ORIGINALLY FROM PUNTA del Este, Uruguay, Fabrizio Baranzano Pessano was spending time in Saint Tropez when he met a friend from Houston. He moved here a short time later, after falling in love “with this unique city and its potential."

This continent-spanning story is fitting for Pessano, who speaks four languages and has his pilot’s license. A GM and partner at new Ciel on San Felipe, he’s excited to bring a bit of that international flavor to H-Town. “Ciel is the very first ‘festive restaurant’ in Houston, a concept more commonly seen in Europe,” explains Pessano, 30.

The full experience at Ciel not only includes dinner — a delightful fusion of Japanese and French cuisine — but also a party. Expect literal parades of Champagne, sparklers and beautiful dancers, plus a live DJ nightly. Pessano’s dinner must-do? “I wouldn’t leave Ciel without dancing on top of the center tables around the Zeus sculpture!”