COVID-19 certainly put a dent in my social life. Over the past two years, friends I regularly fellowshipped with were limited to scattered text conversations and the occasional Zoom video call. When my good friend Shadana Miranda, also known as The Influential Petite, invited me out to celebrate at her 32nd birthday brunch – I could not resist.
After our two-year stint of not seeing each other face-to-face, it felt so good to reunite! Shadana’s sumptuous birthday brunch was held at 51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktail in Saks Fifth Avenue at The Houston Galleria (5175 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77056). And, let me tell you, the venue did not disappoint!
Upon your arrival to 51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktail, just a single step off the gold-embellished elevator transports you into another realm of all things decadent. First stop, the jaw-dropping bar. Stocked with every spirit you can imagine, the grand scale of its range is enough to leave any newcomer in absolute awe. Cherry on top: a live piano instrumentalist.
As we waited for our table, I grabbed a one of the eatery’s signature cocktails: the Lavendar Peach Bellini Martini. The robust selection is crafted with peach vodka, peach and lavender honey and a splash of champagne. Absolute perfection for setting the tone for the party.
We then moved into the main dining area which was filled with endless ceiling-to-floor windows (churning in tons of natural light), geometric marble wall detailing and rich metallic accents. Eventually, food selections were made and our party of ten proceeded to bask in the glory of Shadana celebrating another year.
51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktail does offer a diverse range of dishes on their lunch, dinner and brunch menus. A few of the tasty options I sampled included the Calamari Zen-Chino, the Crab Cake Maryland (as seen pictured below) and the Buffalo Shrimp. The Crab Meat Avocado Omelette was also a win.
You already know – any excuse for me to get dressed up is cause to conjur up a good ‘fit. For the occasion, I donned a vintage silk floral top, a vintage men’s tuxedo blazer, thrifted leather pants and Aldo sock booties.
Can you believe I thrifted this every single piece in this look? We’re serving it up all 2022!
Get into a picture of Shadana and I below. Her essence, her style and her vibe are unmatched. Love you, hun!
It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to sit down and enjoy the company of new acquaintances. There’s no greater feeling than making connections, sharing stories and embracing the beauty of life.
Your girl is triple-vaxxed and awaiting the next adventure (with a mask in my back pocket). I’m excited for the next one!
XOXO,
ESMESHA CAMPBELL - Lifestyle, Fashion Culture, and Beauty 