Hotel Saint Cecilia Opens Its Private Grounds for an Afternoon Soirée with James Beard–Honored Chefs Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel

Hotel Saint Cecilia, the Bunkhouse Hotels property known for its lush grounds and design-forward aesthetic, opened its typically members-only South Congress retreat to the public on Saturday, May 31. Ticket holders were treated to an intimate, chef-driven afternoon featuring James Beard Award winner Justin Yu and nominee Bobby Heugel, alongside Hotel Saint Cecilia’s Executive Chef Giovanni Pujol.

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John Stark and Ashley Todd. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Shannon and Melissa Graham. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Paula Clares and Neil Chand. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Tater Tot. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Hotel Saint Cecilia guests. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

The one-day collaboration brought together Houston-based talent for a summer kickoff. Yu, chef-owner of Theodore Rex and Better Luck Tomorrow, built the menu in collaboration with Pujol, while Heugel, known for opening some of Houston’s most respected bars, handled cocktails.

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Executive Chef Giovanni Pujol of Hotel Saint Cecilia. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Bartender and James Beard Award nominee Bobby Heugel serves BLT martinis. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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James Beard Award-winning Chef Justin Yu grills burgers in the courtyard. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Pink Moon oysters with lime jelly and fermented red jalapeño. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

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Prime Texas beef burger with Hook’s five-year aged cheddar on a housemade bun. (Photo by Grant Pifer)

Hotel Saint Cecilia summer cookout

The food lineup included a curated raw bar with Gulf bluefin tuna, Big Glory Bay salmon, and Hiramasa served with fermented ramps and white cocktail sauce; Pink Moon oysters with lime jelly and fermented red jalapeño; and a Prime Texas beef burger with Hook’s five-year aged cheddar on a housemade bun. Other highlights included fried spring onion with sweet corn aioli and a watermelon and Poteet strawberry salad dressed in Thai basil vinegar and pink peppercorn furikake.

Cocktails were straightforward but sharp: a ginger mint julep with bourbon and a customizable BLT martini were among the standouts.

Hotel Saint Cecilia, which received a Michelin Key in the guide’s inaugural Texas edition last fall, is typically reserved for guests and members. Saturday’s event delivered a thoughtful experience that brought some of Texas’ most respected culinary names into one of Austin’s most stunning spaces.

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