Photos by Samantha Jane Beatty
Styling by Kate Stukenberg
Grooming by Tonya Riner for Page Parkes Agency
Models Madison Johnston for Wallflower Management and Jake Atterberry for Page Parkes Agency
Photo assistance by John Lewis
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Men’s styling consulting by Cody Sever
and Whitney Wiggins for M Penner
Shot on location at Hotel Alessandra in Downtown
Chef Royere
Presented to individuals in connection to agriculture such as winemakers, farmers and chefs, the ministerial Ordre of Agricultural Mérit was established in 1883 by French Minister Jules Meline. Former French President François Hollande presented the medal to chef Royere on Tuesday. The merit received by Royere is the second highest ranking award in the French Republic, just behind the Legion of Honour.
Former French President François Hollande presents Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere with the Ordre du Mérite agricole (photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel)
Tilman Fertitta with The Post Oak Hotel's Culinary Team (photo courtesy The Post Oak Hotel)
The Post Oak Hotel General Manager Steven Chao and Executive Chef ean-Luc Royere
"Receiving this distinction is one of the greatest accomplishments of my career to date," said Royere in a statement. "To be honored by my home country here in my chosen city is the culmination of many years of hard work and focus."
Royere moved to Houston in 2017 when he accepted the job for the role of executive chef at The Post Oak, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s 38-story, 250-room luxury hotel. The chef was one of the hotel’s first five employees, and 10 years before that, he received a Master Chef of France Award.
“It was a little gamble to move from The Oriental Hotel in Florida to Houston for a job at a brand-new hotel, but I was blessed to have hired about eight chefs who had worked with me for ten years,” Royere told CityBook. The exec-chef is involved in the culinary hiring and manages about 65 employees including managers and chefs.
Regarding menu creation at the Post Oak’s restaurants, Royere says he shares his vision and encourages his chefs to provide input. “We work together to tweak recipes and menus. I spend the most time and attention on our concept Bloom & Bee as it is opened 17 hours a day,” he explains. Spring is a busy time of the year for the hotel. “We are planning lots of parties, events, and buy-outs as well as special Sunday brunch.”
“We are incredibly proud to see Chef Royere receive this award for his many contributions to the world of gastronomy and culinary,” said Steven Chou, General Manager. “I cannot imagine anyone more deserving.”
Denise Reyes and Matthew Healey (photo by Katy Anderson)
The “Mirror Ball” theme came alive for guests, arriving via a red carpet appointed with mirrored arches, to a Wortham Grand Foyer draped from floor to soaring ceiling in shimmery silk. “Jaw-dropping decor by The Events Company transformed the space with sky-high silver drapes, tinseled chandeliers and mirrored, holographic tablescapes accented with fuchsia blooms,” gushed a rep for HGO. “The theme was on display at every turn, from table centerpieces to cocktails.”
Given the chairs’ culinary connections, dinner was a dining experience, per expectations. MAD and BCN exec chef Luis Roger presented chilled tomato and cherry gazpacho as an amuse-bouche, followed by a vividly colorful passion fruit salad, and sous vide grass-fed filet. “Dessert was a MAD favorite: the peanut nougat, Spanish wine, and salted-caramel Chocolate Bar, accented by a scoop of gelato from Rocambolesc, another Houston spot owned by the Ball chairs,” noted the company rep. In a lovely extra touch, the gelato was served tableside by members of the Program, a program that provides professional opportunities to young adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Entertainment for the evening — which raised a whopping $1.3 million to support the opera company’s community outreach initiatives — included a rendition of “So Long, Farewell” by the young singers set to appear as the von Trapp children in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, which opens next week at HGO. Also, Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, playing Maria in the show, offered a rousing performance of “Habanera” from Bizet’s Carmen, backed by members of the HGO Chorus.
After dinner, Nashville-based Universal Crush drew a crowded dancefloor with gotta-dance ditties like “We Are Family” and “Celebration.” After-party libations were served in disco-ball tumblers.
Boldface guests included, welcomed by the chairs and HGO honchos Khori Dastoor and Patrick Summers, included Beth Madison, Anne and Albert Chao, Margaret Alkek Williams, Jim and Dancie Ware, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Elizabeth and Ilyas Colombowala, Isabel and Danny David, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Jim and Molly Crownover, Betty and Jess Tutor, Ana María Martínez and Gaby Attal, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Beth Muecke, Carey Kirkpatrick and Joel Luks.
Alejandro & Alisa Magallon, Ana Maria Martines, Gaby Attal (photo by Michelle Watson)
Margaret Alkek Williams and Patrick Summers (photo by Katy Anderson)
Albert and Anne Chao (photo by Michelle Watson)
Betty Tutor, Ann Ayre, Dr. Rachel Ellsworth (photo by Michelle Watson)
Alejandra and Hector Torres (photo by Michelle Watson)
Jim and Dancie Ware, Tony and Cynthia Petrello (photo by Michelle Watson)
Beth Muecke (photo by Katy Anderson)
Mark and Duyen Nguyen (photo by Katy Anderson)
Constance Rose-Edwards (photo by Katy Anderson)
Drs. Warren and Rachel Ellsworth (photo by Michelle Watson)
Maxwell Ocansey, Allyson Pritchett, and Brian Dunham (photo by Michelle Watson)
Elizabeth Colombowala and Isabel David (photo by Michelle Watson)
Eric Lewis and Jeff Gremillion
Myrtle Jones (photo by Katy Anderson)
Rebecca & Thom Brandt, Sarah & Bryant Lee (photo by Michelle Watson)
Jeff and Rachelle Ball (photo by Katy Anderson)
Khori Dastoor, BenJoaquin Gouverneur (photo by Michelle Watson)
Monique & Ed Gore (photo by Katy Anderson)
Nick Allen, Jo Allen, and Louis Allen (photo by Katy Anderson)