Michele Stueven
Atlanta’s celebrated chef Deborah VanTrece brought her talents west last week for a special brunch and panel discussion in celebration of what would have been Whitney Houston’s 60th birthday in October. The multi Grammy award-winning singer died 11 years ago this week in Beverly Hills at the age of 48.
Sponsored by Primary Wave Music and Sony, the event was part of a weeklong residency during Grammy week at the W Hotel in Hollywood, which was transformed into the Whitney Houston Hotel. It included artist showcases, a Sony 360 Reality Audio Immersive Listening Lounge, a memorabilia exhibit featuring photos of Houston, as well as several of her iconic red gowns and a Whitney Houston pop-up shop.
Grilled salmon and fried green tomato Benedict with crawfish hollandaise (Michele Stueven)
“I’m from Atlanta where she lived,” VanTrece told L.A. Weekly at the Bloody Mary and bellini bar. “I played on that down-home southern roots part of Whitney, and put some little spins and twists on the dishes. She loved Fruity Pebbles, so we’ve got Fruity Pebbles cheesecake bites on the tables for dessert. She loved fried chicken, so we made a fried chicken Monte Cristo with cranberry maple glaze. And, you can’t have a southern buffet without pimento cheese or grits – so I combined the two.”
Famous for southern cooking with an international flare, VanTrece’s eight-course buffet also included Angus beef short-rib hash, grilled salmon and fried green tomato Benedict, pimento cheese grits, a Cajun frittata with endue, peppers and onions, as well as a southern tofu scramble with black-eyed peas and collard greens.
The afternoon continued with a touching and tearful panel discussion remembering “The Voice,” hosted by Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier; brother Gary Houston and his wife Pat Houston, who was Whitney’s manager; as well as music producer and close friend Rickey Minor; recording artist Narada Michael Walden; and award-winning songwriter Gordon Chambers.
“There were so many magic moments growing up with Whitney,” brother Gary told the crowd. “At 3 years old she was in the basement wearing my mother’s wig – broom, gown, mimicking our mom Cissy Houston. She had no idea anybody was watching her. I knew at that moment she was a prodigy.”
Fruity Pebbles cheesecake bites (Michele Stueven)
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