Hot Cocktail Games

Does Houston have the best bartenders in America? This hot cocktail wiz is looking to make her case

Over the past couple of months, Triniti bartenders Leslie Ross and and Laurie Sheddan have made the River Oaks restaurant a must-try cocktail destination. Now Ross, one half of the Ladies of Libation, is heading to Las Vegas as one of 15 bartenders nationwide to compete in the Shake It Up competition at the Nightclub and Bar convention and trade show, which will be the national qualifier for the IBA World Cocktail Competition.

"I am so happy and just incredibly fortunate to be representing Texas in this event," Ross tells CultureMap in an email. "The comp itself has a neat premise. All 15 of us will be given a different base spirit the day before, and given three to four hours of development time to figure out what we are going to do.

"The category is 'Fancy Cocktails,' so anything goes. I have been reading and practicing techniques, making notes about possible combinations of flavors, garnishes, etc . . ."

Ross is no strangers to these sort of events. She earned a spot in Gaz Regan's 101 Best New Cocktails after winning a statewide competition sponsored by Don Julio, which she followed up by taking the top prize at the United States finals of the Caorunn Gin Global Storytellers Competition in New Orleans.

"The competition itself is an honor, and I'm going to get to compete with my friends from all different parts of the U.S., which makes this so much fun, and such a wonderful opportunity," Ross writes. "I'm also going to get to meet and compete with and exchange knowledge with some of the bartenders I have the utmost respect for and really look up to in this industry. I mean, how great is that??"

If Ross wins in Vegas, she'll go on to represent the U.S. in South Africa at the IBA World Cocktail Championship, which, as she notes, would be pretty great. In the meantime, put her to the test by stopping at Triniti and asking her to make something delicious.

Leslie Ross, left, and Laurie Sheddan are Triniti's Ladies of Libation; Ross will compete in the annual Shake it Up competition in Vegas.

Leslie Ross and Laurie Sheddan Ladies of Libation at Triniti

Photo courtesy of Triniti

Leslie Ross, left, and Laurie Sheddan are Triniti's Ladies of Libation; Ross will compete in the annual Shake it Up competition in Vegas.

unspecified

riel returns

Shuttered Houston restaurant revived for 1 night only at Canada Day pop-up

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

One of the saddest restaurant closures of 2025 will get a one-night-only revival. Favorite dishes from Riel will return at Chardon on Sunday, June 28 for an event being called “Booze Can Sunday.”

While a French fine dining restaurant might seem like an unlikely host for a Riel revival, Chardon executive chef E.J. Miller once served as Riel’s opening sous chef. Miller invited his former boss, Riel chef-owner Ryan Lachaine, to join him for a pop-up that honors Canada Day.

Together, the duo will serve some of Riel’s most popular dishes, including:

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies
Steak Au Poivre Poutine with Cheese Curds
Deli Dog
Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders
Torche Kolaches
Mushroom Empanadas
Gator Karaage
Maple Whiskey Soft Serve with Foie Caram

The day will also feature drink specials such as Canadian Jell-O Shots, Molson X, Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, and more. Robin Wong, a co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and a successful DJ, will spin throughout the event.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

"Riel was a special place for a lot of people, and Booze Can Sunday was always one of the most anticipated events of the week," said Miller. "Ryan and I wanted to bring back that energy for one day, celebrate the restaurant that meant so much to us, and give guests a chance to revisit some of the dishes and memories they loved."

Riel Restaurant Ryan Lachaine E.J. Miller A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by Eric Sandler

Riel opened in January 2017 and closed in August 2025. In between, it earned wide acclaim for the way Lachaine blended his Canadian upbringing and Ukrainian heritage with the modern Gulf Coast cuisine he learned while working at restaurants such as Reef and Underbelly.

Currently, Lachaine works as the executive chef at River Oaks restaurant State of Grace. He added two Riel signatures to State of Grace’s menu — the caviar tater tots and signature butter burgers.

Chardon, which earned a Best New Restaurant nomination in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for its blend of classic French fare with Texas ingredients, opened in February 2025. In addition to Riel, Miller’s resume includes SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, International Smoke, and Muse.

Booze Can Sunday takes place from 3-9 pm. Attendees are encouraged to register on Eventbrite.

news-you-can-eat