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    Rodeo Best Bites

    A surprise winner spices up Rodeo Best Bites culinary competition

    Eric Sandler
    Feb 27, 2017 | 12:13 pm

     Moonlight wasn’t the only surprising winner Sunday night. Over 1,500 miles away from the Dolby Theater at NRG Center, Merlion on 4th, a Thai restaurant in Seabrook, upset some of Houston’s highest profile restaurants to claim the top prize at this year’s Rodeo Uncorked! Best Bites competition.

     

    After reviewing entries from this year’s 111 participating restaurants, a panel of media judges selected Merlion’s shrimp raap prik in red curry sauce as the winner in the Lone Star Entree category, edging out the pork belly burnt ends from Killen’s STQ. Merlion also took second place in the Tasty Tradition category.

     

    Although Killen’s STQ missed the top prize from the judges, the restaurant featured the night’s longest line, as attendees waited patiently for a taste from chef-owner Ronnie Killen’s latest smash hit. With Killen and long-time sous chef Teddy Lopez serving the dish, STQ’s pork belly burnt ends earned the People’s Choice award voted on by the event’s 6,000 attendees.

     

     Mostly Chocolate took the top prize in the Two Steppin’ Dessert category for its hazelnut crunch and goat cheese chocolate, moving up from a third place finish in 2016. Chocolatier Dany Kamkhagi also took home the top prize in the Tasty Tradition category.

     

    Hearsay Gastro Lounge in Market Square made a strong impression as a first-time participant. The popular restaurant earned third place in the entree category, and the top rookie award, where it competed against restaurants ranging from Snooze: An AM Eatery and Neapolitan pizza restaurant Cane Rosso to Steak 48.

     

    Several of the restaurants that didn’t win also served strong dishes. Highlights included Picos shrimp with pumpkin mole, Weights + Measures’ acorn squash gnocchi, buffalo short rib grilled cheese from The Union Kitchen, and a smoked short rib tamale from Gracia Mexican Cantina, the Mexican sibling to Pearland’s popular Grazia Italian Kitchen.

     

    If attendees felt bad about missing the Oscars telecast, at least they had delicious food and over 400 wines to choose from. Credit to emcees Michael Garfield and Samika Knight for only announcing the correct winners, which is more than we can say for the Oscars.

     

    The full list of winners via the Houston Chronicle:

     

     Lone Star Entree
    First place: Merlion on 4th — Shrimp Raad Prik
    Second place: Killen's STQ — Pork belly burnt ends
    Third place: Hearsay Gastro Lounge at Market Square — Southern-fried Texas quail on sharp cheddar grits

     

     Trailblazing Appetizers/Starters
    First place: Revolver Kitchen and Bar — Achiote-braised pork sliders
    Second place: Snooze, an A.M. Eatery — OMG French toast bites
    Third place: Cotton Culinary — Duck roulade

     

     Two Steppin' Dessert
    First place: Mostly Chocolate — Hazelnut and Pop Rocks
    Second place: Crave — Red velvet mini cupcakes
    Third place: Brio Tuscan Grill — Mascarpone cheesecake

     

     Tasty Tradition
    First place: Mostly Chocolate — Hazelnut and Pop Rocks
    Second place: Merlion on 4th — Shrimp Raad Prik

     

     Top Rookie
    Hearsay Gastro Lounge at Market Square — Southern-fried Texas quail on sharp cheddar grits

     

     Showmanship
    Overall: Cupcake Kitchen
    Most Creative: Brother's Produce

    Merlion on 4th winners Teresa Alvear, Brooke Villanueva, Ray Villanueva, Caleen Worthern, and Kandyce Langley.

    Merlion winners Teresa Alvear, Brooke Villanueva, Ray Villanueva, Caleen Worthern, Kandyce Langley at Rodeo Best Bites
      
    Photo courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
    Merlion on 4th winners Teresa Alvear, Brooke Villanueva, Ray Villanueva, Caleen Worthern, and Kandyce Langley.
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    Matcha News

    TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha latte for Hill Country flood relief

    Teresa Gubbins
    Jul 11, 2025 | 9:30 am
    Keith Lee and matcha drink
    Instagram
    Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink.

    The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Texas-based TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

    Lee, a social media sensation whose online food reviews have benefited hundreds of small restaurants, is partnering with La La Land Kind Cafe on a special drink: Called the La La Land X Keith Lee Latte, it's a matcha drink in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Kerr County flood relief.

    La La Land is the coffee chain founded in Dallas in 2019 with a mission to provide opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need. It has three locations in Houston, along with 10 across Dallas-Fort Worth and six in Southern California.

    The new Keith Lee Latte will consist of double ceremonial matcha, with secret syrup, matcha cloud, a whole fresh strawberry, flaky salt, and matcha powder. (See Lee enjoy the latte in the video below.)


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
    View this post on Instagram
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A post shared by Keith Lee (@keith_lee125)
     


    Matcha is the Japanese green tea powder that has experienced a surge in popularity, appearing in everything from drinks like the matcha latte to desserts like matcha mousse.

     Keith Lee Latte Keith Lee Latte is a matcha drink.Instagram 

    Lee, who relocated to Dallas in 2024, has been on a matcha kick ever since he tried it in Chicago, which he says "led me down a rabbit hole," and it has become his trademark drink. In May, he visited seven cafes across DFW in search of the perfect matcha in town, and that included La La Land, where he ordered a matcha with almond milk.

    He also has a charitable history, including a special visit he made to Taste Project in Fort Worth to donate $4,000 to support the nonprofit's mission to fight food insecurity.

    The Keith Lee Latte will be available at all La La Land cafes beginning Friday July 11, for a limited time only. From July 11-27, 100 percent of all proceeds will support flood relief efforts in Kerr County — "a community in our home state that’s hurting," La La Land Cafe says.

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