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Andrew Cordes Brian Teichman Bobby Tudor Wolfgang Puck Phoebe Tudor A SYMPHONIC FIVE-COURSE EXPERIENCE WITH WOLFGANG PUCK ANNE LEE PHILLIPS WINES AND DINES. PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE WATSON, CHINH PHAN. F our-hundred foodies, oenophiles and music lovers convened in The Corinthian, perusing the wine auction filled with swoon-worthy rare vintages and mingling over champagne during cocktail hour, the air thick with anticipation of the repast to come. Billed as a "world-class evening with a world-class chef," the Houston Symphony Wine Dinner and Collector's Auction did not disappoint. For nearly a decade, chairs Gina and Devinder Bhatia had asked friend and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck to direct the evening. The stars finally aligned, and Puck touched down in Houston, chef's whites in tow, mere weeks after serving up the feast to Hollywood's finest at the Oscars, to team up with local cuisine partner Jackson and Company to produce a phenomenal meal. Lindy and John Rydman with Lisa Rydman of Spec's Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods selected harmonious wine pairings to accompany each delectable course. Symphony CEO Mark Hanson introduced the musicians, who provided an elegant soundtrack to the evening. The sold-out affair raised more than $500,000 for the community activities of the Houston Symphony's musicians. Royally regaled: collector's auction chairman Bob Weiner, Jackson Hicks and Milton Townsend, Betty and Jess Tutor, Paul Basinski, Margaret Williams, Elise Glattier-Hollingsworth and Denzil Hollingsworth, and Phoebe and Bobby Tudor. MENU By Wolfgang Puck, with Jackson and Company, paired with wines from Spec's Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods. FIRST: Roasted beet Napoleon, goat cheese, citrus shallot vinaigrette (Spago) Borgo luce Valdobbiadene Prosecco SECOND: Hand-made agnolotti, celery root, black truffle butter (Spago) Signano Vernaccia di San Gimignano THIRD: Shanghai Lobster, Jasmine Rice, Coconut Curry Sauce (Chinois) Selbach Riesling QBA Germany FOURTH: Slow-braised short rib, cheddar grits, tomato horseradish crust (Cut) Chateau de Mercues Cahors Malbec France Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon FIFTH: Chocolate hazelnut bar, cranberry gelée, caramel, Whipped cream (Bel Air) Chambers Rosewood Liqueur Muscat Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia Astley Blair Alex Blair Margaret Williams Jim Daniel Andrés Orozco- Estrada Chair Devinder Bhatia Chair Gina Bhatia Mark Hanson Christina Hanson Betty Tutor Jess Tutor Walter McReynolds Linda McReynolds Bill Coates Milton Townsend Aubrie Dolan Randy Dolan Ramon Leon Lucia Cordúa Jackson Hicks Bill Toomey Courtney Toomey Joanne King Herring Michael Cordúa Mise en scène Chair Albert Chao Bonna Kol Chair Anne Chao Leigh Smith Reggie Smith Chair Y. Ping Sun Honoree Lily Chen Foster Rania Daniel Susie Criner Sanford Criner Sima Ladjevardian Mady Kades Michael Jhin Susan Jhin Deborah Colton James Stewart Erin Stewart Anne Lee Phillips Matthew Phillips Jereann Chaney MAY | PAGE 22 | 2015 ENCHANTED Asian Evening ANNE LEE PHILLIPS MINGLES WITH THE INTERNATIONALS. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON. I t may be the Chinese Year of the Goat, but it was the night of the tiger at the highly anticipated, sold-out Asia Society annual ball. A lengthy red carpet, a giant golden dragon and Asia Society's Bonna Kol and John Bradshaw Jr. greeted nearly 700 glamorously dressed guests who were unfazed by rain and traffic. In fact, the drizzle only added to the exotic aura, as dapper umbrella-wielding ushers escorted dignitaries and socials from the tent into the Yoshio Taniguchi-designed building for a grand seated dinner. Hundreds of tables were placed throughout the galleries and on the stage of the theater for VIPs where City Kitchen served up a Chinese feast of red chili shrimp balls and roasted duck breast. Co-chairs Anne and Albert Chao and Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron toasted China and honored long-time chairman Charles Foster and wife Lily Chen Foster. Raising more than $1.3 million for Asia Society programs, guests returned to the tent, which was studded with Chinese lanterns in shades of red and orange, for dancing and dessert (including bananas Foster in a cheeky homage to the honorees). Roaring revelers: artist Mel Chin, who donated artwork to the auction; presenting corporate sponsor Chevron's Joni Baird; and patrons Lydia and James Chao, Lynn Wyatt, Deborah Colton, Claire Cormier-Thielke, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, and Maria and Neil Bush. Chair David Leebron John Bradshaw Jr. Nancy Allen Joni Baird Honoree Charles Foster Divya Brown Lynn Wyatt Phoebe Tudor Bobby Tudor