Casual Mess Hall

Hot young professionals and top chefs shake up the camp scene: Forget that bland camp food

Oh, to relive those carefree youth days of summer camp: The friendships, the bonfires, the bucolic setting, but surely not the cafeteria-esque bland food, right?

Leave it to the young professionals that champion Camp For All to organize a soiree of adventurous cuisine that added much sophistication to typical camp fare. "Culinary Camp Challenge," chaired by Jessica Nimon and Sarah Mullins, transformed Winter Street Studios into a casual mess hall in which eight local chefs fixed their own versions of mac 'n' cheese and s'mores.

It was up to guest campers to vote for their favorite and an expert panel of judges that included CultureMap gourmand authority Eric Sandler, food writer Kathi Mosbacher Wheeler and Camp For All staffer Ben McCullough to weigh in.

Bobby Jucker's winning recipe consisted of a crumbly chocolate cake, iced with marshmallow buttercream and topped with a chocolate covered graham cracker.

After much cheese, chocolate and graham crackers were consumed, the wild boar chili mac 'n' cheese served classic Texas style in a Fritos bag from Haven chef Randy Evans ruled the day. Brennan's chef Danny Trace turned heads with his oysters Rockefeller mac 'n' cheese and Artisans chef Jacques Fox enticed with an unlikely pairing of salmon and gooey goodness. Bacon and ham lovers swooned over Hilary Purcell Catering Co.'s rich blend of meat and melted yumminess.

As for the sweets, those who had room in their tummies had trouble finishing the Texas-sized s'mores cupcakes from Three Brothers Bakery. Bobby Jucker's winning recipe consisted of a crumbly chocolate cake, iced with marshmallow buttercream and topped with a chocolate covered graham cracker.

Not far behind were RDG + Bar Annie chef Elliot Kelly for his elegant s'mores parfait, Le Mistral chef David Denis for his alluring s'mores mille-feuille and Cove Cold Bar chef Jean-Philippe Gaston's warm concoction assembled onsite.

In a food coma after raising $30,000 were Katie and Whitney Mears, Jamie and Nolan Moulle, Taylor McDaniel, Way Denkler, Jordan Kerensky, Jaclyn Popeil, Liz and Robert Rigney, Brittany and Zach Powell, Courtney and Joe Peterka, Jason Bernhardt, Justin Whitley, Brett Berly and Kellen Scott.

Ben McCullough, from left, Sarah Mullins, Bobby Jucker with his team and Jessica Nimon at the Camp for All Culinary Challenge.

Photo courtesy of Camp for All

Ben McCullough, from left, Sarah Mullins, Bobby Jucker with his team and Jessica Nimon at the Camp for All Culinary Challenge.

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Operetta Chic

Musical menu delights Houstonians at Gilbert and Sullivan Society gala

Gilbert and Sullivan Society Auction of Arias 2026

Photo by Michelle Watson

Sean Holshouser, Richard Paul Fink, Riley Ortega, Laura Coleman, Meaghan Heath, Catherine Schaefer, Riley Vagis, Julie Hoetzel, and Pantelis Karastamatis.

High notes met high bids and applause for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston.

Photo by Michelle Watson

Sean Holshouser, Richard Paul Fink, Riley Ortega, Laura Coleman, Meaghan Heath, Catherine Schaefer, Riley Vagis, Julie Hoetzel, and Pantelis Karastamatis.

That was the scene at the Doré Commons of the Baker Institute at Rice University for the 11th annual Auction of Arias gala. The event marked the company’s 75th season, drawing more than 120 guests for an evening of musical revelry. At the helm of the evening was event chair Melissa Stonebrook.

The program leaned into the society’s signature charm, with artists from past productions and the upcoming The Gondoliers delivering a blend of Gilbert and Sullivan favorites, operatic showstoppers, and playful departures into musical theater. Leading the welcome was board president Joe White, serving both as emcee and performer.

Through a lively auction-style menu, bidders selected the evening’s soundtrack, prompting renditions of classics like “Three Little Maids” from The Mikado and “Poor Wandering One” from The Pirates of Penzance, alongside crowd-pleasers including “Je Veux Vivre” and “You’ll Be Back.”

Laura Coleman, Richard Paul Fink, Meaghan Heath, Julie Hoeltzel, Sean Holshouser, Pantelis Karastamatis, Riley Ortega, and Riley Vagis offered performances Gilbert and Sullivan would approve — with a wink.

Three video presentations, produced by society member and voice actor John Gremillion, featured alumni like Susan Facer, who went on to star in Phantom of the Opera, Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and Broadway director Andy Einhorn.

The gala raised more than $130,000, a record-breaking total that will support the group’s upcoming production of The Gondoliers and its scholarship program.

Summoning their inner operetta chic were Victor Stonebrook, John Yabraian, Karen McCarver, Ashly Evans and Clifton Vining, Geoff Copper, Meredith Rice, Sandra Pushkin, Jane Cizik, Marcia Feldman, James Ferrendelli, Barbara Mackey, David Satterfield, Molly and Jim Crownover, Terrilyn Neale, Laura Groppe, Elizabeth Fritschle, Anne and Albert Chao, Cindy and Michael Ma, Jose Ivo, Olga and Orlando Alvarado, and Sharon Birkman.