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

ADD TO CART

H-E-B names 3 innovative Houston food companies among 'Texas Best'

H-E-B Quest for Texas Best Hive Food Co.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

Hive Food Co. is known for its infused honey.

After months of pouring over video submissions, H-E-B is entering the final leg of its annual grocery games. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain has narrowed down the finalists for its annual Quest for Texas Best competition, including three from Houston.

Ten innovative Texas entrepreneurs were chosen from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies spread across the Lone Star State.

Now in its 13th year, the contest asks Texas small businesses to put their best foot forward for the chance to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to be stocked on H-E-B shelves. Since the competition's beginning, the grocer has discovered more than 1,000 unique products, many of which have become literal household names.

“Quest for Texas Best is more than a competition; it is a launchpad for Texas entrepreneurs,” said James Harris, senior director of diversity & inclusion and supplier diversity for H‑E‑B, in a release. “H‑E‑B began as a small business, and we know firsthand how powerful the right opportunity can be.”

This year, the San Antonio and Houston regions were at the head of the pack with three finalist nods each. But the entrepreneurs hailed from all over the state — from border town Roma to Fort Worth suburb Haltom City. The top 10 hopefuls include:

Boerne — Coley’s Foods Inc., a frozen cookie dough company
Floresville — Dean & Peeler Meats, a beef producer known for its smoked Gouda sausage and Angus tallow
San Antonio — WFN Foods, maker of heat-and-serve taco fillings like beef barbacoa, pork carnitas, and carne guisada
Roma — In Your Smokin' Face, a spice company specializing in bold chile piquín and carne asada blends
Haltom City — Sol Dias, a gourmet paleta and Mexican ice cream company
Glenn Heights — Uncle Marc’s, a manufacturer of barbecue seasonings, rubs, and sauces
Houston — Doggie Express, a small-batch maker of decorated treats for canine celebrations
Houston — Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce, a saucy supplier branching out to Bloody Mary and margarita mixes
Houston — Hive Food Co., beekeepers known for gourmet infused honey
Bastrop — La Fregona, creators of a chile sauce for elotes and esquites

The final contenders will pitch their products on October 8 at H-E-B's headquarters in San Antonio, where judges will determine the top four winning products and award $50,000 to the Grand Prize winner and the "Texas Best" title — an honor that guarantees placement on H-E-B store shelves.

The first-place winner will receive $25,000, the second-place winner will receive $15,000, and the third-place winner will receive $10,000.

Since 2014, H-E-B has handed out nearly $2.75 million in prize money to Texas entrepreneurs. But Quest for Texas Best isn’t just about capital: the winners receive marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support to grow their brands. Fifty-five Texas small businesses that took part in the contest have achieved $1 million in sales and earned a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle.

supermarkets h-e-b gourmet foods packaged goods grocery stores