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By Candice Cowin with Catherine D. Anspon. Photography Jordan Geibel and Kolton King. Lela Rose The Halles Designer Dinner + Book Signing TAKES ROUND TOP D esigner Lela Rose took over Round Top with two fashionable evenings at The Halles during the Fall Round Top Antiques + Design Show. First up, the biannual Designer Dinner crafted by A Fare Extraordinaire was a sell-out, luring culinary enthusiasts and fashion seekers to wrap their weekend of shopping with a seated dinner alongside the night's honoree, Dallas-raised Lela Rose (her parents are Dallas art collectors Deedie Rose and the late Rusty Rose), known for her romantic womenswear collections, now divides her time between ranch living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and city life in Manhattan. Fittingly, her Ranch Collection was presented at The Halles in a much-anticipated pop-up whose aesthetic was perfect for making a bold Round Top debut. A Fare Extraordinaire's Mediterranean-inspired menu began with a limoncello spritz spiked with Daphane Limoncello Liqueur and a classic Aperol spritz. Appetizers of lamb meatballs, ahi- tuna carpaccio, and beer-battered cauliflower fritters accompanied cocktails, in addition to bite- sized baklava, olives, and charcuterie courtesy of Phoenicia Specialty Foods of Houston (in honor of their 40th anniversary), artfully arrayed by Central Texas-based Libby's Kitchen + Studio. Following a lively cocktail hour, guests settled at tables topped with roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, and hellebores created by Houston's Maxit Flower Design. Adding to the romantic scene, artist and singer-songwriter Sarah Johnson took to the stage, decked out in fashion from three Halles vendors: Forty Five Ten, City Boots, and Jahde Leather Atelier. Johnson performed a string of her original Americana tunes as dinner service began. Along with the first course of charred vegetable labneh, guests found a gift at each place setting: a sample-sized bottle of Old Country Olive Oil bundled with a packet of Zohrab's Italian Dipping Spice from legendary Phoenicia Specialty Foods. The hearty second course of beef kofta kabobs with sides of tabouli, hummus, tzatziki, and freshly baked pita bread was the savory prelude to dessert: a lighter-than-air sweet lemon polenta torte with yogurt mascarpone cream. As guests lingered at their tables enjoying wine and conversation, the winner of a Moreau Paris handbag custom-painted with a Round Top theme was announced: Christi Houser. A surprise belly dance performance by the stunning Laman Hendricks, made for the final flourish of a memorable evening. X DEUX (Continued) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 38