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Shelby About Town

Sheila Jackson Lee's daughter weds, Clarence Thomas revisits Tony's and acookbook success

Shelby Hodge
Nov 21, 2012 | 9:01 am
  • Austin Hanson receives his day in Houston proclamation from City CouncilmanSteve Costello at Green Beans & Guacamole event.
  • Society for the Performing Arts gala chairs set the lively pace at the launchparty.
    Photo by © Wilson Parish
  • Jim and Beverly Postl opened their home for the SPA cocktail party.
    Photo by © Wilson Parish

The scene was beyond special at Haven when Austin Hanson and his mother, Belinda Hillhouse, presented a check for $150,000 to the Arc of Greater Houston, proceeds earned from sale of their cookbook Green Beans and Guacamole.

As he was growing up, Hanson benefited the programs for special needs children offered at the Arc. He was inspiration for the cookbook filled with recipes from local chefs.

City Councilman Stephen Costello surprised most in the gathering by presenting the young man with a mayoral proclamation declaring it "Austin Hanson Day in Houston."

Applauding the happenings were Laurie McNay, Corky Hillhouse, Abbas Hussein, Elaine Roberts, Kim Padgett and Soren Pedersen.

Rocking good times

Well in advance of the Society for the Performing Arts gala in April, chairs Rosemary Schatzman and Vanessa Sendukas stirred up the "Red Hot in Rio" fun with a warm-up at the home of gala kick-off chairs Beverly and Jim Postl.

The party crowd sampling fare from City Kitchen included SPA exec June Christensen, Leticia and Steve Trauber, Liz and Tom Glanville, Mary Lou Swift and Joanne and Bill Crassas.

High-profile nuptials

It was a who's who of Democratic politics that were among witnesses to the Sunday afternoon nuptials between Erica S. Lee, newly elected trustee to the Harris County School Board, Dr. Roy L. Carter. They said their "I do's" at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ and celebrated their marriage with a reception at the Hilton Houston-Post Oak.

Headlining the heavy-hitter crowd toasting the newlyweds were the bride's parents, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Elwyn Lee. Among guests were U.S. Rep Al Green, Arthur Schechter, State Rep. Sylvester Turner, City Controller Ronald Green and wife Judge Hillary Green, Judge Zinetta Burney, Carolyn and John Guess, Jewell McGowen, Licia Green Ellis, Dr. Wanda Mott and husband Bill Russell, Algenita Scott Davis and husband Ardie Segars and Rufus Cormier.

Sight 'ems

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas returning to Tony's for dinner after having lunched at the award-winning restaurant that same day with Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack . . .

Historian and acclaimed journalist Tony Perrottet, author of Napoleon’s Privates, bunking at the Royal Sonesta while exploring Houston . . .

L’Olivier chef de cuisine Kevin Bryant treating his pals Sunday afternoon to a tempting tailgate feast of grilled lobster and other goodies at longtime River Oaks area dive McElroy, the food off just in time for the Houston Texans pouncing of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Restaurant business

Comfort food chain Cotton Patch Cafe acquired by Dallas restaurant group

John Egan
Jul 2, 2026 | 4:15 pm
Chicken fried steak, CFS, Cotton Patch Cafe
Facebook/Cotton Patch Cafe
Chicken fried steak at Cotton Patch Cafe.

The Southlake-based Cotton Patch Cafe restaurant chain, known for its Texas-style comfort food, is finding comfort in the form of a new owner from Dallas.

According to a release, Dallas-based Local Favorite Restaurants group purchased Cotton Patch Cafe from Altamont Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Local Favorite's growing restaurant portfolio includes 99 restaurants spanning 10 brands, including well-known names like El Fenix Mexican Restaurant, Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar, Meso Maya, Taqueria La Ventana, Wok Star Chinese, Twisted Root Burger Company, Campuzano Mexican Food, and Village Burger Bar.

The Cotton Patch acquisition “is an important step for Local Favorite Restaurants and a natural fit for the kind of brands we want under our roof,” Local Favorite founder Mike Karns says in the release. “Cotton Patch Cafe has loyal guests, a proven track record, and a Texas identity that gives it meaningful room to grow.”

Founded in 1989 in Nacogdoches, Cotton Patch operates 46 restaurants in Texas and New Mexico. The only Houston-area location is in Spring.

The deal also brings changes to the leadership team.

Karns will remain with the company in the role of founder and "Free-Range Creative," overseeing its creative direction and growth strategy. Cotton Patch Cafe CEO Brandon Coleman III will become CEO of Local Favorite Restaurants.

Local Favorite also owns and operates Sunrise Mexican Foods, which produces chips, tortillas, and other Mexican food products for retail and foodservice operators.

Cotton Patch Cafe is known for scratch-made, comfort classics like hand-breaded chicken fried steak, along with $9.99 Texas Value Meals.

Coleman says the acquisition won’t result in changes to the “heart” of Cotton Patch.

“We will continue to bring the small-town spirit, big Texas value, and quality scratch-made food guests count on, with the same focus on hospitality and community that has always made Cotton Patch feel like home,” says Coleman.

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