Shelby About Town

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

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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welcome back, chef

Superstar Mexican chef returns to Houston via new 3-year partnership

Courtesy of Pochitos Mariscos y Más

Chef Aquiles Chávez will roll out his menu on September 3.

A superstar Mexican chef is bringing a fresh perspective to a Houston restaurant. Pochitos Mariscos y Más will soon feature a new menu created by chef Aquiles Chávez.

$Pochitos Mariscos y M\u00e1s Aquiles Chavez$

Courtesy of Pochitos Mariscos y Más

Chef Aquiles Chávez will roll out his menu on September 3.

One of Mexico’s most prominent celebrity chefs, Chávez is known for his time as a judge on Top Chef Mexico as well as starring in shows such as Fox Life's El Toque de Aquiles, Aquilísimo, Motochefs, and Amazon Prime’s Sabores de Libertad. He opened Houston restaurant La Fisheria in 2012 before eventually parting ways with the restaurant.

Pochitos owner Juan Antonio Hernandez recruited Chávez for a three-year term. Beginning September 3, the chef will roll out a new menu that includes Gulf Coast fried seafood; grill and asado preparations; Cajun-influenced boiled seafood; Sinaloa- and Pacific-inspired cold dishes such as ceviches, aguachiles, and crudos; and Mexican-inspired sushi. Chávez will also oversee seasonal updates to the restaurant’s cocktail menu.

“Houston is one of those cities where so many cultures meet at the table, especially when it comes to seafood,” Chávez said in a statement. “We have an opportunity at Pochitos to bring together different techniques and traditions while keeping the food fun, generous and full of flavor. And because this is a three-year collaboration, we can keep evolving the menu and giving guests new reasons to come back.”

Open since 2024, Hernandez hopes bringing Chávez on board will make Pochitos a destination restaurant that draws diners from the inner loop as well as nearby suburbs such as Clear Lake and Webster. Other upgrades include new dining room seating, tables, and plateware; a dedicated kids’ menu; and fold-up windows to blend the restaurant’s indoor and outdoor environments.

Hernandez is the lead singer and composer for Houston Tejano/norteño group Obzesion. Aspects of that career have influenced Pochitos, such as its stage, DJ booth, and high-end AV equipment.

“I grew up in southeast Houston. This is home to me,” Hernandez added. “We could have taken this concept to another part of the city, but I kept coming back to one thought: why not here? Why shouldn’t this side of Houston have something people are willing to drive across the city to experience? I didn’t want Aquiles to come put his name on a handful of dishes and leave. I wanted him to challenge everything we were doing in the kitchen. That’s why we committed to this partnership.”

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