Rounds of bubbly, French accents and the soiree approached perfection

Champagne for all my friends! Easy to say when your name is Gilles Hennessy as in Moet Hennessy. A key player in the organization considered the world leader in luxury brands, he was the toast of a swell dinner Tuesday night at the home of John and Becca Cason Thrash. Need we say that only the finest elixirs were served.

The charming Hennessy, grandson of the founder of Hennessy Cognac, brought the bubbly and the wines for the 23 guests that were seated at one dramatically-long table in the Thrash's expansive dining room. Yellow roses of Texas, arranged by the hostess, were everywhere! Hennessy was in the city on business with members of his New York and Dallas teams. Joining the party was Bennett Glazer, Glazer Distributors chairman and CEO, who popped in from Dallas with several associates on his private jet.

The French connection to the Thrashes? Hennessy's wife, Luziah Hennessy, is Becca's best amie in Paris. The couple smoothed the way for many a gratis delivery of bubbly for Becca charity events through the years, including gallons of the esteemed Krug Grande Cuvée Brut served at Becca's Liaisons au Louvre benefit in Paris in 2008. It was also served Tuesday night with the dreamy "Sea Bass on Coconut-Ginger Custard in Curry Broth," one of several superb dishes prepared by the Jackson & Co. team.

While the spirits entourage was mostly male, Becca enriched her dining tableau with several young lovelies including Karen Pulaski, Cristina Girard, Holly Waltrip and Laura Casey. Special guest was Christopher 'Kip" Forbes, close friend of the Thrashes. While they might not have indulged in the heavenly strawberry shortcake, few at the table passed the opportunity to sample the prestigious Hennessy Paradis or the Hennessy XO, offered with dessert.

Applauding generosity

The United Way of Greater Houston celebrated its most generous personal donors recently with a member appreciation dinner for the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, comprised of individuals who write personal checks of $10,000 or more annually. There was indeed cause for celebration as the 2009 campaign topped $12.2 million, an all-time high for the special group of donors.

They were feted at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, de Tocqueville members, were special guests among the 475 attending. Receiving praise were society co-chairs Dorothy Ables and Bobby Tudor. The giving group included Susie and Joe Dilg, Merrill and Joe Hafner, Wendy and Jeff Hines, Jane and Mark Jacobs, Scott McLean and United Way community campaign chair Tom Ryan and wife Amy. United Way CEO Anna Babin was on hand to offer her thanks.

Surprise ending

Channel 13 news anchor Melanie Lawson thought she was going to dinner at La Griglia following the Houston Museum of African American Culture program at the Menil Collection Wednesday night. Instead, her companion John Guess Jr. had arranged a late-evening surprise birthday party at their aerie overlooking River Oaks. Joining them were Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and personal friends Rita Dove, who had given a reading at the Menil, and husband Fred Viebhan.

When they stopped by their apartment on a faux mission, the doors opened on a vivid party scene with guests including Karl Kilian of the Menil, Lainie Gordon and David Mincberg, Music World's Marcus Harris, Zack Brown, Barbara Friedman, Allette Williams, Roxanne Lawson and Drew James.

In a party menu like no other, Guess' niece Yvonne Aguirre and husband Stuart Krohn provided homemade vegan "chicken" salad and Star pizza.

It was a big day for Melanie, who had overseen the HMAAC spring luncheon only hours earlier. At that event, Guess was applauded for the museum strides made in the year that he has served as CEO.

Chu chu chat

When the Democratic National Committee held its under-the-radar breakfast fundraiser at the Alden Hotel earlier this week, organizers never expected to have two Chus in the room at the same time. A handful of energy execs and loyal Democrats ponied up $5,000 each to get up-close-and-personal with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. He was in the city to address the Cambridge Energy Research Associates CERAWeek energy conference at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

Loyal Democrat and energy executive John Thrash brought along internationally-renowned scientist Paul Chu of the University of Houston. The two Chus had actually worked together in previous professional lives. Two guests giving the morning meet full attention were former Gov. Mark White and Ron Harrell, chairman emeritus of Ryder Scott.

Sight 'ems

Laura Bush dining at Stella Sola Wednesday night where she was hosted by Mary and Ralph Ellis and Anne and Bill Stewart. Also in the restaurant was Silver Oak Cellars owner Ray Duncan in from Napa Valley for a Silver Oak tasting dinner. On learning that the former First Lady was in the house, he presented her with an autographed bottle of the prized wine . . .

A clutch of the city's leading chefs sitting for an Italian feast at Valentino where guest chef Carmelo Chiaramonte of Sicily joined forces with Valentino executive chef Cunninghame West . They prepared a six-course dinner for Robert Del Grande, Monica Pope, Bryan Caswell, Valentino founder Piero Selvaggio and several other guests . . .

Pierangelo Tommasi of Tommasi Winery in Verona, Italy, lunching with Piatto Ristorante owner John M. Carrabba at the Galleria location . . .

Marge Lundquist celebrating her birthday at La Griglia with her identical twin daughters, Tena Lundquist Faust and Tama Lundquist.