Fancy a dip

Acclaimed Houston ice cream shop dishes out cool new Inner Loop location

A full week of temperatures in the 90s means Houstonians are looking for ways to cool off. Thankfully, chef Chris Leung is here to help.

The acclaimed pastry chef and his business partner Christopher Balat are ready to debut the latest outpost of Cloud 10 Creamery. Located on the border of Montrose and Upper Kirby at 3502 S. Shepherd Dr., the new Cloud 10 will open its doors for the first time at 6 pm on Wednesday, May 22. From there, it will operate normally and celebrate its grand opening on June 14.

Intended as a replacement for Cloud 10's original location in Rice Village that closed in December, the shop builds on the success of Cloud 10's location in the Heights Mercantile shopping development. Diners will find the same mix of Leung's elevated take on classic ice cream flavors with a few wild cards that exist nowhere else in Houston. The chef tells CultureMap he'll be serving between 16 and 18 varieties of ice cream alongside 4 sorbets and the usual sundaes, ice cream pops, and his signature banana split.

In addition to his familiar flavors, Leung recently introduced a line of ice cream cakes. Currently, three varieties are available: vanilla bean with almond cake, dark chocolate with bananas, and baked Alaska with Neapolitan ice cream. Priced at $60, they're designed to feed a small crowd that's looking for something a little more sophisticated than a scoop of ice cream in a cone (not that there's anything wrong with that).

The new cakes are possible because of Cloud 10's investment in a dedicated kitchen — or in Balat's words a "factory" — that allows Leung to produce enough ice cream to supply the shop's three scoop shops. Ultimately, the increased capacity will also allow ice cream to be shipped nationwide, meaning Houstonians can begin sending out of town friends and family Cloud 10 signatures like cafe sua da and toasted rice.

As Leung told CultureMap in December, the lineup may expand, but his goals remain the same. “We’re making a product we love, that we can 100-percent stand behind,” the chef said. “The guests love the product. We serve ice cream. It makes people happy.”

Dark chocolate with banana cake.

Courtesy of Cloud 10 Creamery

Dark chocolate with banana cake.

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The Audrey's premiere

Hollywood-inspired Houston restaurant sets Uptown opening date

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

A restaurant inspired by a glamorous Hollywood icon is ready to make its debut. The Audrey Restaurant & Bar will open on Wednesday, August 5 at Aspire Post Oak, a 40-story luxury high-rise at 1616 Post Oak Blvd.

Part of Culinary Khancepts, the hospitality group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, the River Oaks Theatre, and others, the Audrey occupies almost 5,500 square feet on the building’s first floor. The restaurant seats about 160 people, dividend between a bar and lounge, main dining room, outdoor patio, and private dining areas.

Owners Denise and Omar Khan worked with Laura Loreman Interior Design Studio to bring elements of Audrey Hepburn’s signature style to the restaurant’s interior. Details include Tiffany blue interiors, crystal chandeliers, gold accents, floor-to-ceiling windows. An Audrey Hepburn-inspired mural and floral installations greet diners as they enter.

On the culinary side, the restaurant will serve the same menu of contemporary American fare that’s served the original location well since it opened in The Woodlands three years ago. That includes pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood towers. Signature items include: citrus scallops with fennel-orange salad, truffle mushroom ravioli, and beef Wellington. The popular “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” brunch will also be served at the new location.

Mayahuel chef Luis Robledo Richards designed the Audry’s dessert menu. Winner of Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and a judge on Netflix’s baking competition show Sugar Rush, the chef’s menu includes chocolate cake, mascarpone cheesecake, and coconut panna cotta.

"Opening in Houston has always been part of our vision for The Audrey," Omar Khan said in a statement. "The response to our Woodlands location confirmed what we hoped — that guests were looking for a restaurant where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and timeless design come together naturally. Audrey Hepburn represented elegance, warmth and kindness, and those values continue to inspire every detail of the guest experience.”

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

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