eggersmann Houston Grand Re-opening: Chef’s Night Out
Flora Mexican Kitchen with Designer Letecia Ellis Haywood
Mate Zorrilla, Executive Chef of Flora Mexican Kitchen, has culinary experience in Mexico and Europe enabling her to seamlessly blend her Mexican heritage with the avant-garde techniques she mastered in Spain and France. At Flora, she brings the essence of Mexico’s vibrant markets and native ingredients to the table, crafting dishes that are both deeply rooted in tradition and refreshingly modern.
Designer Letecia Ellis Haywood imparts her refined aesthetic to projects in Texas and beyond. Her designs have appeared in countless publications. Letecia was noted as Luxe Magazine‘s Next in Design 99 in 2023 and was a 2015 Decorative Center Houston Star on the Rise Recipient. She has served in industry leadership roles such as Houston Design Center / Audi Central Leaders in Design and is a past ASID Texas Gulf Coast Chapter President. Letecia is a lover of fine art and architecture, spending her time balancing her interior design studio and traveling stateside and abroad for design inspiration and education.
Competition Menu: Soft Shell Crab a la Veracruzana with a relish of house-made corn, pumpkin seeds, green olive, capers, cherry tomatoes, pickled banana peppers.
Norigami with Designer Linda Eyles
John Pham, Chef of Norigami, is a self-taught culinary professional having refined his skills through exposure to diverse culinary influences as part of his extensive global travel. His experiences creating innovative and memorable dining concepts have developed at renowned restaurants such as Kata Robata and Uchi in Houston and Blue Ribbon in both New York and Miami as well as in his own restaurant called Ossu in Taipei, Taiwan.
Designer Linda Eyles approaches design as both an art and an experience…one that lingers long after the final detail is placed. She is known for crafting spaces that are as polished as they are personal, shaped by a studied balance of edge and elegance. Drawn to the depth of global influences, she weaves together curated antiques, found objects, and modern forms, ensuring every project tells a story uniquely its own. Her work represents a commitment to livable luxury, thoughtful composition, and an innate understanding of how beauty and comfort coexist. She is an avid supporter of Houston’s fine arts community and a passionate advocate for animal rescue, believing that a well-designed life should be as generous as it is beautiful.
Competition Menu: Hamachi to Komezue – Hamachi (Pacific yellowtail), komezu vinagrette (rice vinegar), ikura shoyu zuke (soy sauce marinated salmon roe), negi shio (spring onion-based condiment)
Coppa Osteria with Designer Missy Stewart
Davide de Angelis, Executive Chef of Coppa Osteria was born and raised in Napoli, Italy. Drawing from his Southern Italian roots, travels across Italy, and a fresh, health-driven approach, he focuses on technique, seasonality, and bold flavors. He brings a balance of Mediterranean tradition and modern innovation and a commitment to quality and authenticity to to Coppa Osteria. Davide leads his team to deliver inventive, high-quality Italian cuisine.
Designer Missy Stewart brings dream homes to life with a seamless blend of luxury, creativity, and practicality. With over 35 years of experience and a background in construction, she expertly navigates every stage of a project, collaborating with top-tier craftsmen and suppliers to deliver stunning, functional spaces. Known for her curated aesthetic and client-first approach, Missy’s work is rooted in integrity, ensuring each design is as timeless as it is meaningful.
Competition Menu: Broken Arancini (stuffed fried Italian risotto balls) with Parmesan foam and smoked trout roe
Drakes Hollywood with Designer Alexandra Killion
Chef Raphael Roger, Executive Chef of Drake’s Hollywood Houston, is a culinary artist masterfully blending bold flavors and refined technique to present elevated American classics in unforgettable dining experiences. Originally from Virginia where he was named Iron Chef in 2012 and earned mid-Atlantic BBQ champion 3 times, Chef Raph has a passion for high-quality ingredients and flair for creating luxurious coastal inspired dishes by blending creativity and nutritional knowledge.
Designer Alexandra Killion specializes in using color, texture, and fine art to tell the stories of her clients. She carefully curates timeless spaces of livable elegance by putting a contemporary spin on classic design. Immersed in the design world for as long as she can remember, Alexandra loves that she gets to live her passion every day — designing spaces that give people joy when they walk into their homes.
Competition Menu: Ginger-Truffle Lobster Roll – tempura roll with roasted minced garlic in sesame and truffle oil inside. Deep fried in togarashi-paprika butter. Finished with cilantro ginger vinaigrette, truffle oil, Maldon sea salt, and chives.
The Competition
Judges included:
- Brad Agens, Executive VP Partnerships & Social Strategy, Modern Luxury
- Jennifer Cope, Founding Publisher, Modern Luxury
- Dana McManus, Director of Marketing, eggersmann USA
After evaluating the designs, flavors, and overall presentation of each team, the winner is Flora Mexican Kitchen’s chef Mate Zorrilla with designer, Letecia Ellis Haywood.
Grand Re-Opening VIPs
Many VIPs were on hand to help eggersmann celebrate a refreshed showroom featuring some of the newest finishes and innovations.
Hosted eggersmann Staff & Key Partners
Hosts of the grand re-opening party included representatives from Modern Luxury Interiors and the staff from several eggersmann USA showrooms; eggersmann USA owners, Michael and Sandra Soltoff; and key partners represented by Michael Brinkjost, eggersmann Gmbh Sales, and Karsten Schmalenbach, Schmalenbach Designs owner.
The Grand Re-Opening Celebration
About 200 guests enjoyed the tantalizing chef menus, artful designs, and signature drinks flowing throughout. As attendees explored the showroom, they enjoyed a DJ and a harpist in the courtyard as well as meeting new friends and catching up with old ones.
We really must not wait 9 years to do our next Chef’s Night Out! Missed it? Take our virtual tour of the eggersmann Houston showroom.
