WHO WE ARE

Chef and next-generation restaurateur, Aaron Bludorn’s mission is to create meaningful experiences through food and hospitality. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Aaron was drawn to the kitchen at an early age during his first job working as a dishwasher and prep cook in a small diner on Bainbridge Island. Energized by the comradery demonstrated in restaurants, Aaron pursued a career in hospitality and began his journey at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park. His learnings at CIA led to a prosperous career working under the country’s most celebrated chefs including Michelin-starred Chef Douglas Keene and Daniel Boulud. While working as Executive Chef in Manhattan’s Café Boulud, Aaron met his now-wife, Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and was cast in Netflix’s blockbuster culinary competition show, The Final Table. That same year, he was honored by Star Chefs when he earned New York City’s Rising Star Community Chef Award. In 2019, the Bludorns moved to Houston and in 2020, they opened the eponymous restaurant, Bludorn. In the fall of 2022, Chef Aaron opened his second restaurant, seafood inspired, Navy Blue, in the heart of Rice Village – followed by Bar Bludorn in March 2024, and most recently, Perseid, which opened in January of this year inside of Hotel Saint Augustine. Chef Aaron has a devotion to the city of Houston, where he supports many charities through special dinners and menu items, and hosts events to bring the industry together.

Following a successful career working in Manhattan’s bustling hospitality industry, Houston-native Victoria Pappas Bludorn, returned home to open her first restaurant alongside her husband, chef Aaron Bludorn. Growing up, Victoria was surrounded by a large tight-knit family and involved in Houston’s vibrant Greek community and culture. A graduate of University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, Victoria moved to New York to attend the acclaimed International Culinary Center (formerly known as the French Culinary Institute) in SoHo and spent a year thereafter refining her craft in various Manhattan kitchens. Her culinary journey landed her a role at Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group where she worked in operations for four years. While working at the Dinex Group, love found her when an emerging chef working at Café Boulud asked her on a date. The rest is history. Victoria and Aaron were married in 2018 and spent a final year in New York before returning to Houston to open Bludorn in August of 2020. They’ve since opened three more restaurants in Houston: Navy Blue, Bar Bludorn, and Perseid at Hotel Saint Augustine. Victoria sits on the board of the Greater Houston Texas Restaurant Association, as well as the Board for Belong Kitchen. She is also on the Make a Difference Campaign Committee for Texas Children’s Hospital. Aaron and Victoria have three children, two boys and a girl.

Seasoned hospitality and service professional Cherif Mbodji joined longtime co-worker and partner Chef Aaron Bludorn in 2020 to lead the management team at Bludorn. Following a prosperous career as General Manager and Service Director at Café Boulud, Cherif moved to Houston with his family to apply his talents at Aaron Bludorn’s first solo venture. Hailing from Dakar, Senegal, Cherif moved to the United States in late 2000, to pursue his education in Business Management at Western Michigan University. While attending college, Cherif worked in restaurants as a busboy where he quickly developed a passion for restaurant culture and the hospitality industry. Over the years, his passion led him to work at the nation’s most prestigious establishments across the country including Michael Mina and 2 Michelin-starred Bouley Restaurant. Most recently, Cherif served as General Manager of Michelin-starred Café Boulud prior to his 2018 promotion to Service Director at 2 Michelin starred Restaurant Daniel. Reflecting on his decision to uproot, Cherif states “Life is a journey, not a full stop. Chef Aaron and I have worked together for many years – beyond our friendship, I know how uniquely talented he is. When this opportunity came up to join him and Victoria, I knew this was a dream I wanted to follow.” Cherif blends his emphasis on hospitality and meticulous service with the warm Southern hospitality he has grown fond of in his new hometown. Cherif sits on the board of Southern Smoke Foundation. When not in the restaurant, Cherif enjoys exploring the city’s restaurants, exploring the parks with his family and becoming acquainted with the people that make Houston such a diverse and vibrant place.