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    escape to the cellar

    Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak Hotel uncorks record-shattering $3 million wine room

    Holly Beretto
    Apr 24, 2019 | 11:15 am

    One of Houston’s most luxurious hotels just got even more luxurious. Tilman Fertitta’s swank Post Oak Hotel has uncorked The Cellar, an intimate wine room ready to create bespoke experiences, exclusive social gatherings, and world-class private dining.

    The Cellar hews closely to the hotel’s raison d’etre as an upscale urban oasis. Billed as an “oenophile’s utopia,” The Cellar is poised to be the perfect venue for guests to enjoy the hotel’s record-shattering wine collection, featuring more than $3 million worth of inventory, and wines from more than 25 countries. The space houses more than 30,000 bottles with vintages dating back to the 1800s.

    Located on the hotel’s sixth floor, The Cellar might have guests mistakenly think they’re in the wine vault of a French Château or a cellar in a Tuscan Villa. Exposed brick, a cross-vault ceiling, glittering chandeliers, and dramatically backlit wine vaults highlight the space.

    The idea is to create a distinctive destination for celebrating all those special moments — from wedding rehearsal receptions to indulgent romantic dinners.

    “This will be an experience not only unique to Houston, but a top wine experience of the world,” says Jorge Gonzalez, general manager of The Post Oak Hotel. “We perfected our wine selections to offer the very best, most sought-after wineries from around the globe.”

    Sumptuous design transports guests to the wine vault of a French Château or a cellar in a Tuscan Villa. Elegant highlights range from exposed brick, a cross-vault ceiling and glittering chandeliers to dramatically backlit wine vaults, making The Cellar a distinctive destination to celebrate special moments from wedding rehearsal receptions to indulgent romantic dinners.

    “Every bottle of wine has a story to tell and every cork popped is an opportunity to create your own,” says master sommelier Keith Goldston, who brings more than 30 years of experience to curating and managing The Cellar’s wines and who, in 2001, became the 47th master sommelier in the U.S. “The Cellar at The Post Oak is your chance to drink your way through some of the greatest wine stories ever told.”

    The Cellar will offer dining events with menus skillfully selected by the hotel’s culinary team. Led by executive chef Jean Luc Royere, sophisticated menus are thoughtfully coupled with Cellar selections, ensuring every course provides a personalized experience to please the most discriminating of tastes.

    This spring, look for the launch of a “Sommelier Series” of exclusive dinners featuring epicurean experiences limited to 12 guests and hosted by the hotel’s sommelier team of Goldston and four advanced sommeliers. The team of accredited sommeliers will journey guests through some of the world’s greatest wines and wine regions, all paired with dishes expertly crafted by the hotel’s executive chefs.

    From the Grand Crus of Burgundy to the “Cult Cabs” of the Napa Valley; memorable selections and conversations will be presented throughout the series. “Sommelier Series” events include:

    • April 25: Grand Crus of Burgundy. A night exploring some of the world’s greatest wines, discovering why this region has been celebrated for its wine for thousands of years.
    • June 27: Napa versus Sonoma. A “Battle Royale” between two of California’s finest regions.
    • August 29: Journey through Italy. Often viewed by insiders as the single greatest wine producing region, experience the diversity of Italy’s Northern and Southern vines.
    • October 24: Beef and Bordeaux. The Classification of 1855 was a ranking of the best of Bordeaux, taste through the five levels of the Classification ending with a “1st Growth” and a night to remember.
    • December 12: 100 Point Dinner. Nothing but 100 point wines all night long, a great way to wrap up the year.

    ---

    To book an event or Sommelier Series dinner or private dinner, visit the Cellar’s official site.

    The exclusive room will be site to sommelier dinners.

    The Cellar Post Oak Hotel
    Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel
    The exclusive room will be site to sommelier dinners.
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    Meet the Tastemakers

    Meet the 10 rising star chefs shining in Houston's culinary scene

    Eric Sandler
    Feb 23, 2026 | 5:00 pm
    Boo's Burgers Joseph Boudreaux
    Photo by Michael Anthony
    Boo's Burgers chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux

    The time has come for the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, our annual celebration of the people and places who make Houston’s culinary scene so special. As always, we begin with the nominees for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

    Our nominees are a distinguished group. Five of them lead restaurants that have earned a place in the Michelin Guide. Others have earned national recognition from the likes of the New York Times and StarChefs. Some are the trusted lieutenants of well-established restaurateurs, while others own their businesses.

    Collectively, they’re the future leaders of Houston’s restaurant community. We suggest getting to know them now, because they’ve already shared so much with their fellow Houstonians.

    Who will win? Find out at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony April 16 at Silver Street Studios. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now. A limited number of Early Bird General Admission tickets remain. VIP tickets offer early entry, valet parking, and more perks. All tickets will sell out before the event, so don't wait.

