Photos by Julie Soefer
Produced by Kate Stukenberg
Styling by Rene Garza
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Photo assistance by Claudia Casbarian and Harry Dearing III
Grooming by Tisha Hughes for Neal Hamil
Shot on location at the Inn At Dos Brisas
Lance McCullers, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker
Lance McCullers Jr., José Altuve and Kyle Tucker hosted the event — gamely posing with fans during the VIP hour — and won big for their charities. McCullers supports various pet-rescue charities, while Altuve backs and array of nonprofits, including The Sunshine Kids, for children facing cancer treatment. Kyle Tucker’s fundraising benefits hospice care organizations.
Along with co-host Kate and Steve Gibson, and sponsors including Tilman Fertitta’s Post Oak Motor Cars, the players welcomed more that 500 guests to the expo-type affair at Silver Street Studios. Restaurants from around the city — Field & Tide, Roma, State Fare and many others — set up shop, offering tantalizing nibbles. Benny Chow’s spicy sesame noodles were a bit hit! An open bar was provided by Maven.
The highlight of the evening might have been the live auction with auctioneer Johnny Halloway. “One of the most sought-after items was a private catered dinner with Kara and Lance McCullers Jr., Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker,” said a rep for event organizers. “The chance to throw the first pitch at a game along with Diamond Club seats and then a surprise donation by Blake Fertitta of Courtside Rockets tickets along with a dinner in the owners suite had hands flying to purchase the special package.”
Unsurprisingly, guests included a handful of other ’Stros, Ryan Pressly, Michael Brantley, Maurico Dubon, Kendall Graveman and Grae Kessinger among them. Other boldface names in the crowd were Frances and Tony Buzbee, Bill Baldwin, Fady Armanious, Tama Lundquist, Tena Lundquist Faust, Police Chief Troy Finner, Bobbie Nau, Katie and Jon Deal, and Joanne King Herring.
Carla Martinez, Michael Anzilotti, Andrea Martinez, Zaid Barazi
Danny and Iris Shaftel
Fady Armanious, Donna and Norman Lewis, Caroline and Eugene Zhadanov
Julie Chen and Jennifer Roane
Kat and Ryan Pressly
Cody Patel, Lance McCullers, Jr., Kusun Patel
Matt Castillo and band
Cyril Grayson and Tamara Washington
Dan and Melissa Sugulas
John and Cherie Lindley, Libby & Ray Cook
Johnny Bravo and Julia Morales
Stephen Skelton, Demi and Gerard Rizzo, Lindsey and John Hohlt
Tena Lundquist Faust, Margie Lundquist, Sandra Cooper, Tama Lundquist
Devin and Maddy Mercer
Dr Isaac and Lori Raijman
Tony and Frances Moody Buzbee, Joanne King Herring, Beau King
Tyler and Aston Bremer
Hugo Ortega (photo by Gittings Photography)
Back in 1983, when Backstreet Café opened in River Oaks by Tracy Vaught and her uncle Jack Blalock, the first cell phones were being introduced by Motorola. Ten years later, in 1993, The World Wide Web was introduced to the public and the internet exploded with its first websites.
Former geologist Vaught opened the restaurant with no experience in the industry but, through hard work, struggles, and a knack for recognizing and nurturing talent in others, she created a Houston dining landmark. Here, Vaught found her calling as a restaurateur, dishwasher Hugo Ortega discovered his natural talent as a chef and began his American Dream, and pastry chef Ruben Ortega perfected his skills. Vaught and Ortega even found love.
Vaught says her “Backstreet story” began after graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a Geology degree, doing government contract work in Washington, D.C., and then taking a job with Conoco in her hometown Houston. “Traveling to remote well sites was fun, but sitting in an office making maps was not my true calling, and when the economy and energy industry slowed down, so did my job,” said Vaught. “Soul searching made me realize that I had always felt happiest around my family’s communal table, and I wanted to capture and share that feeling. ‘I should open a restaurant,’ I surprisingly told myself.”
So, Backstreet Cafe was born. It started with a simple menu but has evolved through the years to reflect culturally diverse Houston, with Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic and Asian influences, among others. Backstreet has become an award-winning restaurant in Houston, but not without bumps along the way and moments of destiny. The restaurant is now joined by Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi and URBE under the umbrella company of H Town Restaurant Group. “Backstreet Cafe is my great leap of faith and my dream come true,” adds Vaught.
Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega and Sophia Ortega
When Hugo Ortega came to Backstreet Cafe as a dishwasher, he was eager and hardworking, and moved up to busser after he learned a few words of English. His love of cooking learned from his mother and grandmother back in Mexico, often took him into the kitchen to watch the chefs at work. He was eventually promoted to cook, then he enrolled in culinary school and graduated with his culinary degree. Soon after, he became executive chef of the restaurant. Along the way, Ortega and Vaught also married.
“When I cooked up the idea for this restaurant, I envisioned a menu that included food from my family table and that reflected the Texas Gulf Coast, but I was unsure of myself and let the customers dictate what to serve and it became a hodge-podge of dishes with no grounding,” says Vaught. “But through the years, we were able to reign in the menu, first with the help of chef John Watt, whom we hired as a consultant and then chef, and then with Hugo by my side. The food became more honest, and the customers love it.”
To celebrate the occasion, Backstreet is throwing a four-course wine dinner on Oct. 11 starring Turley (California) wines. “We are honored to celebrate 40 years of serving generations of Houstonians and know that it would not be possible without our incredible, hardworking employees and our loyal customers whom we love so much,” says Vaught. “We hope to see many familiar faces along with new customers who are visiting us for the first time. Cheers to 40 years, Houston!”
Backstreet Cafe is asking Houstonians to share memories, stories and photos with them by emailing memories@backstreetcafe.net.
