Meet the Team
Get to know the culinary talent behind the food and beverage creations at Perseid.
Aaron Bludorn
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 camaraderie 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. In March of 2024, Chef Aaron opened his third restaurant, Bar Bludorn, in Hedwig Village. Currently he serves as Chef / Owner of Bludorn Hospitality.
Aaron has a devotion to his new city, where he supports many charities through special dinners and menu items. He and Victoria have 3 kids.
Cherif Mbodji
Cherif moved to the United States from Senegal 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 refined service. Over the years, his passion led him to work at the nation’s most prestigious establishments across the country including Michael Mina and two Michelin-starred Bouley Restaurant.
Most recently, Cherif served as General Manager of Michelin-starred Café Boulud before working as Service Director at two Michelin Starred, Restaurant Daniel. When longtime partner, Chef Aaron Bludorn, asked Cherif to join him in opening Bludorn it was no question. Now, Cherif is the Director of Operations / Partner at Bludorn Hospitality.
Cherif moved to Houston with his wife and three children and blends his prior experience of fine dining with the warm Southern hospitality he has grown fond of in his new hometown.
Ronnie Patterson
A California native, Patterson brings a distinguished culinary background shaped by years in top-tier kitchens across the West Coast and France. After training at the California Culinary Academy, his early career included stages and externships at acclaimed institutions such as Jardinière and The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, followed by roles in San Francisco’s competitive fine-dining scene. His trajectory took him abroad to France, where he co-founded and operated Influences Restaurant in Bordeaux with his wife, earning Michelin recognition over eight years and establishing the restaurant as a respected fixture in the city’s dining landscape.
Since returning to the United States and joining Perseid in early 2024, Patterson has played an integral role in the restaurant’s evolution, recently serving as co-lead and Sous Chef. Now stepping into the Executive Chef role, he brings a global perspective grounded in classical French technique and guided by a philosophy that prioritizes generosity and flavor. Describing the concept as a “French bistro seen through the lens of Houston,” Patterson will continue to refine Perseid’s culinary identity—introducing new dishes, reimagining American staples with French influence, and preserving the signature offerings that have defined the restaurant. His leadership marks an exciting new chapter as Perseid continues its commitment to excellence in the heart of Montrose.
Erin Ramby
