Quarter Acre’s Final Drifter Dinner Pairs Up Two Chefs From Michelin Contenders

Gourmands across Texas likely have Nov. 11 circled on their calendars. That’s the day that the Michelin Guide will announce the restaurants that have gained entry into Michelin’s initial guide to Texas restaurants, including which establishments have been awarded one of the guide’s coveted stars. Texas’ guide, which will include Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth, is set to be one of the largest inaugural statewide guides in the country.

Restaurants earning some level of recognition received invites to the event around the middle of October. It will take place in downtown Houston at the 713 Music Hall. Before you ask, no, you can’t go; the event is by invitation only, and unless you are part of a recognized restaurant, work for Michelin or are a member of the media, you’re not getting in.

However, three days before the big announcement, on Nov. 8, possibly something even better is coming: the last of the Drifter Dinner series events at Quarter Acre. If you missed our story back in August, the series is a chance for Quarter Acre’s Toby Archibald to collaborate with chefs he’s worked alongside during his career. Proceeds go to Baylor NICU’s Tiniest Texan program, a cause close to Archibald’s family.

We had the opportunity to attend the dinner on Sept. 13 with guest chef Matt McCallister and left almost uncomfortably full but also in awe of the culinary skill on display between the two chefs. The styles of each were apparent in each dish, but the courses never felt out of place in the theme of the meal, either.

On the final dinner on Nov. 8, Archibald welcomes chef Aaron Bludorn. Based in Houston, Bludorn has garnered local and national recognition for his eponymous restaurant, Bludorn on Taft, and sister restaurant, Navy Blue. An alum of famed chef Daniel Boulud’s kitchen, Bludorn moved to Houston during the pandemic and developed a culinary style that blends his French techniques with the flavors of the Gulf Coast.

Archibald and Bludorn worked together under Boulud in New York, and Archibald told us he’s looking forward to sharing his kitchen with his former colleague.

“Aaron’s very talented and having his fun style in that ‘Houston coast meets France’ style in the kitchen, it is going to be super fun,” Archibald said.

The buzz around both Quarter Acre in Dallas and Navy Blue in Houston has only increased since the summer announcement that Michelin Guide inspectors were already touring restaurants across the state. Here in Dallas, Quarter Acre is one of several restaurants often mentioned as worthy of Michelin recognition. Eater Houston notes that Bludorn’s experience working in the Michelin restaurants of Daniel Boulud situates his Houston restaurants as possible Michelin star winners as well.

Alas, speculation is the only game in town right now. Michelin doesn’t make the list of invitees public, and many chefs and restaurants have been tight-lipped as to whether they received an invitation to Houston on Nov. 11. We’re leaning on the side of patience and mindfulness instead of playing guessing games. We’ll find out soon enough which restaurants in the area are deemed worthy. But in the meantime, an event like Quarter Acre’s Drifter dinners give us plenty of lauded chef skill to enjoy.

Quarter Acre, 2023 Greenville Avenue, No. 110. Drifter Series tickets are $495 per person and are available online.