Bruno Mars 
The two restaurants from the New York-based Bastion Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston have been praised for their culinary artistry since they opened. But now Café Leonelli and the upscale sister restaurant Le Jardinier are emphasizing the artistic possibilities of menu with their new Culinary Canvas series inspired by exhibitions at the museum.
The ongoing series opens with two dishes and a cocktail at Le Jardinier coinciding with “Virtual Realities: The Art of M.C. Escher from the Michael S. Sachs Collection,” an exhibition that runs through Sept. 5. Diners at Le Jardinier will be able to order menu items that explore Escher’s ideas of mirror images, infinity, and duality.
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Justin Tystal
Curator Dena Woodall talks about the work of artist M.C. Escher on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Curator Dena Woodall, left, and collector Michael Sachs pose in a room that is part of an exhibit about the artist M.C. Escher on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The museum is displaying more than 400 works by Escher, with the vast majority from Sachs’ collection.
Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Justin Tystal
The culinary artworks include a dessert called Black & White Sesame Seeds Praline (Oreo cookies and raspberry) created by pastry chef Salvatore Martone and chef Tiffani Ann Gkaris, and a savory dish of Pan-Fried Scallops with cauliflower fondant, black currant coulis and black tuile created by chefs Alain Verzeroli and Felipe Botero. There’s also a cocktail, called Our Checkered Past (rum, Pernod, coconut, pineapple and lime) created by beverage director Juan Carlos Santana and head bartender Max Labesse.
“We wanted to further explore the intersection of art and food, and truly bring the works of various renowned artists to life at our restaurants,” said Verzeroli, culinary director of The Bastion Collection. “With Houston being one of the most culturally-diverse cities, this concept will add another unique component to our offerings and heighten guests’ overall experience.”
The Culinary Canvas series Bastion’s first museum culinary program. It will continue with a special dessert created for the upcoming “The Obama Portraits Tour” April 3 through May 30.
Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at [email protected]. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.
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