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    Foodie News

    Houston Chef's Table: Asian Bistro's Gigi Huang seeks out spicy fried chicken ata Dive

    Sarah Rufca
    Sep 26, 2010 | 10:10 am
    • Gigi Huang
      Photo by Tony Bullard
    • The cherry blossom room at Gigi's Asian Bistro
      Photo by © Julie Soefer

    No one knows Houston restaurants better than the people who run them, own them, and work in the kitchens. In this continuing series, CultureMap is asking our favorite foodie personalities around town where they go for great eats when they're not working.

    Gigi Huang practically has restaurants in her DNA as the scion of the family that has operated the Hunan restaurants for over 30 years, making her own mark with Gigi's Asian Bistro. Huang talks to CultureMap about what restaurants best explain Houston, spicy fried chicken and red velvet.

    Restaurant for a special occasion: Tony's is always a great place. I'm always there for birthdays, they have such great desserts.

    Restaurant to take out-of-towners to: When my chef Junnajet Hurapan came to visit Houston for the first time, I took him to three restaurants to give him an idea, kind of a broad scope of the Houston food scene: the original Carabba's on Kirby, the original Pappadeux on Westheimer, and the El Tiempo on Richmond — they all are great examples of flavors, portion, themes and people that tell people about Houston.

    I also took him to Chinatown, of course, to Fung's Kitchen for dim sum.

    Favorite meal: Max's Wine Dive, the fried chicken. It's just great fried chicken, nice and spicy.

    Breakfast/Brunch favorite: Breakfast is always a cup of coffee at Starbucks and now that they have breakfast — boiled eggs and cheese to go. For brunch I like Kenny and Ziggy's — I put cream cheese, scrambled eggs and pastrami bacon on my bagel — or Smoothie Island, for their egg white omelet with spinach.

    Sometimes you want to eat light, and sometimes you want a hearty breakfast.

    Dessert: Sprinkles Cupcakes. My favorite is the red velvet. It's weird because I don't really like red velvet cake, but I love their red velvet cupcakes.

    Other articles in the Houston Chef's Table series:

    Lee Ellis loves Les Givral

    Sugar hooker Rebecca Masson can't get enough of Catalan's Cake

    Beachy L.J. Wiley digs the special occasion simple flavors at Dos Brisas

    David Grossman goes for Vic & Anthony's crab cake, Yelapa late nights & some Bootsie

    Jeramie Robison appreciates Kata Robata's sushi, Beaver's bangin' meatloaf & foodie chicks

    Tony Mandola finds breakfast magic at Sunrise Taquitos

    Philippe Schmit craves a Picnic romance & Stella Sola's French toast

    Benjy Levit is torn between Indika's salads and Hank's Ice Cream

    Flora & Muse's David Luna likes to hang with his fishing buddy and hit the Blue Nile

    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

    coming to fredericksburg

    Star Houston chef signs on to luxurious Hill Country hotel

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 22, 2026 | 3:00 pm
    Aaron Bludorn headshot
    Courtesy of Bludorn Hospitality Group
    Aaron Bludorn is opening a new restaurant in Fredericksburg.

    Houston chef Aaron Bludorn is coming to the Hill Country. The chef’s Bludorn Hospitality Group will open a restaurant and lead the culinary program at The Kimpton Fredericksburg, a luxury hotel that’s expected to open in late 2027.

    The still-unnamed restaurant will be a fresh concept from the company that’s behind five Houston restaurants — its flagship fine dining concept Bludorn, seafood restaurant Navy Blue, French-inspired Perseid at the Hotel Saint Augustine, and two locations of Bar Bludorn, including its recently-opened location in The Woodlands. Later this year, Bludorn, his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and their business partner Cherif Mbodji, will open a new restaurant in San Antonio.

    “We really loved the idea of being out in Fredericksburg. With us opening in San Antonio, we’ll already have a team out there,” Bludorn tells CultureMap. “We’re a growing Texas hospitality group. We see it as a great opportunity to grow our brand with Texans in really cool spaces.”

    Bludorn adds that the restaurant will be a new concept from the company. Details, including its name and menu, will be released closer to the opening.

    “We were drawn to Aaron’s ability to create a dining experience that feels both approachable and elevated, where exceptional food and thoughtful service come together in a way that makes every guest feel welcome,” said Blake Berg, senior vice president of development & construction for hotel owner DC Partners. “We recognize that experiential dining is an important part of what makes a destination successful, particularly in a market as distinctive as Fredericksburg. Our vision is to build on the area’s existing culinary character while introducing a new level of creativity, quality and hospitality. Aaron understands that balance. His philosophy aligns with our intentional approach to The Meuse, where every element is designed to complement the community, create a lasting impression and give people a reason to return.”

    First announced in 2025, the Kimpton Fredericksburg is a 210-room luxury hotel. In addition to the Bludorn restaurant, it will offer a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pool and deck, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and more than 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

    The hotel will anchor The Meuse, a 22-acre mixed-use development with more than 70,000 square feet of retail space. Previously announced tenants include Houston-based Padre’s Wine Company, Texas bootmaker Lucchese, westernwear label Double D Ranch, gourmet food company Fischer & Wieser, and Jackson Ballard Gallery.

    Aaron Bludorn headshot

    Courtesy of Bludorn Hospitality Group

    Aaron Bludorn is opening a new restaurant in Fredericksburg.

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