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    rumor no more

    Ex-Tris chef and Aaron Bludorn opening new eateries in The Woodlands

    Eric Sandler
    Aug 26, 2025 | 12:00 pm

    Howard Hughes, the real estate development firm that owns The Woodlands, has partnered with two of the Houston-area’s top chefs to open new restaurants in the sprawling community. Both are expected to open next year.

    They are:

    • Charolais, a beef-forward restaurant from chef Austin Simmons
    • Bar Bludorn, a second location of the tavern concept from chef Aaron Bludorn, his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and their business partner Cherif Mbodji

    Charolais will be Simmons’ first restaurant since his surprise resignation from Tris at the end of last year. Slated to open in the former Local Pour space in Hughes Landing in early 2026, the restaurant is described in press materials as an extension of Chef & Rancher, the genetics-driven beef company he started with Texas rancher Larry Ludeke. According to press materials, Charolais — named for a breed of cattle — will specialize in “high-quality beef sourced from a program focusing on genetics and sustainable animal husbandry, and full involvement in the process, from pasture to plate.”

    “I am thrilled to open Charolais in The Woodlands, and to partner with Howard Hughes,” said Simmons, executive chef and founder of Charolais. “Charolais represents my lifelong passion, a restaurant focused on elevating American beef through hand-reared cattle.”

    Bar Bludorn will be the first restaurant outside of central Houston for Bludorn Hospitality. Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2026 in the former Baker St. Pub & Grill space at 25 Waterway Ave., it will feature a similar menu and design as the original location that opened in Memorial in 2024.

    “We saw a lot of similarities between Memorial and The Woodlands,” Aaron Bludorn tells CultureMap. “We started talking with [former Howard Hughes president] Jay Cross. He really sold us on his vision of what the future will be like there. We believe in being part of The Woodlands.”

    Bludorn adds that he sees several advantages in Bar Bludorn’s location at The Woodlands Waterway, including its proximity to both the area’s two largest hotels and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion.

    “I love the idea of our restaurant not only being a place for people to go out to dinner, whether they live in or outside of The Woodlands, but also for the offices to have happy hour,” he says.

    In terms of the menu, diners can expect that Bar Bludorn staples such as the country ham beignets, short rib pastrami sandwich, and fried chicken with peanut butter gravy will all be present in The Woodlands. However, seasonal items such as pastas or specific salads will likely be unique to each location.

    The Woodlands location will also feature a private dining room, which is something the Memorial restaurant lacks.

    “Chef Simmons’ return to The Woodlands and chef Bludorn’s entry to the community represent significant additions to our culinary landscape,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas Region for Howard Hughes, in a statement. “We have recently partnered with exceptional brands and talent to bring new experiences to the community, and we look forward to residents and visitors enjoying these elevated dining opportunities here in The Woodlands.”

    Area residents can expect at least one more major restaurant announcement in the weeks to come. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Woodlands, an 8-acre, 111-unit project that broke ground last year, is expected to include a restaurant from superstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, according to a report in PaperCity. Howard Hughes has yet to officially confirm the report.

    Austin Simmons Tris Southern Smoke Festival 2024
    Photo by Emily Jaschke

    Austin Simmons is opening his first restaurant since leaving Tris.

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    where to drink now

    20 Houston restaurants and bars serving spirit-free sips for Dry January

    Brianna McClane
    Jan 6, 2026 | 1:30 pm
    berg hospitality january reset
    Photo by Brian Kennedy
    Berg Hospitality's concepts, including Turner's and Annabelle Brasserie, has a January Reset menu featuring spirit-free beverages like the Lemoncell-No Martini.

    January may be a time to resist a tipple for many, but that doesn’t mean skipping Houston’s bar scene. For those embracing Dry January, local hot spots are pouring everything from non-alcoholic (NA) spirits to refreshing juices — proof that a night out can mean skipping the booze without missing out on flavor.

    Barcelona Wine Bar
    The Montrose wine bar has two non-alcoholic cocktails on hand. The Bees and Bays is a layered sip of lime, salted honey syrup, and cardamom, topped with sparkling water and finished with torched smoky bay leaves. Meanwhile, hibiscus, blue flower, Earl Grey tea, blueberry shrub, salted honey syrup, lemon, aquafaba, and mint are blended for Tea Time.

    Berg Hospitality Group
    Benjamin Berg’s restaurants are January resolution–friendly with Reset menus at Annabelle Brasserie, B&B Butchers, B.B. Italia, Prime 131, The Annie Café & Bar, Trattoria Sofia, and Turner’s. Alongside the prix-fixe, protein- and calorie-conscious menu are zero-proof beverages, including the Lemoncell-No Martini (NA lemon liqueur, triple chamomile tea, and lemon juice) and the Proteiña Colada, a creamy concoction that provides 10 grams of protein.

    The Board Room
    The recently-opened CityCentre spot dedicated to charcuterie has six mocktails on its drink list for January. Highlights include the Lavender Spritz Mocktail, a pairing of sparkling NA wine, lavender syrup, lemon, and Topo Chico, and the NA Morada, a zesty combination of NA tequila, fresh blackberries, and ginger beer.

    Brasserie 19
    Three classic cocktails get the NA treatment at this French brasserie. The No-jito, Spicy Paloma, and French “O”-75 deliver the familiar flavors with Ritual NA spirits.

