Photos by Samantha Jane Beatty
Styling by Todd Ramos
Model Jerry Raines for Neal Hamil Agency
Grooming by Briana Dai
Photography assistance by John Lewis
Styling assistance by Tyler Treadwell
Shot on location at The Barn at Four Pines Ranch in Crosby
Crave and Maven's Carajillo cupcake, center, and Espresso Martini cupcake, topped with an ooey-gooey truffle
The truly craveable (and beautiful!) cupcakes await at Crave's Uptown Park and West U locations, as well as the coffee brand’s new outpost of Maven Coffee + Cocktails on Allen Parkway. The just-opened brick-and-mortar location inside the Thompson Hotel serves elevated bar classics, like G&Ts and tajin-rimmed margaritas, plus coffee-fueled specialty drinks including carajillos, espresso martinis, cold brew, and more.
Speaking of! The two new specialty Crave flavors are Espresso Martini and Carajillo. This Saturday, June 1, Crave and Maven host a joint promo, in collaboration with Tito's Vodka: When guests order both an Espresso Martini and a Carajillo cupcake, they will receive 15 percent off their total order, with a percentage of proceeds going to the Down Syndrome Association of Houston, celebrating the organization’s 50th year. One dollar for each cupcake sold at Maven will also be donated to the non-profit.
Perfect for the “non-dessert” person, the Carajillo cupcake is infused with Maven coffee concentrate, frosted with a Maven and Licor 43 buttercream swirl, and topped with house-made candied orange peels.
The Espresso Martini cupcake is also infused with coffee concentrate, then filled with Maven-and-Tito’s Vodka cream, frosted with a coffee-and-Tito’s swirl, and topped with a Maven truffle (so yummy, we were sad there was only one!).
"We are excited to see our coffee concentrate used for these exclusive cupcakes," says Juan Carlos Martinez de Aldecoa, Maven cofounder. "Partnering with other local entrepreneurs and introducing Maven to Houstonians in new, innovative ways is something we strive to do constantly."
For her part, Crave co-owner Elizabeth Harrison Cooper says that Maven's “dedication to utilizing only the highest quality ingredients aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are proud to serve these new cupcake flavors that were created by local talents right here in Houston.”
Cooper’s bakeshop has announced two additional local partnerships with Sprinkle Pop and a certain ice cream brand famed for its small batch artisanal ice cream that sells out within minutes. Together, they will create new flavors that will launch throughout the summer season and will be available for a limited time only. The new flavors include Luau, Strawberry Lemonade, and Peaches and Cream, and will be available at both Crave locations.
“Our summer lineup of flavors inspired by Houstonians and their brands will be a fantastic way to keep our customers satisfied this summer,” adds Cooper.
Caviar — chef Kate's favorite condiment — at Tony's
The storied restaurant for Houston society — who can forget the iconic ’90s-era photo by Annie Leibovitz of Lynn Wyatt out to lunch — is changing up the feel on select nights with the addition of interactive musicians and more tableside presentations. A rep for Tony’s describes it as, “if you mixed The Carlyle in NYC meets live fire from Chef Kate!”
Still with top-notch service and delectable dishes, the overall mood is jazzier, and with more surprising presentations. Ice-cold martinis are shaken at the table, full fish presented on fire, and cotton candy dramatically adorned with sparklers.
Now through August, every Friday and Saturday night, crooner Miguel Delabarca performs in the dining toom. P.S. As always, don’t miss the chocolate souffle, served with the extra flair of ooey, gooey, warm, melted chocolate poured atop tableside.
Chef Kate McLean
Cocktails at Tony's
Handmade pasta at Tony's
Sparklers and dramatic presentations at Tony's
The caviar baked potato at Tony's
Mini cheeseburgers at Tony's
Cotton candy foie gras