Rodeo best bites 2020

Pearland favorite lassos top spot at Rodeo's Best Bites competition

Rodeo goers love Grazia Italian Kitchen. The Pearland restaurant made it back-to-back victories at the annual Rodeo Uncorked! Best Bites competition.

Grazia's "smoked and soaked" wagyu chuck with corn pudding earned the coveted people's choice for the second year in a row. Grazia also won the award in 2016. Cotton Culinary took second place for its duck carnitas.

Other winners included Brennan's of Houston, which won best appetizer for its fried oysters with Crystal hot sauce butter; Nobu, which won top entree for its signature miso black cod; and Killen's, which won the "rookie award" for the year's best new restaurant with smoked brisket enchiladas. See the full list of winners below.

Highlights from the non-winning dishes included Uchi's salmon with mshrooms and black truffle, the Hotel Derek's smoked campechana, and Ouzo Bay's roasted lamb. All told, over 100 restaurants participate in the competition, with participants ranging from staples like Pappas Bros. Steakhouse to food hall restaurants such as The Blind Goat and KIN by chef Evelyn.

The annual event — unofficially the kick-off of Rodeo season ahead of the trail rides and barbecue cook-off — draws 5,000-plus to NRG Center. In addition to food from some of the city's top restaurants, attendees may sample some of the more than 450 wines that earned medals in the annual International Wine Competition. Thankfully, those who missed the festivities have the opportunity to sample some of the vintages in the Rodeo's wine garden, and many of the bottles will be auctioned off on March 1.

Here's the complete list of winners:

People’s Choice Award
First Place: Grazia Italian Kitchen & The Caboose – Smoked & Soaked Wagyu Chuck, Corn Pudding, Date Gastrique, Cabernet Reduction, Tallow Fried Crumble, Micro Arugula & Amaranth
Second Place: Cotton Culinary The Art of Catering – Duck Carnitas

Tasty Tradition Award
First Place: Maggiano’s Little Italy – Lasagna with Marinara Sauce
Second Place: Revival Market – Miso Mushrooms Toast, Whipped TX Goat Cheese & Houston Urban Honey

Trailblazer Appetizer Award
First Place: Brennan’s of Houston – Hot Hot Oyster with Crystal Hot Sauce Butter, Pepper Jelly Glaze & Pickled Okra Chow Chow
Second Place: Smokey Cheeks – Smokey Cheek Taco with Coleslaw, Pickled Onions & Cilantro, finished with a Blueberry Ghost Pepper Hollandaise Sauce
Third Place: The Capital Grill – Porcini-Rubbed Smoked Bacon with Sweet Corn Risotto finished with Tomato Jam

Lone Star Entrée Award
First Place: Nobu – Black Cod Miso on Lettuce Cup topped with Crispy Khataifi
Second Place: Phat Eatery – Beef Rendang
Third Place: Pinstripe’s – Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta & Peppercorn Cream

Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
First Place: Ooh La La Sweets – Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Second Place: Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria – Mini Cannoli
Third Place: Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks – White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Rookie Award
Killen’s in the Heights – Smoked Brisket Enchilada

Trail Boss Food Truck Award
Eaker Barbecue – Smoked Pulled Pork atop Creamed Corn with Green Onion Garnish

Outstanding Showmanship Award
First Place: Brother’s Produce
Second Place: JW Marriott – Downtown

Grazia won people's choice for the second year in a row.

Rodeo Best Bites 2020 Grazia belt buckle

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Grazia won people's choice for the second year in a row.

fundraisers

finally coming to H-Town

Michelin-recognized Austin restaurant group reveals first Houston project

Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group chef partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

Photo by Jessica Attie

Emmer & Rye partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

One of Texas’ most lauded hospitality groups is finally coming to Houston. Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has claimed the former MF Lobster space in Autry Park for a new restaurant that will open in late 2025.

At this time, Emmer & Rye isn’t providing any details about the restaurant, including its name or what kind of food it will serve. Given that the group serves everything from Caribbean food at Canje to Mediterranean fare at Ladino, it’s essentially impossible to predict how they’ll utilize the 2,200-square-foot, circular-shaped building.

Known for concepts such as Hestia, a live restaurant in Austin that earned a Michelin star, and Emmer & Rye, the only Texas restaurant to earn a Michelin green star for sustainability, Emmer & Rye Hospitality operates restaurants in Austin and San Antonio, including Pullman Market, recently named by Robb Report as the No. 3 best new restaurant in America.

Both chef-partners in the group, Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, have received prestigious Best New Chef awards from Food & Wine. Fink is a two-time James Beard Award finalist, and Bristol-Joseph earned a semifinalist nomination in 2023.

Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Kevin Fink Tavel Bristol Joseph Kevin Fink, left, and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, right, at the 2022 Southern Smoke Festival. Photo by Emily Jaschke

“We’ve had our eye on Houston — and specifically Autry Park — for quite some time,” Bristol-Joseph said in a statement. “When the opportunity to take over such a unique space came along, we couldn’t pass it up. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse culinary community, and we look forward to opening our doors and contributing to the city’s incredible culinary landscape.”

Located near the intersection of Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive, Autry Park is a 14-acre mixed-use development with apartments, office space, and shopping. Its restaurants include Annabelle Brasserie, Turner's Cut, Doko, and Bar Doko. In addition to the unnamed Emmer & Rye concept, it will soon welcome Mayahuel, a Mexico City-inspired concept from State Fare owners Culinary Khancepts and chef Luis Robledo Richards. Vegetable-forward restaurant Auden closed there earlier this year.

As for MF Lobster, it closed on Tuesday, June 10, according to press materials. Owner Chris Kinjo has decided to focus on his other restaurants, including MF Sushi in the Museum District and Annam, a recent addition to Autry Park that serves elevated Vietnamese fare.

“As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse,” Kinjo said. “We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”

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