For DiningOut Houston’s first ever Bark Week, we asked chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals to share photos with their pups. As expected, the result was almost too much cuteness to handle. Get to know a little about the faithful companions of Houston’s major culinary players, and most importantly…what they love to eat.
Raz Halili, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House and Fish Company Taco
Raz Halili, owner of Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House in San Leon and Fish Company Taco in Galveston, enjoys a boat day with Zoe, his Maltese-Yorkie. Halili tells DiningOut that Zoe’s favorite food is Pier 6 leftovers.
Benchawan Painter, Street to Kitchen
Benchawan Painter, aka chef G, is the James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of Street to Kitchen and a loving dog mom. Painter cuddles her 10-year old Jack Russell-mix rescue dog, Ms. Kitty. Painter shares Ms. Kitty’s preferred meal with DiningOut, “She likes us to cook her ground chicken breast with spinach, carrots, and quinoa.”
Shannon Scott, Roma
Shannon Scott, owner of Roma, with his French bulldogs, Hanna, Piper, and Max. Scott tells DiningOut the trio love to chow down on beef jerky strips.
Donnette Hansen, Rainbow Lodge
Rainbow Lodge owner, Donnette Hansen bundles up on a vacation with Dash, her female German wire-haired pointer. Hansen says she grew up with this particular breed, and she and her wife Sheila have always bonded with them. Hansen rescued Dash two years ago, and she is her third German wire-haired pointer. The well-traveled pup has been all over the country with the couple, having visited destinations from South Texas to Montana. Like many of the guests who frequent Rainbow Lodge, Dash’s favorite food is quail, duck, and chicken.
Arash Kharat, J-Bar-M BBQ
Arash Kharat, the newly appointed pitmaster at J-Bar-M BBQ, gives big smiles with Roscoe, his pit bull-mix. Kharat tells DiningOut Roscoe’s favorite foods are treats from Dex Treats and the beef bowl from Barnaby’s Cafe.
Hugo Ortega & Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group
James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and his wife Tracy Vaught, co-owners of H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Caracol, Urbe, Xochi) lounge by the pool with their 13-year old cavapoo, Coco. The couple tell DiningOut Coco’s favorite food is chicken.
Patrick Pham, Duckstache Hospitality
Patrick Pham, chef and co-owner of Duckstache Hospitality (Kokoro, Handies Douzo, Aiko, Himari, Doko, and Bar Doko), crouches down with with Lulu, his English bulldog, during a game of fetch. Lulu seems to have much in common with fans of Pham’s restaurants, as he tells DiningOut she loves salmon and salmon skin.
Julie Nguyen, Crawfish Cafe, Ocean Palace, and Pho Prime
Julie Nguyen, who co-owns Crawfish Cafe, Ocean Palace, and Pho Prime with her partner Kiet Duong, poses with her golden retriever, Milo. The duo is also dog parents to Sully, a labradoodle, and Nala, a second golden retriever. Nguyen tells DiningOut their preferences differ when it comes to their favorite foods as Milo and Nala love chicken, crunchy treats, and cheese, while Sully enjoys fruits like blueberries and bananas.
Raffi Nasr, Craft Pita
Raffi Nasr, the chef and owner of Craft Pita, poses with his pit bull, Joy, in front of his restaurant. Nasr tells DiningOut Joy loves salmon.
Shawn Virene, Succulent Fine Dining and a’Bouzy
Shawn Virene, the owner of Succulent Fine Dining and a’Bouzy, gets cozy on the couch with Nido, his 4-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy. As a well-respected veteran wine guy of Houston, it’s no surprise Nido’s name was inspired by one of Virene’s favorite wines. It appears Nido’s palate may still be developing, as he shares, “True to puppy form, she eats everything—from socks to steaks.”
Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie
Shawn Gawle, the chef and owner of Camaraderie, spends a peaceful moment on his restaurant’s dog-friendly patio with his mixed-breed rescue dog (primarily an Australian Cattledog). Freya’s favorite food is cheese, and she is a frequent guest of Camaraderie’s patio, which is known to have pup treats.
Patti Delgado, The Original Ninfa’s
Patti Delgado, chef of the Original Ninfa’s, poses with Nube, her standard poodle rescue on her “Gotcha Day”. Delgado tells DiningOut, “I try to meal-prep for her when time allows, but what I never skip out on is her homemade golden chicken broth! It has roasted chicken bones, veggies, apple cider vinegar and turmeric.” Nube’s name means “cloud” in Spanish, and by the looks of it, she is a fluffy one.
Chris Bosch, Loro Heights
Chef de cuisine of Loro Heights, Chris Bosch takes a nap with Iggy, his blind hunting dog “Blu”.
Nicole Bean, Pizaro’s Pizza
Nicole Bean, the chef and owner of Pizaro’s Pizza, smiles with her pit bull rescue pup named Daisy. Bean tells DiningOut Daisy loves cheese (no pizza crust needed).
Michelle Wallace, B’tween Sandwich Co.
Michelle Wallace, former Bravo Top Chef star and chef and owner of B’tween Sandwich Co., poses on the steps with Rocco, her German Shepherd mix rescue pup. Wallace tells DiningOut Rocco loves carrots and chicken.
Joe Cervantez, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House and Fish Company Taco
Joe Cervantez, the executive chef of Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House in San Leon and Fish Company Taco in Galveston poses in a family photo with his cavapoo, Carley who is not a picky eater. Cervantez tells DiningOut, “Her favorite food is whatever falls on the floor when I am grilling.”
Leonora Varvoutis, Coltivare
Leonora Varvoutis, the general manager and sommelier of Coltivare, strikes a pose with Spartan, her 11-year old black lab, but she is also dog mom to a 2-year old silver sable German Shepherd named Athena. Varvoutis tells DiningOut, Spartan loves baby carrots, while Athena is more of a carnivore and loves red meats.
Matt Tanner, EZ’s Liquor Lounge
Matt Tanner, co-owner and operator of EZ’s Liquor Lounge, poses with Greta, his Pudelpointer. Tanner tells DiningOut Greta’s favorite food is her birthday meal, venison backstrap.
Will Felder, Tago
Will Felder, owner of Tago, smiles with his doberman, Gigi, on her birthday. Not pictured, the dozens of gifts he showered her with. Felder tells DiningOut, Gigi loves salmon.
Sarah Lieberman, Dandelion Cafe
Sarah Lieberman, owner of Dandelion Cafe, with her 15-year old chihuahua-dachshund mix, Oliver. While his favorite food is fruit and salmon, Lieberman divulges that Oliver loves sneaking onto the dining table when no one is looking to search for abandoned scraps.
Leonard Botello IV and Abbie Byrom-Botello, Truth BBQ
Truth BBQ pitmaster, Leonard Botello IV and his wife Abbie Byrom-Botello pose with their English bulldogs, Waylon & Dolly, during a walk. The couple tell DiningOut, “Their favorite food is dried salmon, brisket (always!), and they LOVE ice cream.”
