Bust out the big hats and floral prints, ladies and gentlemen. It’s azalea time in Texas. Enjoy it while you can!
Spring is here, and Houston landscapes are lush with azaleas popping open in pink, tangerine, purple, lily white and crimson red blooms. Manicured lawns and stately entrances are nearly lost in clouds of seasonal color. To celebrate the short-lived azalea time, the historic Manor House at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu March 6 through March 11. Fittingly, lunch includes a glass of Miravel rosé.
Crawfish bisque. Photo by Becca Wright
The Southern-style repast starts with either rich crawfish bisque (photo above) garnished with green onion and garlic toast or a Bibb wedge salad with tomato, bacon and local feta lavished withcreamy green goddess dressing.
Pecan-crusted trout. Photo courtesy of Manor House
For the main, choose either pecan-crusted trout served over crab succotash with haricots verts and brown butter (photo above) or pork grillades with stone-ground grits and red eye gravy. The dry Miraval rosé wine, which is produced in Provence, France, goes perfectly with either due to its refreshing acidity.
And for dessert, indulge in pastry chef Catherine Rodriguez’s warm bread pudding of brioche, raisins, pecans and butterscotch sauce or the hazelnut chocolate brownie crisp with Nutella-swirled ice cream and fudge sauce. Certainly one of those will hit the spot.
Now, go stroll the beautiful and green Houstonian grounds and remind yourself what spring looks like in Houston — for our short but remarkable season. Prix-fixe Azalea Celebration Lunch available 11 am to 2 pm from March 6 to March 11, $40 for members and non-members.
Manor House at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, 111 North Post Oak Lane. 713-680-2626, houstonian.com.