    Brennan’s of Houston
    Snag a spot in the iconic restaurant’s newly renovated Courtyard Bar to savor sips such as the Ginger Pear (pear nectar, ginger beer, lemon juice, cinnamon sugar), the Nogroni (NA gin, NA aperitif, orange), and the Sparkling Cranberry Apple (cranberry juice, sparkling apple cider, lemon, cinnamon syrup).

    Coltivare
    Pair a pizza or cacio e pepe with this Heights eatery’s zero-proof cocktails or non-alcoholic beers and wines. Creative selections include the Madame Pamplemousse with grapefruit, bay leaf, apple cider vinegar, and Topo Chico, and the Il Rosmarino, a combination of cranberry, rosemary, black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and Topo Chico.

    Good God, Nadine’s
    Cold-pressed juices from local juicery ZoZo Fresh star in Good God, Nadine’s mocktail lineup. With anti-inflammatory benefits, offerings range from the Obsidian, a charcoal-activated juice with strawberry and lemon, to the Nightcap, a cacao nut milk drink with cold brew and cardamom, finished with shaved chocolate.

    Guard and Grace
    The upscale steakhouse continues its attention to detail with its spirit-free selections. Find the Zero Mule and Italia-No (a riff on a negroni) listed with the fruit-forward Tropical Tango and Blackberry Sparkler. The Desert Oasis stands out with assam black tea, pomegranate, orgeat, and za’atar.

    Hamsa
    Hamsa leans into inventive flavor combinations with its zero-proof options. Choose between four unique drinks, including the Yerba Mate-plum-ginger beer creation Tea Time and the Put Your Cukes Up, a mixture of basil, shishito, cucumber, pink peppercorns, lime, and Topo Chico.

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge
    Dry January doesn’t mean skipping this Midtown lounge. Jethro’s four booze-free beverages include a Watermelon Fresca (Cut Above Agave, lime, agave, and watermelon juice) and 9 out of 10 (strawberry purée, orgeat, and lime).

    Latuli
    Chef Bryan Caswell’s Memorial-area hotspot nods to Texas roots with its mocktails. The zero-proof tequila drinks are the Ginger Spur with ginger simple syrup, orange juice, and ginger beer, and the Spring Saddle, blending strawberry chamomile with lemon, lime, and soda.

    Lyric Market
    The downtown food hall is serving spirit-free blueberry, strawberry, mango, and classic margaritas throughout January. Non-alcoholic brews from Athletic Brewing Co. are also on the menu.

    The Marigold Club
    The mocktails match the elegance of the interior at the Marigold Club. Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits serve as the base, with additional notes of olive in the Secret Garden, cranberry and lime in the Chelsea Bloom, and grapefruit and lemon in the Windsor Fire.

    Monkey’s Tail
    The neighborhood bar has crafted a list of spirit-free drinks to entice those imbibing or not. The six NA items include twists on a carajillo, gin and tonic, and penicillin. The Pick-Piña is flavor-packed with fresh pineapple, chamoy, giffard grenadine, dill pickle brine, and tajin. The Viva Maracuya, a passionfruit-mango-tiki spices beverage, and the Chango House Soda, with green apple, lime leaf, and lemongrass, round out the menu.

    Morton’s Steakhouse
    For those who want to skip any and all spirits, Morton’s Steakhouse has the Orchard Season (apple, pineapple, cranberry, lemon, and Fever-Tree Ginger Ale) and the Lavender Field (lavender, pineapple, and Fever-Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade). The Margarita Zero and Strawberry Nogroni deliver the full cocktail experience using NA spirits.

    Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
    The Faux-Paloma (traditional or spicy) with ruby red grapefruit soda, and the Moscow Mule-inspired Clean Kick are two new additions to Perry’s Steakhouse for Dry January, along with the restaurant’s signature shaken sodas, the Raspberry Cucu-Cooler and the Pineapple Ginger Ale.

    Postino
    The wine cafe’s alcohol free list includes a Naked Ranch Water and Espresso Flirtini, along with non-alcoholic beer. There are three new additions for 2026: Airplane Mode with Italian orange and NA Amaro, the Ginger Drift with NA Amaro, lemon juice, ginger beer, and mint, and Best Day Brewing Kolsch.

    Snooze A.M. Eatery
    Feel like an insider by ordering one of the three new dirty sodas to slip onto Snooze’s secret menu. Pineapple Upside Down pairs Coke with pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, and vanilla cream, while the Strawberry Shortcake has Sprite and house-made strawberry purée, and the Orange Dreamsicle features Fanta.

    Traveler’s Table
    Why settle for one NA beverage when there’s an entire flight at Traveler’s Table. The Free-Spirited Flight features the Freelance Journalist with NA gin, tonic, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber, and rosemary; A Shady Place for Sunny People with NA rum, guava, pineapple, coconut, and cinnamon; and The Quiet Life, a NA tequila drink with pineapple purée and chili salt. The hibiscus-forward La Vida Tranquila and the fruity To Have and Have Not mocktails can be ordered separately.

    Uchi
    The restaurant’s three Ritual zero-proof cocktails pair seamlessly with its Japanese-inspired menu: the Mitsu Mitsu with NA gin, rosemary, and yuzu honey; the Akabanaa with hibiscus, lime, and agave; and the Shokuzen, made with NA aperitif, zero-proof wine, and citrus oleo.

    berg hospitality january reset

    Photo by Brian Kennedy

    Berg Hospitality's concepts, including Turner's and Annabelle Brasserie, have a January Reset menu featuring spirit-free beverages like the Lemoncell-No Martini.

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