When the magnificent Rich and Nancy Kinder Building opened in November 2020, we were all in awe of this spectacular building and the works of art within it. However, there was also a buzz going on at the press previews as we saw the empty spaces that were soon to become (2) restaurants. I was particularly interested as I am a Museum District resident and live next door to the newest MFAH campus addition. Myself, like so many that live in this area, have been pleading for more fine and casual dining options. When I heard it was Bastion I was particularly happy as I am a fan of La Table, their Houston restaurant since it’s opening five years ago. I recently re-visited La Table (see posting here) after Pandemic closure for several months where its GM, Valerio Lombardozzi, shared with us all about his parent company, Bastion and their team work with him on getting the restaurant re-opened as well as some plans for the new Bastion restaurants coming to MFAH!
So I am please to share that Bastion Restaurants has announced its partnership with The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), and plans to bring two of their beloved New York City concepts to the Museum District. Both restaurants will be located inside the new Kinder Building, which is named for the MFAH patrons and devoted to the Museum’s international collections of modern and contemporary art. Cafe Leonelli is scheduled to open in March 2021, and Le Jardinier in April 2021. The two restaurants offer modern and creative cuisine, fitting with the inspiration of this addition to MFAH.
“We have been in Houston for the past decade with our concept La Table and have seen firsthand how this city is such a great incubator of culinary talent,” said Antonio Begonja, Chief Operating Officer of Bastion Restaurants. “To that end, we wanted to bring the brands we developed in New York and Miami to this culturally-diverse community so they can continue to grow.”
Led by Michelin Star Jonathan Benno, Cafe Leonelli will offer traditional Italian cuisine in a friendly and relaxed environment. The cafe will feature a convenient and accessible, buffet-style service with beloved Italian dishes such as house-baked focaccia, pasta, polenta, entrees, sides and more. Although the concept originated in New York, Chef Benno has developed this new location to be unique to the Houston community, utilizing local and seasonal ingredients in the creation of each dish. With a focus on the craft of traditional Italian baking methods, the cafe will serve authentic, Italian pastries from Bastion’s Executive Pastry Chef and Michelin Star recipient Salvatore Martone, and breakfast dishes, including Leonelli blend coffee roasted by La Colombe. Bastion will also debut an outpost of Chef Martone’s Miami-based ice cream shop Frohzen. Located inside Cafe Leonelli, the innovative concept will offer its creative treats including the signature ice cream cupcakes, macaron ice cream sandwiches and cakesicles, all of which are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Bastion’s second concept to open in MFAH will be Le Jardinier, led by Michelin Star Chef Alain Verzeroli. The restaurant is based in French culinary technique and inspired by the seasonality of ingredients, utilizing each at the peak of its potential. Chef Verzeroli’s menu balances wellbeing and indulgence without compromise. Le Jardinier provides a unique experience for customers to dine al fresco, allowing them to enjoy both the art in the Sculpture Garden as well as the artistry of the cuisine. In developing the menu, the restaurant sources the highest-quality organic vegetables, seasonal ingredients, fresh herbs, sustainable seafood, poultry and meat in close relationship with local suppliers, fishermen and breeders. Operating in harmony with the rhythms of nature, Le Jardinier offers a vegetable-rich menu with options to pair dishes with protein for a well-balanced meal. The restaurant will also offer a selection of gluten free bakery and pastry items from Chef Martone.
The restaurant and café are situated in adjacent spaces within the Steven Holl Architects-designed Kinder Building. The locations will be accessible from inside the museum and through an entrance on Main Street for after museum hours. The interiors and finishes of both were designed by Steven Harris and Lucien Rees-Roberts, of Steven Harris Architects, New York. The restaurant features a wall-size tapestry by Trenton Doyle-Hancock which was one of my favorite pieces at the Opening, especially after speaking with its maker. The tapesty features an abstracted forest, titled Color Flash for Chat and Chew, Paris Texas in Seventy-Two, commissioned for the space, as well as overhead lighting comprised of an array of Akari lanterns originally designed by Isamu Noguchi, whose sculpture garden provides the restaurant setting. In the cafe, Spencer Finch’s installation Moon Dust (Apollo 17) suspends 150 fixtures from the ceiling in a swath of light.
“Houston is bustling, and we are excited to seize this opportunity with The Museum of Fine Arts to bring our combined expertise of high-quality cuisine and hospitality to the area,” said Chef Jonathan Benno, Bastion Restaurants Partner and Cafe Leonelli Culinary Director. “We are thrilled to be in a premier location and are confident that both restaurants and our culinary creations will offer a natural extension of the world-renowned art at the museum.”
About Bastion Restaurants:
With a team of culinary experts and operations leaders dedicated to the highest of standards, Bastion Restaurants has conceptualized, opened and operated 10 restaurants across New York, Miami and Houston, including Benno, Leonelli Restaurant & Bar, Leonelli Bakery, Frohzen, Le Jardinier, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and La Table. The group’s efforts and commitment to food and service excellence have been awarded with a total of 4 Michelin stars in the 2020 Michelin guide New York.
