Bludorn companions Aaron Bludorn and Cherif Mbodji are able to unveil their newest undertaking. Perseid, the duo’s first all-day idea, will open this Wednesday, January 15.
Situated on the campus of the Resort Saint Augustine, the recently-opened boutique resort in Montrose, Perseid, named for the annual meteor bathe that takes place in August, goals to be a neighborhood bistro that truly attracts Houstonians to dine — an nearly not possible process for a Houston resort restaurant. Whereas the record of people that’ve tried with out breaking via is lengthy — Prime Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino’s Rosalie’s Italian Soul being among the many more moderen examples — Aaron Bludorn is assured that Houstonians will help Perseid simply as enthusiastically as they’ve his three different eating places, superb eating eatery Bludorn, seafood restaurant Navy Blue, and vigorous tavern Bar Bludorn.
“Being an area restaurant group offers us a bonus over different motels that usher in cooks from out of city,” Bludorn tells CultureMap. “It’s arduous to play an away sport within the restaurant enterprise. You want residence discipline benefit.”
Additionally giving Perseid a bonus in direction of success is the sturdy relationship the Bludorn staff has established with Bunkhouse, the Austin-based resort group behind the Resort Saint Augustine. As CultureMap reported in December, the 71-room property occupies 5, two-story buildings that quietly mix into its neighborhood. Its location close to the intersection of Richmond and Mandell is barely a brief stroll to the Menil Assortment and Rothko Chapel.
“Bludorn [the company] has by no means partnered with anybody in our younger historical past,” the chef notes. “It’s an enormous deal to hyperlink our model to them. We really feel very snug with Bunkhouse. If we signed up with somebody with much less synergy, I wouldn’t be capable of say that.”
The resort’s proximity to the Menil Assortment additionally impressed the path of Perseid’s meals. Constructing on the story of the de Menil household’s transfer from France to Houston, Bludorn and his staff created a menu constructed round among the basic French fare that diners would possibly anticipate from a chef who spent 10 years main the kitchen at New York’s celebrated Bar Boulud. Which means French staples comparable to duck and foie gras terrine, escargot, and coq au vin shall be accessible at lunch and dinner.
“I’ve needed to do a French restaurant for a very long time,” Bludorn says. “In the event you have a look at Gulf Coast delicacies, there are such a lot of overlaps between French and Gulf Coast delicacies. I needed one thing that basically speaks to that. I needed a spot the place we are able to have a terrine on the menu full time.”
After all, merely pulling recipes out of Mastering the Artwork of French Cooking received’t do. Perseid provides some Gulf Coast aptitude to all of its creations, comparable to serving crawfish sausage as an appetizer or giving a Thai twist to its duck frites courtesy of mango, inexperienced pepper, and coriander.
Breakfast, served every day starting at 7 am, attracts liberally from the brunch menus of its three sibling eating places. Which means Bludorn’s celebrated pancakes, beforehand solely accessible for Sunday brunch, at the moment are extra available. Pastry chef Marie Riddle has additionally created a full roster of viennoiserie, making certain freshly-baked croissants and different pastries shall be accessible each morning.
Bludorn, who started his culinary profession as a breakfast cook dinner, says he has deep respect for the morning meal. He hopes Houstonians will work the restaurant into their morning routines, comparable to College of St. Thomas school stopping by earlier than their lessons or mother and father coming for espresso after dropping their children off at a close-by faculty comparable to Annunciation Orthodox.
“There are some eating places that serve breakfast in Houston. I’d love for this restaurant to be a spot the place Houstonians have a breakfast assembly,” Bludorn says.
Perseid can even help with the resort’s bar, the Augustine Lounge, which is open for breakfast, gentle bites, and cocktails via the day. It can additionally put together objects for occasions on the Montrose Ballroom, an occasion house that’s positioned above the restaurant with a capability of as much as 250 standing (130 seated). Its menus shall be accessible to resort visitors by way of room service in the course of the restaurant’s working hours.