    Here are the nominees for 2026 Rising Star Chef of the Year:

    Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
    Few Houston chefs are riding as high as the “block captain” of the West African restaurant. Since opening its Montrose location in 2024, ChòpnBlọk has earned a spot on the New York Times’ list of America’s 50 best restaurants, a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide, and a spot on Esquire’s list of Best New Restaurants. Amosu is also a semifinalist for Best Chef: Texas in the 2026 James Beard Awards. Amosu keeps things fresh with frequent collaborations, including a “Brunch After Dark” party with Houston icon The Breakfast Klub that’s happening this Thursday, February 26.

    Joseph Boudreaux, Boo's Burgers
    The chef made the big leap from pop-up to brick and mortar with his location on the Navigation Esplanade. That means more Houstonians than ever are savoring Boudreaux’s burgers, which use his custom beef blend and smoky burger sauce. Frequent specials, including a Friday seafood offering that’s included both a fish sandwich and an overstuffed shrimp po’ boy, demonstrate the chef’s skills with a wide variety of cuisines.

    Christian Hernandez, Barbacana
    At his ambitious restaurant in downtown, Hernandez showcases the skills he acquired at restaurants such as Oxheart, March, and New York’s pioneering Contra, which earned a Michelin star for its constantly-evolving, affordable tasting menu. The chef brings some of Contra’s spirit to Barbacana, where the a la carte menu is supplemented with a nightly tasting that’s inspired by Houston’s diverse cuisine and powered by local ingredients. Don’t miss signature dishes like the buttered onion tart with crab or the dry-aged duck with pistachio dukka.

    Frank Hernandez, Credence
    As chef de cuisine, Hernandez is responsible for executive chef-owner Levi Goode’s vision of modern Texas cuisine that’s cooked over live fire. Dishes like the deviled crab with smoky tomato butter, roasted seafood tower, and pork rib chop schnitzel have made Credence a smash hit. With Hernandez at the helm, the kitchen demonstrated a consistently high level of execution — making Credence one of nine new Houston restaurants to earn Recommended status in the Michelin Guide.

    Suu Khin, Burmalicious
    The chef, who earned a James Beard Award nomination and a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best Pop-Up/Startup in 2025, is looking to further extend her reach. She’s a regular for lunches at Third Place, and her occasional dinner services typically sell out quickly. Turns out Houstonians have a voracious appetite for Burmese dishes such a tea leaf salad, lemongrass fish noodles, and duck puffs.

    Raffi Nasr, Craft Pita
    The chef brings a lot of innovation to his fast casual Lebanese restaurant that won Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Taking some inspiration from social media, Nasr has developed his own take on viral dishes such as the chicken Caesar wrap and the crispy shawarma. He also rolled out Craft Pita’s first ever brunch service, including the knafeh that became one of his collaboration pizzas at Pizaro’s.

    Alexandra “Allie” Peña, Bludorn
    After successfully serving as the opening executive chef for Bar Bludorn, Peña earned a promotion to executive chef of Aaron Bludorn’s fine dining flagship restaurant. Under her leadership, not only do fan favorites like the short rib ravioli and dry-aged duck remain as vital as ever, but diners will notice a rotating roster of new additions such as a madai crudo or orecchiette with saffron nage.

    JC Ricks, Dandelion Cafe
    Like the debate over Houston’s best burger, where to find the city’s best pancakes is surely a debate that will never be truly resolved. However, any list of candidates would certainly include Dandelion Cafe, where Ricks, the restaurant’s executive chef and co-owner, serves a version with the right balance of crispy edges and a fluffy interior. Indeed, all of the classics at Dandelion — from its sweet and spicy chicken and waffles to three-egg omelets and a range of sandwiches — demonstrates Ricks’ attention to detail and commitment to making classic fare that’s as good as it can be.

    Adrian Torres, Maximo
    Last year, Local Foods Group owner Benjy Levit and culinary director Seth Siegel-Gardner challenged the then-26-year-old Torres to lead Maximo’s transformation from neighborhood taqueria to fine-ish dining destination. Not only did Torres meet the challenge, he exceeded it, earning a StarChefs Rising Star award and leading Maximo to a Bib Gourmand. From delicate raw seafood dishes to the over-the-top comfort of his chicken Milanese with green spaghetti, Torres shows a deep understanding of how to create a dish.

    Nicolas Vera, Casaema/Papalo Taqueria
    Already well-regarded for Casaema, the Mexico City-inspired breakfast and lunch concept that holds a Bib Gourmand designation, Vera earned another major accolades with the Michelin inspectors also recognized Papalo with a Bib. Working alongside his partner, Tastemaker Awards Pastry Chef of the Year winner Stephanie Velasquez, Vera blends classic Mexican techniques with Houston ingredients to create memorable bites. His skills range from Papalo’s signature confit carrot taco to Casaema’s over-the-top pambazo, a giant sandwich of roasted pork and black beans served on a house made bun.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, NTX LVL Event, Shutto and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Boo's Burgers Joseph Boudreaux

    Photo by Michael Anthony

    Boo's Burgers chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux

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