Justin Yu, Chris Shepherd, Robert Del Grande and Hugo Ortega
Smoked brisket fritters by Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan
“Designed in-house and crafted by skilled master bench jewelers, the exquisite Zadok Texas Collection is a celebration of Lone Star pride infused into every piece,” says a rep for the store. “The newly unveiled collection features a dazzling array of gold necklaces, earring studs, rings, and hat pins, all inspired by the iconic symbols of Texas.”
Expect beautiful pieces depicting longhorns, horseshoes, cowboy boots the state shape and also common Texas sayings such as “howdy” and “yeehaw.”
“Creating the Texas Collection was a labor of love,” notes Amy Zadok, head of marketing for the store. “We wanted to encapsulate the essence of Teas in each piece, celebrating its unique culture and spirit thought exquisite craftsmanship.”
Prices for items in the new line range from $235 to $2,700.
Zadok was founded in 1976 by sixth generation jeweler Dror Zadok and his wife, Helene. Sons Jonathan, Segev and Gilad — the seventh generation — are also active in running the Houston institution on Post Oak Boulevard.
Alexandra Pena and Aaron Bludorn (photo by Lauren Holub)
With Bar Bludorn, the unstoppable chef — who has successfully opened three restaurants in Houston in the last three years, and has his sights set on a fourth, at the Bunkhouse Group’s forthcoming Saint Augustine Hotel in Montrose — put the cooking in the hands of the beautiful and capable Alexandra Peña, who is easy to spot in the shiny open kitchen.
A visit to Bar Bludorn ushers in punchy flavors of mostly classics with some twists — like carrot-ginger soup with fresh and candied ginger, and a Wagyu short rib Rueben sandwich on housemade bread we would gladly eat daily. The surprise of green-pea hummus sings with fresh garlic (order extra pita bread — it’s that good!).
Expect a wide range of entrees, including a lovely Ora King salmon filet with yogurt-dill sauce; tender steak frites draped in au poivre vert; and roasted duck with mango and yam. Fried chicken gussied up with peanut-butter gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens is a popular option, and of course there’s a towering tavern burger, served with a single slice of tomato as thick and juicy and indispensible as the patty itself.
But one of the best dishes is homemade tortellini: so perfectly al dente with a unique artichoke stuffing and garnish of bright tomato confit and lemon zest. Addictive.
As for dessert, the Lime in the Coconut is a textural dream. It’s like a deconstructed key-lime pie but better, and topped with crunchy clusters of coconut flakes.
The handsome, softly lit and intimate restaurant has a timeless clubby look, while still being everyday-comfy. It’s located in the nondescript, red-brick rectangular building previously home to Jonathan’s the Rub. Walls between the adjacent tenants were all knocked down, and Bar Bludorn is one giant open-concept space, flanked on either end by a bustling kitchen and a classic, tavern-style bar. One long wall is lined with half-circle-shaped booths that give a prime view of the whole room.
Planning to pop in without a reservation? The bar area typically fills up daily by 5:30pm, so advanced planning is recommended to snag a coveted dining-room table. Cheers!
Country Ham Beignets (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Lemon Ricotta Ice Cream Sandwich (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Dining Room_ (photo by Claudia Casbarian)
Spaghetti Carbonara (photo by Lauren Holub)