As it was my first trip to Texas, I was certainly excited to experience Dallas and Houston and really take in all they had to offer. There is no better way to experience the culture of an area than to taste its food. I was fortunate enough to eat at award-winning La Colombe d’Or, the world’s smallest luxury hotel in Houston. As we drove to the restaurant, it was clear the restaurant stood out amongst the other shops and restaurants in the surrounding area. As a recognized historic landmark, the restaurant was warm and welcoming with decorative white lights, perfectly landscaped trees and a brick walkway. We were greeted by the hotel and restaurant staff, who immediately offered to give us a tour.  The southern French décor is found in all rooms of the venue through ornate decorations, elegant chandeliers and art. As we entered the back of the venue, we were taken into Le Grand Salon, a beautifully restored French ballroom from the estate of Count and Countess Greffulhe. For dinner, we enjoyed a six-course tasting menu, including a variety of meat and fish dishes. Every dish was described in detail by the gracious waiter, who made us feel like we were the only customers in the restaurant. Dinner was concluded with dessert — homemade vanilla bean ice cream topped with a shot of espresso. This was absolutely delicious and a great end to dinner. After dinner we headed to Hotel Sorella. After a long day of traveling and meetings, I was excited to get into the hotel and relax. While we had a bit of trouble spotting the hotel as its sign was not lit, once we found the location, everything was smooth sailing. We were greeted by hotel staff, who made the check-in process easy — perfect since it was late and I was anxious to get settled. The modern décor of the hotel gave it a trendy, fresh look, a nice change compared to the décor of many hotels. As I entered my room, I was excited to find a complimentary bottle of red wine and a plate of cheese from the hotel.  While I was tempted to open the bottle, I was more excited to get into bed and fall asleep. This was not hard to do, as the bed and pillows were extremely comfortable and exactly what I was hoping for after a long day. In the morning, after a pleasant night of sleep, I headed to the complimentary breakfast station in the lobby. The selection of food was perfect, with bowls of fresh fruit, chocolate croissants and made-to-order cappuccinos and espressos.  While I was not in the hotel for too much time, I had no complaints about my stay at Hotel Sorella. Next time, I would love to stroll around the hotel, as it is located in the center of a community of restaurants, cafes and shops — a perfect location for guests with some downtime. Both La Colombe d’Or and Hotel Sorella offered excellent service and definitely contributed to my pleasant experience during my first visit to Texas! — Olivia Falcione, account executive