by Marene Gustin
Daily Court Review
"I just think Halloween is getting bigger and bigger," says PR gourmet guru Mark Sullivan. ""People love to dress up, and what better way for adults to celebrate than to go to a restaurant?"
And two of Sullivan’s clients are throwing big parities tonight. Gigi’s Asian Bistro & Dumplings Bar in the Galleria’s Restaurant Row has a costume party going on from 8:00 p.m. until the wee hours on the patio with complimentary dim sum and DJs. The theme is super heroes and villains so expect a lot of Heath Ledger Jokers and probably more than a few Catwomen. Gigi’s is pairing up with the Westin Oaks Hotel where tipsy revelers can spend the night for $99. Meanwhile, Gravitas on Taft is hosting its third annual party featuring DJ Sleighride and $6 cocktails with names like Bayou Slime and Gangrene. Ghoulish.
Head downtown and you can hang with ghouls and goblins at the Alden-Hotel Hotel where you can enjoy tunes spun by "Deejay Hannibal Hector," haunted flicks on big screens and costume contest with prizes such as an overnight hotel stay and gift certificates from m2m Fashion and Intimacy lingerie. Here a costume means no cover charge, but if you want to win a prize, be creative. "Last year’s party was a screaming success," says Susan Ward Freeman, the hotel’s general manager. "The costumes were so creative; from a cockroach, bumble bee and bee catcher, to a basket of laundry, Santa’s sexy elves, and plenty of Draculas. This year we expect costumes to be equally impressive."
And the granddaddy of all Houston Halloween restaurant parties is the costume cuisine fest at La Griglia in River Oaks. "We’ve been doing it for 10 or 12 years now," hostess Bridget Holmes tells us. "It’s just gets bigger and better every year. It’s a blast!" Partygoers dressed to kill start showing up about 7:00 p.m., there’s no cover so drop by early and have a drink at the bar or a devilish dinner in this landmark eatery.
Bistro Calais, in the Gardens of Bammel Lane, is hosting its first Halloween costume bash, with a contest and live entertainment tonight. Probably any place you care to nosh tonight, will welcome costumed customers. Halloween has certainly become a holiday for grownup ghouls.
Notes on a similar theme: Hugo’s is hosting a Cena del Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead Dinner, this Sunday, Nov. 2 starting at 7:00 p.m. For $87 you can feast on Ceviche de Callo de Hacha, Degustación de Cordero and Day of the Dead Bread Mexican Trifle, served with Mexican cocktails and tequilas. Dia De Los Muertos is the Mexican celebration of friends and family that have passed on but in recent years it has become increasingly celebrated in Texas. And while you won’t find diners dressed as super heroes here, you will see a lot of wearable folk art in the shape of skulls and flowers.
And, though you probably won’t wear a costume, election night on Tuesday will be a holiday for some. So Omni Hotel is throwing a red, white and blue party for return watchers. Featured will be cocktails with such catchy names as The Red Recovery and The Stock Market Blues. The chef will whip up Pull the Lever Loaded-up Nachos, Poll Sliders and All-American Apple Pie. And of course there will be big-screen TVs for keeping up with the returns. On second thought, if you have a McCain or Obama mask left over from Halloween, you might want to wear it.
And now, the completely unrelated: Owner/chef John Sheely of Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar is brining back Sunday brunch. "So many of our customers have been asking us for brunch, that we realized it was time to add it back into our repertoire," Sheely says. Just in time for cooler climes, the a la carte menu boasts Crab Cake Benedict, Eggs Florentine and steak and eggs with roasted potatoes. The Montrose eatery will serve brunch Sunday’s from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
And another fundraiser for the Koonce family, badly injured during a fire that gutted Brennan’s during Hurricane Ike, will be held Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart-Whitney Hall, 816 E. Whitney Street. Sponsored by Al’s Formal Wear, Brothers Produce, Rubicon Estates, Houston Food & Beverage Association, My Table magazine and dozens of Houston-area restaurant industry companies and individuals, the event promises live music, good food and wine all for a $30 cash donation at the door.