NOMINEES

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Kata Robata
Nancy's Hustle
Navy Blue
Neo
Nobie's
Phat Eatery
Squable
Tatemo
Theodore RexCHEF OF THE YEAR
Alex Au-Yeung, Phat Eatery
Benchawan Painter, Street to Kitchen
Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemo
Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jun
Felipe Riccio, March
Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo, Neo
Mayank Istwal, Musaafer
Terrence Gallivan, ElRo Pizza & Crudo
Travis McShane, OstiaRISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Fernando Recio, MAD
Fernando Rios, Mimo
Jacob Coronado, Nobie's
Jerrod Zifchak, Navy Blue
Lucas McKinney, Josephine's
Masaru Fukuda, Pacha Nikkei
Max Lappe and Jacques Varon, Baso
Ope Amosu, ChópnBlọk
Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast
Victoria Elizondo, Cochinita & Co.
Yotam Dolev, HamsaPASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
Emily Rivas , Josephine's
Kelly Walker, Nobie's/Toasted Coconut/Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
Kelly Helgesen, Nancy's Hustle
Kripa Shenoy, Auden/EaDough Pastries & Provisions
Marie Riddle. Bludorn/Navy Blue
Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar
Ruchit Harneja, Berg Hospitality
Stefani Velasquez, Papalo Mercado/Ema
Vanarin Kuch, KoffeteriaNEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Aga's
Burger Bodega
Cuchara
Feges BBQ
Gatlin's Fins & Feathers
Handies Douzo
Hando
Kenny & Ziggy's
Ostia
Paulie's
Truth BBQBAR OF THE YEAR
Bar No. 3 at La Colombe d'Or
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse
Clarkwood
Double Trouble
EZ's Liquor Lounge
Grand Prize
Johnny's Gold Brick
Permission Whiskey
RefugeBARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Brandon Choate, Anvil
Brooke Lightfoot, Two Headed Dog and Little Dipper
Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
Josh Alden, Refuge
Julia Miles, Squable
Kristen Nepomuceno, Refuge
Patrick Dougherty, ElRo Pizza & Crudo
Peter Jahnke, Catbirds
Rebecca Burkhart, Johnny's Gold Brick
Zach Hornberger, Nancy's HustleWINE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
13 Celsius
Andiron
Bludorn
ElRo Pizza & Crudo
Katami
Light Years
Little's Oyster Bar
March
Mimo
Nobie's
Street to KitchenBEST NEW RESTAURANT
Andiron
Annabelle Brasserie
Balboa Surf Club
Baso
Clark's Oyster Bar
ElRo Pizza & Crudo
Gold Tooth Tony's
Josephine's
Jun
Katami
Little's Oyster Bar
Mimo
Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
Pastore
Rumi's Kitchen
Trill BurgersBEST POP-UP/STARTUP
Ally Barrera, Sweet Bee Bakehouse
Andrea De Gortari, The Bake Happening
Chuy Ortiz and Pablo Contreras, Humo Norte
Jane Wild
Joseph Boudreaux, Boo's Burgers
Luciana Emiliani, La Crumb
Michelle Wallace, B'tween Sandwich Co.
Suu Khin, Burmalicious By Suu
Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela, Willow's Texas BBQBEST PATIO
Axelrad
Backstreet Cafe
Better Luck Tomorrow
Brasil
Brasserie 19
Coltivare
Giacomo's
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
West Alabama Ice House
Winnie's

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PARTICIPANTS

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Auden/EaDough Pastries & Provisions
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

The Balboa Surf Club
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Burmalicious By Suu
2024 Best Pop-up/Startup Nominee

Cochinita & Co.
2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Fluff Bake Bar
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

Hamsa
2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Hando
2024 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Josephine's
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee, 2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Little's Oyster Bar
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee, 2024 Wine Program of the Year Nominee

MAD
2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

MARCH/Goodnight Hospitality
2024 Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Wine Program of the Year Nominee

Mimo
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee, 2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Wine Program of the Year Nominee

Musaafer
2024 Chef of the Year Nominee

Navy Blue
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Restaurant of the Year Nominee, 2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Nobie's
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year, 2024 Restaurant of the Year Nominee, 2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Wine Program of the Year Nominee

Ostia
2024 Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Pacha Nikkei
2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Pastore
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Rumi's Kitchen
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2024 Best Patio Nominee

