Eat 'em up

S'mores and mac 'n' cheese competition pits top chefs in Camp for All night of tasty fun

Camp food favorites — S'mores and mac 'n' cheese — were on the menu at the historic Parador on Binz when the Young Professionals of Camp for All hosted the annual Camp Culinary Challenge. Twelve chefs joined the friendly competition that had the more than 250 guests placing their votes and licking their chops.

Natalie Hewitt and Annie Sorrells chaired the event that featured five teams competing in the S'mores challenge and seven teams whipping up their best mac 'n' cheese dishes.

Three Brothers Bakery had the winning S'more— a chocolate chip cookie bowl with a marshmallow cream center.

Guests such as Houston Dynamo players Mark Sherrod and Tony Cascio sampled the entries, shopped the silent auction and perused the Camper Photography Showcase.

Three Brothers Bakery, with chef Bobby Jucker at the lead, had the winning S'more — S'mores pie with secret graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate carmel ganache and marshmallow butter cream. Joining in the sweet competition were Ooh La La Dessert Boutique, Sorrel Urban Bistro, River Oaks Donuts and Black Hole Coffee House.

Sandy McGee's Restaurant and Catering, out of Richmond, with chef Payton McGee at the helm, won most votes for the mac 'n' cheese — an elevated classic macaroni and cheese topped with pork belly. Throwing their toques into the savory ring were Artisans, Beavers Ice House, Dish Society, Kris Bristro, Ouisie's Table and Sorrell Urban Bistro.

Lining up to tickle their taste buds on behalf of Camp for All were Liz Rigney, Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand, Drs. Didi Garza and Peter McLaughlin, Allison Ignacio and Mack Schaffer, Jessica Nimon, Matt and Melinda Mogas, Taylor McDaniel, Nathan Rigney and Ellen James.

S'mores winner Three Brothers Bakery chef Bobby Jucker, center, with Camp for All CEO Pat Sorells and the bakery team.

Bobby Jucker and Three Brothers Bakery team with Pat Sorrells at the Camp for All event September 2014

Photo by © Anthony Rathbun

S'mores winner Three Brothers Bakery chef Bobby Jucker, center, with Camp for All CEO Pat Sorells and the bakery team.

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Music and Wine

White tie elegance fuels Houston Symphony Ball to $1.2 million

Photo by Priscilla Dickson Photography and Jacob Power Photography

Lisa Rydman Lindsey, John and Lindy Rydman, and Alan Key.

White tie, red drapery, and a little Bordeaux energy — the Houston Symphony Ball skipped the prelude and went straight to party.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson Photography and Jacob Power Photography

Lisa Rydman Lindsey, John and Lindy Rydman, and Alan Key.

The Houston Symphony celebrated its annual signature gala at The Post Oak Hotel. Chaired by Lindy Rydman and John Rydman, the evening drew inspiration from “Musique et Vin,” an homage to the timeless harmony between music and wine.

Guests, white tie encouraged (and enthusiastically embraced), stepped into a ballroom transformed into a European reverie. Décor by The Events Company leaned into old world romance. Set against rich red drapery, the design evoked the grandeur of historic concert halls and the mystique of storied vineyards.

Chef Jean-Luc Royere crafted a menu that reflected the ball’s refined culinary inspiration. Between courses, guests browsed a thoughtfully curated silent auction featuring luxury items and exclusive experiences. The bidding added liveliness to the evening.

And then, as the final plates were cleared, the mood shifted.

The dance floor came alive thanks to high-energy entertainment by Q the Band, whose performance was underwritten by ARCA Continental/Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. By evening’s end, the Symphony Ball had raised $1.2 million in support of the orchestra’s artistic programming and industry-leading education and community initiatives.

On the scene were Gary Ginstling, Margaret Alkek Williams, Barbara and Pat McCelvey, Devorah and David Krieger, Barbara Burger, Jesse Tutor, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Betsy and Fredric Weber, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, David Peavy and Stephen McCauley, Hallie Vanderhider, Brigitte Kalai, Brett and Erin Busby, Matthew and Lil Kades, Tom and Carrie Field, Rini and Edward Ziegler, Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams, Chris Cheever, Diane Morales, Lisa Rydman Lindsey, Mike Parsons, Aoife and David Cummingham, Jerre Williams, Gretchen and Jay Watkins, and Anne and Albert Chao.