief operating officer Pauline Willis said in a statement.

Prior to this exhibition's opening in Houston, Rembrandt’s Portrait of the Artist will be on view throughout April and May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where new MFAH director Gary Tinterow is currently putting the finishing touches on an acclaimed 28-year tenure as curator of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art.

"Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The Treasures of Kenwood House, London" will run from June 3 through Sept. 3, 2012 at MFAH.

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Good luck, Jassi

Chopped champion Houston chef packs his knives for Top Chef Carolinas

Photo by Sasha Israel/Bravo

Jassi Bindra will compete on Top Chef season 23.

Another Houston chef will compete for one of reality TV’s most prestigious prizes. Chef Jassi Bindra will compete on season 23 of Top Chef.

Set in the Carolinas, Bindra will compete against 14 other chefs to win the reality cooking competition. He follows in the footsteps of Houston chef Tristen Epps-Long, who became the first Houstonian to win the prize.

Known locally for his work with Kahani Social Group — where he serves as executive chef for Amrina, an Indian fine dining restaurant in The Woodlands; Kitchen Rumors, a restaurant near downtown that applies Indian techniques to global cuisine; and two fast casual restaurants in Midtown, chicken concept Pok Pok Po and bowl concept bōl — Bindra won an episode of Chopped in 2023. Prior to moving to Houston, he served as executive chef of Punjab Grill (now Rania) in Washington, D.C.

Slated to premiere on Monday, March 9, the new season is centered around Charlotte, NC, with several episodes in Greenville, SC. Chefs will once again compete for a $250,000 cash prize, along with an appearance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, a chance to headline a dinner at the historic James Beard House in New York, and the opportunity to present at The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago, IL.

Quickfire challenges provide the opportunity to win more than $150,000 in additional cash prizes.

Judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons are both returning, as is host Kristen Kish, who is now in her third season with the show. Guest judges include some of the food world’s brightest stars, including Sean Brock, Jamie Brown, Val Cantú, Emeril Lagasse, Hunter Lewis, Michael Mina, Niki Nakayama, Clare Reichenbach, and many more. Participating Top Chef alumni include Epps-Long and fellow Houstonian Michelle Wallace, as well as Sara Bradley, Joe Flamm, Stephanie Izard, Jamie Lynch, Mei Lin, Savannah Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, and Shuai Wang.

Challenges begin with a Quickfire at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Other competitions include one centered on the sweet potato, North Carolina’s state vegetable, a whole hog cook-off with pitmaster Sam Jones, and another centered around Southern comfort food.

Here’s a preview of the new season.

Photo by Sasha Israel/Bravo

Jassi Bindra will compete on Top Chef season 23.

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