CITYCENTRE to add wine-charcuterie cafe in Moran Hotel
Local lovers of fine wine and light bites will soon have a new restaurant to check out in the booming CityCentre mixed-use development in west Houston.
Memorial residents Carly and John Whitehurst plan to open their charcuterie-forward concept, dubbed The Board Room, at 800 Sorella Court at the base of the Moran Hotel either later this month or in early August, according to a news release.
The Board Room was designed as a wine bar, café and gourmet retail concept that emphasizes hand-crafted charcuterie boards.
“We saw an opportunity to reimagine charcuterie with a level of craftsmanship and presentation not currently seen in Houston,” the Whitehursts said in a statement. “Against a backdrop of globally inspired wine, we wanted to create an inviting space that accommodated a variety of needs for both dining and socializing. At the same time, it’s a lifestyle amenity for residents and visitors who can grab a bottle of wine, flowers or a beautifully prepared charcuterie board for a host gift on the way to their next gathering.”
During the day, The Board Room will serve as a counter grab-and-go café aimed at serving busy professionals and casual diners, with easy meals all priced under $15.
Options will range from wraps — such as the Mediterranean veggie, the crispy chicken bacon ranch, the turkey club and kale caesar — to Thai peanut chicken, teriyaki salmon and harvest grain bowls. The lunch menu also will include Southwest steak, seaside caesar and strawberry spinach salads.
However, during the late afternoon, the restaurant will transition into a wine and charcuterie bar.
Charcuterie boards will include the tower board, which is designed to feed six people; the signature sampler; crudité harvest; and the meat lover’s butcher board.
Guests also will be able to build their own boards.
The full-service dinner menu will feature such main dishes as the chicken piccata, the New York strip and seared redfish along with a variety of flatbreads, high-end handhelds and salads.
The wine menu will feature a curated selection of between 80 and 100 labels from around the world, 20 of which will be available by the glass.
A dedicated spritz section and a full cocktail menu will round out the beverage offerings.
Additionally, the café’s retail section will focus on gourmet foods, flowers and gifts from local businesses and culinary artisans.
Among the companies already selected are Margaret James & Co. custom florist, Tommy’s Pimento Cheese, Dos Margaritas Salsa, ACASA Margarita Mix, BBQ Rubdown spice rubs, Migaloo Chocolatier, Mad Tallow potato chips and Kaila Ann Art prints and watercolors.
The 2,000-square-foot café will be capable of seating about 70 guests between its bar, indoor tables and patio.
The Whitehursts said they plan to host a range of interactive events, including wine classes and tastings, build-your-own board classes and floral-arranging workshops.
The Whitehursts designed The Board Room concept after consulting with Scott Sulma, a longtime hospitality consultant who recently founded his own firm, May I Speak Hospitality. Sulma, who was one of the Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees in 2021, also is planning a new concept in the Montrose area called Recess, which aims to give kids a chance to run and play in an immersive environment while their parents enjoy a bit of quiet refreshment.
