B&B Butchers and Restaurant owner Benjamin Berg couldn't have asked for a more power-packed preview. His private party for investors and friends upstairs and Becca Cason Thrash's chic bash downstairs filled the historic building on Washington Avenue to overflowing. (The restaurant officially opens on May 26.)
While the new sheriff in town Ron Hickman, private investigator John Moritz and wine connoisseur Denman Moody were among Berg's guests, it was the party kids on the ground floor that set the eatery rocking. The first floor bash was a tribute to Becca and patrons of one of her favorite charities, Best Buddies.
The invitation-only (free) seated dinner with wine flowing was a thank you to those who have supported Becca's charitable activities on behalf of the non-profit founded by Anthony Shriver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
She revealed that her next Best Buddies fundraiser is Nov. 7, headlining Oscar-winner, House of Cards star Kevin Spacey.
But the big burning question of the night: Can Houston support yet another steak house? "Definitely," said Berg, "definitely a local steak house . . . I felt like the butcher shop with the restaurant was just right with this neighborhood that's up and coming. It just fit. It wasn't cookie cutter. It was a lot of work to put this together."
After two years of working on the project, Berg launched the upscale eatery/butcher shop with a duo of longhorn steers stationed at the entrance to welcome guests.
The big burning question of the night: Can Houston support yet another steak house? "Definitely," said Berg, who explained why.
Becca filled the dining room, designed for 80, with 100 of her best buddies, an incredible cross-section of Houston that would be coveted by many a hostess. From the sports world, she had Houston Texans GM Rick Smith and retired Houston Astro Jeff Bagwell. From fashion Tootsies' Fady Armanious, Sloane Hall's Shannon Hall and LVMH's Rhonda McDonald. From TV land Dominique Sachse and Ernie Manouse.
Add popular plastic surgeon Dr. Steve Hamilton, real estate's Neal Hamil and Sabiha Rehmatulla, United Airlines attorney and bombshell Jessica Rossman, Tenenbaum's Kevin Black and Tony Bradley and on and on. Of course, John Thrash was there to cheer on his wife.
Inspite of the crush, both upstairs and down, it was thumbs up for the new hot spot. Guests dined on sliced filet mignon with au poivre, truffle mac and cheese, broccoli floret and cheesecake, all served family style.
Becca's impressive coterie also included Sara Dodd and Gregory Fourticq, Courtney and Jason Fertitta, Chris Brown, Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson, Claire Cormier-Thielke, Lindley and Jason Arnoldy, Joan Schnitzer, Richard Flowers, Courtney and Bo Hopson, Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Susan and Mike Plank, Hugh Echols, Tiffany Smith and so many more.
Becca Cason Thrash and owner Benjamin Berg at B&B Butchers and Restaurant opening.
Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race 
Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race 