February: Tapas on the Trails

Celebrate a very special Valentine’s Eve with gourmet food and wine in Houston’s premier venue for natural beauty. Meander from one delectable table to the next along the recently restored Willow Oak Trail. Dine on delicious tapas created by Chef Randy Ruckerl complete with wine pairings for each food selection.

Your culinary adventure culminates at the Meadow Deck with sparkling wine, gourmet Starbucks coffees and desserts prepared by Chef Dan Budd.

Chef Randy Rucker credits his mother for his passion for food, and looks to his culinary peers and love of Third Coast produce and cuisine for inspiration. Rucker has an extensive culinary resume, ranging from positions at Mark’s American Cuisine to Quattro at Four Seasons Hotel Houston to the Rainbow Lodge, where he received a rare four-star review from Alison Cook. In 2011 he was named a Houston Rising Star by Starchefs.com as the chef-owner of Bootsie’s in Tomball, Texas. Rucker also received two nominations from the James Beard Foundation for best new restaurant and best chef in the southwest region of the United States. He is in the process of opening his latest venture, Restaurant conat in the Museum District of Houston. Rucker expresses his philosophy—that food should represent an unrepeatable time and place – in the foraged ingredients that inspire his daily-changing menus.

Chef Dan Budd has been the pastry chef at such famous New York eateries as The River Cafe, The Peninsula Hotel and Park Avenue Café. He was named twice as “Top Ten Pastry Chef in America” by Chocolatier magazine, was nominated for pastry chef of the year by The James Beard Foundation and currently owns Taste Budd’s Chocolate and Coffee Cafe of Red Hook, NY.

Date:	Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time:	Arrive anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. to start your stroll. Last admission on the trail is 8 p.m. Event closes at 9 p.m.
Cost:	$75 per person for Arboretum members; $85 per person for non-members. Childcare for ages 5 and up at a fee of $10 per child. Reservations are required; limited spaces are available.
Deadline:	Pre-registration is required! Limited spaces still available – Registration will close on Friday, February 10 at 4 p.m., or when event is sold out.
Special note:	Dress comfortably for your walk through the woods. Trail to Meadow Deck is approximately 1/4 mile and is wheelchair accessible. In case of inclement weather, event will be held in nature center building.

Member Level Discount (discounts based on member level)		Login or Register
Non-member tickets		$0 x
Discounted tickets are offered based on your membership level

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By submitting this form, I certify that all the above participants are in good health and agree to indemnify the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center for all claims arising in connection with above programs without limit and regard to cause thereof or the sole, joint, or concurrent negligence of any parties including Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. I also agree that by submitting this form I also give permission for all the participants registered to be videotaped or photographed for use in Houston Arboretum & Nature Center publications, news publications or broadcasts or on the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center website.

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Minimum Enrollment: The Arboretum reserves the right to cancel any program if minimum registration has not been met. A full refund will be issued for programs cancelled by the Arboretum for this reason.

Inclement weather: Programs are held rain or shine; refunds will not be given due to weather unless class is cancelled by Arboretum. If severe weather is a possibility, the Arboretum will make every effort to contact participants regarding class cancellations or rescheduling. Please call our main line at 713-681-8433 or check our web site for updates. In severe weather, we will also announce class cancellations through 740 AM KTRH radio.

Cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances: In the event a class or program must be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the Arboretum will make every effort to notify participants as soon as possible and if the class will not be offered again, provide at the Arboretum's discretion, a prorated credit or refund.

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