Party Watch
Houston's top chefs stir up a wild animal feast: When foodies overrun the Zoo
What:Houston Zoo Ambassadors Gala.
Where: The Houston Zoo Masihara Pavilion.
The 411: Fourteen of the city's top restaurants pulled out the stops for the wildly popular Ambassadors fundraiser where on this night close to 300 guests grazed through the culinary-rich setting. Underbelly's star chef Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown served as restaurant chairs, lining up the taste sensations for guests, while Georgina and Thad Armstrong chaired the fundraiser.
Eateries serving specialties were Lucille's, Museum Park Cafe, Benjy's, Local Foods, Coltivare, Revival, Americas, Siphon Coffee, Paulie's, Fluff Bake Bar, RDG + Bar Annie, Kata Robata and Underbelly.
The entertainment featured zoo animals including a talking, painting Eclectus parrot named Rainbow; Norman, the prehensile-tailed porcupine; a chinchilla; and a Harris' hawk.
Who: Chefs Chris Williams, Robert Del Grande, Ryan Pera and Jean Philippe Gaston, plus Houston Zoo president Deborah Cannon, Emily and Lucas Lavoy, Divya and Chris Brown, Carlos Meltzer and Nick Espinosa, Gloria and Jesse Bounds and Heather and Tom O'Connor.