JBF in Houston

America's culinary Oscars will reveal food star finalists at VIP events in Houston

The James Beard Foundation is coming to Houston.

Courtesy photo

The James Beard Foundation is coming to Houston. The organization will announce the finalists for its annual awards, considered the Oscars of the culinary world, live from Hugo's in Montrose on Wednesday, March 27 at 9 am.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, will co-host the press conference and corresponding breakfast, which will be streamed online via the Beard Foundation website. The awards will be presented in Chicago on Monday, May 6. The list of semifinalists will be revealed on Wednesday, February 27.

“We’re thrilled to showcase the city of Houston and bring our 2019 James Beard Awards nominees announcement to this diverse and vibrant culinary and dining scene,” Reichenbach said in a statement. “The city of Houston’s dedication to cultivating and embracing its local restaurants and culinary talent make it the perfect community for such an occasion.”

In addition to the awards announcement, an all-star roster of Houston's most talented chefs will unite for a special benefit dinner that will be held at Caracol the night before the press conference (March 26).

Hosted by Caracol owners Tracy Vaught and Hugo Ortega, the meal will feature entrees prepared by Ortega, Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu, and Robert Del Grande — all of whom have won the Beard award for Best Chef: Southwest. In addition, Bobby Heugel, a Beard nominee for Anvil Bar & Refuge, will serve cocktails, and Beard semifinalist nominees Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan (The Pass & Provisions) and Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri) will serve canapes with Beard winner Irma Galvan, whose downtown restaurant Irma's Original earned a James Beard America's Classic award in 2008, and Himalaya chef-owner Kaiser Lashkari — who hasn't been nominated for a Beard award yet but probably should be. Rounding out the roster is Sean Beck, beverage director for Ortega and Vaught's restaurants, and Ortega's brother Ruben, who will serve dessert. See the full menu here.

The event will benefit James Beard Foundation National Scholars Program, which provides "$20,000 scholarships to 10 candidates from across the U.S., who demonstrate the potential for leadership roles in culinary arts, food studies, agriculture, hospitality management, and related fields," according to the Beard Foundation website.

Needless to say, the dinner is a virtually unprecedented collection of Houston culinary talent that will sell out quickly. Tickets, priced at $200 per person plus tax and gratuity ($256), are available here.

“The City of Houston is honored to host the James Beard Foundation as it announces the 2019 James Beard Award nominees,” Turner added. “The Foundation has come to the ideal place. With one in every four Houstonians being foreign born, Houston takes pride in the rich culinary scene that comes with being one of most diverse cities in the nation.”

chefs fundraisers charity

bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe