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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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    Horns Up High

    Burnt orange spirit lights up Houston at Texas Exes scholarship gala

    Joel Luks
    May 16, 2025 | 5:45 pm
    Texas Exes Scholarship Gala 2025
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Kisha and Jason Itkin, Sallie Alcorn, and Kurt and Tara Arnold.

    It was an elevated burnt orange night at River Oaks Country Club as more than 300 Longhorn faithful gathered for the Texas Exes Houston Chapter’s Longhorn Legacy Scholarship Gala on April 10. The evening’s honorees, Kisha Itkin, Jason Itkin, Tara Arnold, and Kurt Arnold, were celebrated for their generosity and spirited support of The University of Texas at Austin.

    Texas Exes Scholarship Gala 2025
      

    Photo by Jacob Power

    Kisha and Jason Itkin, Sallie Alcorn, and Kurt and Tara Arnold.

    Greeting guests at valet was none other than Bevo, the famed Longhorn steer and unofficial mascot. Inside, a sculpted ice bar featuring the honorees' names and the Longhorn logo in vibrant burnt orange wowed the crowd. Underwritten by Mike Lowenberg of Lowenberg Law Firm, the frosty centerpiece offered a fitting nod to the honorees’ indelible mark on UT’s legacy. Meanwhile, a UT Tower ice sculpture, framed by a festive balloon wall by Topped Off Co., provided yet another irresistible photo op.

    Leading the evening’s program was Cyndy Garza Roberts, who kicked off festivities with a stirring video. Athletics director Chris Del Conte praised Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnoldfor their invaluable ideas and steadfast support, reinforcing the honorees’ impact beyond just philanthropy. Texas Exes Houston Chapter president Kyle Griffin and event chair Tawnya Bell also shared personal stories, with Bell's emotional scholarship journey underscoring the night’s purpose.

    Personal testimonies from UT grads and scholarship recipients Janelle Chavez and Will Florer inspired more generosity, culminating in a $330,000 fundraising triumph. Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn capped off the tributes with a mayoral proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire, officially declaring April 10 as Kisha and Jason Itkin and Tara and Kurt Arnold Day in Houston.

    In true Longhorn tradition, the evening closed with all guests standing, horns up, singing "The Eyes of Texas, a fitting finale to a night brimming with spirit.

    Spotted were Chuck Harris, Brien Smith, Rick Harsch, June Deadrick, Brock Niezgoda and Meg Hayward, Jackie and Scott Freeman, Luisa and Dr. Lucky Chopra, Ginger Cearley, Erin and Nathan Phelps, Kristen Griffin, Adam Pulaski, Stephanie Wilcox, Catherine Campbell, Al Riddle, Lauren Riddle, Michele Leal and George Farah, Winell and Doug Herron, Kristen Cannon, Niki and James Lassiter, and Amy and Segev Zadok.

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