Street to Kitchen
2024 Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Wine Program of the Year Nominee

JUDGES

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Mary Clarkson
Co-Owner, Avondale Food & Wine

Eric Sandler
Food Editor, CultureMap Houston

Don Nguyen
Founder | Owner, Khói Barbecue
2023 Best Popup/Startup Winner

Abbas Dhanani
Owner, Burger Bodega
2023 Best Burger Winner

Aaron Bludorn
Owner | Chef, Bludorn
2023 Restaurant of the Year Winner

Mark Clayton
Executive Chef | Partner, Squable
2023 Chef of the Year Winner

Emmanuel Chavez
Owner | Chef, Tatemo
2023 Rising Star Chef of the Year Winner

Shawn Gawle
formerly of Goodnight Hospitality
2023 Pastry Chef of the Year Winner

Justin Burrow
Owner | Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge
2023 Bar of the Year Winner

Kristine Nguyen
Bartender, Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge
2023 Bartender of the Year Winner

Rafael Nasr
Owner | Chef, Craft Pita
2023 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Winner

Patrick Pham
Co-Founder | Chef,
Duckstache Hospitality, Kokoro, Handies Douzo, Aiko
2023 Best New Restaurant Winner

PARTNERS

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8th Wonder Cannabis
8th Wonder has been making life wonderful since 2013, when it opened its doors as one of Houston’s first craft breweries. In 2021, 8th Wonder launched Texas’ first THC seltzer: Wonder Water. 8th Wonder currently makes Wonder Water THC Seltzer (Sparkling Lime; 8mg THC) and Lil Bit Low-Dose THC Seltzer (Cherry Limeade and Peach Mango; 2mg). Embrace the Wonder.

CASE Chocolates
CASE is a new chocolate shop and speakeasy in EaDo that offers globally sourced chocolates with a liquid center encompassing a range of high-end spirits, from rare whiskeys to vintage liqueurs. The one-of-a-kind speakeasy is set to open spring 2024, where chocolates meet spirits and cocktails in a tasting menu-style experience. Click here to learn more and check out @case.chocolates on Instagram.

Rías Baixas Albariño
Rías Baixas is renowned for the Albariño grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the world’s foremost white wines. Located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, the Denomination of Origin (DO) was formally established in 1988. Albariño has always been the flagship of this coastal region. In Rías Baixas’ unique climate, Albariño shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as the world’s leading white wine regions, including Loire Valley, New Zealand, and the Rhine. Elegant and food-friendly, styles of Rías Baixas Albariño range from crisp, aromatic young wines to lively sparkling wines and round, complex, age-worthy wines. Click here for more information about Albariño wines from Rías Baixas and check out @Riasbaxiaswines on Instagram.

Stella Artois
Stella Artois traces its origins to over 600 years ago at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium, founded in 1366. Stella Artois was born as a holiday gift to the people of Leuven from the brewery. The name “Stella” – meaning “star” in Latin – pays homage to the occasion, and a star has been proudly displayed on Stella Artois bottles ever since.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Founded by sixth-generation Texan Tito Beveridge, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is known for its high-quality product, charitable contributions, and goal to make people happy while making the world a better place. From the start, Tito got a kick out of infusing vodka for friends and quickly became known as “the vodka guy.” Inspired to do what he loved, he pursued a career in the spirits industry, risking it all until he sold his first case in 1997.

Tock
Tock empowers restaurants, bars, and wineries with the tools needed to build successful businesses and deliver exceptional experiences. With a robust reservation and table management platform, thousands of businesses all around the world use Tock to drive revenue, increase covers, and keep guests coming back. To learn more, visit Restaurant Reservation Management Software | Tock,

Topo Chico Mineral Water
Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water has been bottled at its source in Monterrey, Mexico, since 1895. Refreshing and versatile, it satisfies your thirst or serves as a perfect mixer.

BENEFICIARY

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Founded in 2015 by James Beard award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke Foundation supports members of the food and beverage (F+B) industry in crisis nationwide through emergency relief funding and access to mental health services. To date, Southern Smoke Foundation has provided more than $10.4M in grants to food and beverage workers in need. Through its mental health program, the nonprofit provides no-cost mental health counseling to F+B workers and their children in California, Louisiana, Illinois, New York and Texas, and offers financial assistance to those seeking mental health care outside of the current service states.