Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1376329
BUTCHER'S BALL ROUND TOP 1.0 R ather than a bevy of chefs cooking specialties for the vast throng of yore, Houston-based chefs Dawn Burrell of the upcoming Late August and Dominick Lee of Alligator Pear (coming soon) charmed diners with their five-course feast, the courses reflecting each chef's signature culinary style. New Orleans native Lee (formerly the chef of Poitín Bar & Kitchen) is headed for a year of epicurean study in Italy, while Burrell's Late August restaurant is expected to open in — no coincidence — August; she also joined Bravo's Top Chef this past April. Publicist Jonathan Beitler, who co-founded the Butcher's Ball with chef Jason Kerr and event producer Elaine Dillard, said, "Round Top is the perfect place to celebrate the local farms and ranches. Everything here is sourced within 100 miles of Houston." Featured at this inaugural dinner were Whitehurst Heritage Farms, 44 Farms, and Inland Seafood. Beitler tells PaperCity that the ball in its original format will resume after the fall Round Top Antiques Show, dates yet to be set. Over ensuing evenings, three more Butcher's Balls unfurled, again to socially distanced, sell-out crowds flocking from Round Top and surrounding towns, as well as Houston and Austin. Top toques each night featured perfect pairings: Sasha Grumman of Sasha's Focaccia, Houston, with Sarah McIntosh of Austin's Épicerie Cafe & Grocery; Ryan Hildebrand of Hildee's Dine- Inn, Wimberley, with Jean-Philippe Gaston of Houston; and Evelyn Garcia of Kin HTX with Jane Wild, both of Houston. Gastronomic guests: Underwriters PaperCity and Round Top Publisher's Jim Kastleman, Katie Stavinoha of Round Top Publishers, Heath Sechrist of Texas Casual Cottages by Partners in Building and wife Jennifer, Lance Warmke with Brenham LP Gas, John Walker of Engel & Völkers, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury's Andrea Riebeling, and Ellen Hart of Kuper Sotheby's International Realty; The Halles' sponsor Moderno Porcelain Works' Mike Heylmun and wife Jennifer; Highway Vodka's Ben Williams; Sally and Norman Reynolds; Jailyn Marcel; Paige and Smoot Hull; Red & White Gallery and Grand Fayette's Joan and Jerry Herring; Heather Wagner Reed with wine man/sponsor Dan Redman of Donald Patz Wine Group; Dallas Art Fair's John Sughrue and Jeremy Buonamici; Julie Robertson and Les Mallory; Kathy Masterson; public art curator Piper Faust and husband Adam Faust with artist Rachel Hayes and artist/husband Eric Sall (Hayes' ethereal tapestries in the fields were the talk of the Spring Antiques Show); and Round Top Real Estate's Denise Jacobs and Frank Hillbolt, who brought down the house with the retro '70s band Black Cat Choir. (Continued from page 36) John Walker Chef Dawn Burrell Chef Dominick Lee Shafik Rifaat & Shelby Hodge Mike & Jennifer Heylmun Gretchen Carr Beth Weishuhn, Olivia Carr Heather Wagner Reed Dan Redman Denise Jacobs, Glynis Wood Kathy Masterson The Black Cat Choir does the hokey-pokey. Piper & Adam Faust, Rachel Hayes & Eric Sall Marie Elgamal & Chef Kevin Bryant with a work by Rachel Hayes J. Carter Breed, Heath Sechrist 38