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    THE 2021 TASTEMAKER AWARDS

    Houston's culinary superstars, food fans, and Bun B toast the 2021 Tastemaker Awards

    Steven Devadanam
    Jul 23, 2021 | 4:20 pm

    More than a thousand food fans, restaurant and bar professionals and insiders, and movers and shakers packed Silver Street Studios for CultureMap’s 2021 TasteMaker Awards on July 22.

    Houston’s hottest and biggest food event is the crowning moment of our annual, weeks-long program that highlights and celebrates the hottest, most innovative, and most visionary of the city’s culinary and bar scene.

    The Tastemaker Awards benefited local charity Lucille’s 1913, the nonprofit organization started by Lucille’s owner Chris Williams, which has made national news for generously feeding locals.

    Sponsors who made the night possible were Savve, Maestro Dobel Tequila, Stranahan’s Rocky Mountain Single Whiskey, Cigar City Brewing, and Topo Chico. Guests packed the sponsors’ activations, enjoying choice libations and sips before heading to some of the city’s finest food offerings.

    And oh, the food. Delectable dishes included:​

    • ​Candente’s Tex-Mex Ribs
    • Turner’s East Coast Oyster and Wagyu “Oyster
    • Hidden Omakase’s Kinoko Nigiri
    • Acadian Coast’s Seafood Gumbo and Shrimp and Grits
    • Pier 6’s Oysters on the Half Shell
    • Phat Eatery’s Kerabu Prawn
    • Yelo’s Pork Ribs
    • Ostia’s Seasonal Gnocchi
    • Bludorn’s Squash Blossom
    • Tatemo’s Ribeye Taco
    • 93 Til’s Shaved Radishes with Brown Butter Anchovy Almond Tuile
    • Trill Burgers’ (emcee Bun B’s new venture) Smashed Onion Burger
    • MAD’s Smoked Eel and Apple Foie and Huevos Voladores
    • The Original Ninfa's Short Rib Tacos
    • Bread Man Baking Company’s Ciabatta with Sliced Tasso Ham and Persillade Aioli
    • Street to Kitchen’s Wagyu Beef Cheek Khao Soi
    • Dak & Bop’s Octopus Kimbap
    • Rosie Cannonball’s Speck Crocchè
    • Brasil’s Lipstick On A Grizzly Bear
    • Gatlin’s BBQ’s Smoked Pork Belly and Scallion Pancake
    • Kin’s Roasted Pork Loin Rendang Curry

    Attendees popped into our photo booth for pics and hopped into the uber-cool 360 Photo Booth from PicMe Events — an Instagram story favorite — for spinning selfies.

    CultureMap editor Steven Devadanam welcomed the crowd, recognized sponsors and staff, including food editor Eric Sandler, and introduced emcee Bun B. Houston’s own hip-hop icon and frequent trill Tastemaker Awards host quickly hyped up the energetic audience and set the tone for a fast awards program. (His Trill Burgers table was one of the night’s most buzziest stops.)

    Nominees included Pop-up of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, Best New Restaurant, and the hotly anticipated Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.

    Winners were chosen by our judges panel of restaurant industry experts — except Best New Restaurant, which was voted on by CultureMap readers. Get the full list of winners here.

    Much like the Academy Awards’ buzz builds around Best Actor and Best Picture, the Tastemaker Awards anticipation builds around the Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year categories. In the end, Kaitlin Steets of Littlefoot/Theodore Rex took the title of Chef of the Year, while Nobie’s scored Restaurant of the Year.

    Since its launch in 2014, our Tastemaker Awards have been the city’s defining food event — and 2021’s was one of the biggest and brightest ever. Hearty congratulations to the winners; we can’t wait for next year.

    Foodies, fans, and merrymakers included David and Audrey Gow, Sarah and Reece Foy, Ben Berg, Wes Winn, Aaron Bludorn, Tasos Katsaounis, Brooklynn Weatherill, Jonathan Horowitz and Quinn Hoang, Jess Timmons, Karen de Amat, Felice Sloan, Danielle Dubois, Thomas Nguyen, Matt Harris, Diane and Willet Feng, Brittany Meisner, Peter Falke, Seliece and Lee Womble, Mow Rahman and Johnathan Jones, Eva Wilke, Nick Scurfield, Jordan Smith, Catherine Manterola, Tiffany Halik, AJ Hoffman, Sara Jackson, and many, many more.

    Squable chef Mark Clayton accepted Wine Program of the Year.

    Tastemakers Houston 2021
      
    Photo by Emily Jaschke
    Squable chef Mark Clayton accepted Wine Program of the Year.
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    Fast lane fashion fuels $1.1 million for Houston's Salvation Army

    Joel Luks
    May 13, 2025 | 1:30 pm
    Salvation Army Fashion in the Fast Lane 2025
    Photo by Jenny Antill
    Gaby Valencia, Thamer Kay McGee, Payton Wallace, Logan Tafelski, and Helen Winchell.

    Fashion took the fast track to fabulous as more than 400 stylish Houstonians zipped into River Oaks Country Club for the 21st anniversary of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary's beloved fundraising event. Themed Fashion in the Fast Lane, this sold-out soiree celebrated the sweet spot where timeless style meets high-speed flair, all while raising $1.1 million for community programs.

    Spearheaded by chair Ann Ayre, the day revved up with a bustling shopping experience and a lively luncheon.

    The theme perfectly captured the dual spirit of elegance and momentum, with a nod to both haute couture and horsepower. Fashionistas buzzed over racks laden with treasures at the Chic Boutique, masterminded by co-chairs Alison Gemp and Melanie Jarrell, while the Chic Boutique Showroom, curated by co-chairs Stick Delaup and Maura Montgomery, showcased designer dreams from Valentino to Chanel, Oscar de la Renta to Loewe.

    Donae Chramosta, this year's fashion chair, ensured every hanger and handbag sparkled with style cred, while silent auction chair Jean Peck kept bids racing faster than a Formula 1 finish line. From Cinq A Sept dresses to Alice and Olivia separates, attendees were spoiled with choices that blended luxury with philanthropy.

    The event also honored a driving force in Houston’s charitable scene: Hannah McNair, VP of the Houston Texans Foundation. A dedicated community champion, McNair has helped steer initiatives like the Girls Flag Football Program, expanding opportunities for young athletes across the city. Her philanthropic engine runs deep. After all, her mother-in-law, Janice McNair, was the 2014 honoree, making Hannah's moment in the spotlight a full-circle celebration.

    Following the luncheon, guests enjoyed exclusive early access to the Chic Boutique Showroom's four-day fashion extravaganza, where "pre-loved" designer gems waited for new closets to call home. Shopping never felt so righteous.

    Among those spotted cruising the stylish scene were Major Robert Webb, Major Carolynn Webb, Lt. Colonel Ann Penhale, Cal McNair, Sippi Khurana, Brigitte Kalai, Sidney Faust, Jane Wise, Cherie Lindley, Jeanie Kilroy Wilson, Melissa Sandefer, Jana Arnoldly, Ginger Blanton, Susan Binney, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Maria Moncada Alaoui, Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, Sandra Smith-Cooper, Joanna Marks, Cynthia Petrello, Amanda Boffone, Jennifer Allison, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist, Maureen Higdon, Joan Johnson, Stacey Lindseth, Kathryn Smith, and Elizabeth Abraham Colombowala.

    Salvation Army Fashion in the Fast Lane 2025
      

    Photo by Jenny Antill

    Gaby Valencia, Thamer Kay McGee, Payton Wallace, Logan Tafelski, and Helen Winchell.

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