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    Behold the Winners!

    Houston Tastemaker Awards winners revealed: Big champ snags Restaurant, Bar, and Chef of the Year

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 18, 2017 | 11:19 pm
    CultureMap Tastemaker Award winners 2017
    Tastemaker Award winners celebrate: from left, Rob Harvey, Laurie Harvey, Bryan Davis, Ryan Pera, Martha de Leon, Bobby Matos, Victoria Dearmond, and Don Vrba.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/Catchlight Group

    Your attention, please. Here are the winners of the 2017 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. These are Houston's best culinary professionals, as selected by a panel of restaurant industry experts.

    On Tuesday night, emcee Bryan Caswell revealed this year's winners to a boisterous crowd at the Asia Society Texas Center. Obviously, the night's big champ is Agricole Hospitality. The Heights-based bar and restaurant company took home Bar of the Year (Eight Row Flint), Chef of the Year (Ryan Pera), and Restaurant of the Year (Coltivare).

    Let there be no doubt that Agricole owners Pera and Morgan Weber have the respect of their peers. Congratulations to them, and to all of our nominees and winners.

    Without further ado, here's the full list of winners:

    Restaurant of the Year: Coltivare Pizza & Garden and Chef of the Year: Ryan Pera
    As with Adam Dorris and Pax Americana winning last year, it makes sense that the Chef of the Year leads the Restaurant of the Year. At Coltivare, Ryan Pera’s creative salads and vegetable dishes, many of which incorporate ingredients grown in the restaurant’s garden, continue to set a high standard as one of Houston’s most satisfying dining experiences. While we’re still waiting for Pera to get the national respect he so clearly deserves, we think he’s aces.

    Rising Star Chef of the Year: Martha de Leon
    Speaking of Dorris, taking over a popular restaurant after its acclaimed chef depart would be a challenge for anyone, but Martha de Leon has kept Pax Americana running smoothly. Credit her steady work ethic and the relationships she’s cultivated with local farmers and ranchers for helping keep the restaurant at the top. At least while spring temperatures hold, Pax’s patio makes an excellent venue for sampling de Leon’s cooking, especially during the low-key Sunday brunch.

    Pastry Chef of the Year: Victoria Dearmond
    Recognizing Dearmond for the desserts she creates — everything from vinegar pie and seasonally-inspired desserts at Underbelly to the massive, one-and-a-half pound wood-fired apple pie at One Fifth — doesn’t begin to acknowledge the diverse set of roles she occupies at both restaurants, but it will have to do for today. Whatever the future holds, the skills she’s developed beyond the dessert station with back of the house operations like ordering and expediting will serve her well.

    Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: State of Grace
    Yes, it’s possible to indulge in big pricey entrees and fancy wine at this River Oaks restaurant, but State of Grace serves its neighborhood well, too. The affordable lunch menu and $1 oyster happy hour make it possible to experience chef Bobby Matos’ menu at a lower cost. This week, it will begin serving a family-style Sunday supper priced at an eminently reasonable $29 per person.

    Best New Restaurant: State Fare
    Let’s give credit where it’s due; for as much fun as Nobie’s Cinderella run through the Best New Restaurant tournament was, State Fare is a very good restaurant that’s been a valuable addition to the Memorial area. Its diverse menu — everything from salads and sandwiches to shareable appetizers and hearty mains — has enough options to please just about anyone. The restaurant’s stylish look and comprehensive beverage options add to its appeal.

    Bar of the Year: Eight Row Flint
    “Whiskey. Beer. Tacos.” The simple slogan of Agricole Hospitality’s patio bar doesn’t explain the lengths it goes to honor those three staples. Some of the whiskey comes from barrels selected by co-owner Morgan Weber, the tacos utilize house-made corn tortillas and feature locally-sourced ingredients in the fillings, and the beer features plenty of craft options — and also Miller High Life, because why take things too seriously? Selling its entire allocation of Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection at cost may have been a bit of a stunt, but it also allowed people to taste great bourbon at a price they may never see again, which is pretty great.

    Bartender of the Year: Leslie Ross Krockenberger
    Canard may not have survived, but give it credit for providing several very talented female bartenders with the opportunity to develop some incredibly delicious cocktails. The effects will be felt with Akiko Hagio at Star Fish and Rebecca Burkart at Worcester’s Annex and who knows where else in the months and years to come. Krockenberger gets credit for being the bar’s creative soul. Hopefully those energies find another outlet, but if all she does is talk whiskey with Reserve 101’s obsessive patrons, that will still be fun.

    Wine Program of the Year: Pappas Bros Steakhouse
    Let’s not make this too complicated. Pappas Bros has always had an incredibly wine inventory, but the upgrades its made to its staff by recruiting Master Sommelier Jack Mason and a whole platoon of Advanced Sommeliers to the restaurant ensures that customers receive expert advice when they decide to splurge on a bottle that could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That investment deserves recognition.

    Favorite Taco: Tacos Tierra Caliente
    For as much as this publication focuses on new restaurants, sometimes the classics are best. In the world of Houston tacos, it doesn’t get much more classic than this humble taco truck that parks across the street from the West Alabama Ice House. Tacos in well-made corn tortillas are only $1.50, and the diverse meat options make feeding a crowd easy. Last year, Houstonians demonstrated their affection for the business, contributing over $17,000 via GoFundMe for funeral expenses when owner Maria Victoria’s daughter Maria Samano passed away suddenly.

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    where's eric eating

    CultureMap editor's 10 favorite dishes at Houston restaurants in November

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 2, 2025 | 5:13 pm
    Charm Taphouse & BBQ
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    Try the sausages at Charm Taphouse & BBQ.

    November’s dining adventures across Houston consisted of only a couple of new restaurants, an upscale, contemporary Chinese restaurant in River Oaks; an ambitious neighborhood eatery in Garden Oaks; and a buzzy barbecue spot on the border of Conroe and The Woodlands.

    The month also provided me with an opportunity to visit a veteran chef in his new home, catch up one of the city’s new additions to the Michelin Guide, and sample a po’ boy from the rising star chef behind Houston’s hottest new burger joint.

    As a reminder, this list isn’t ranked. I liked all of these dishes for different reasons.

    Here are my favorite dishes I ate at Houston-area restaurants in November.

    Lobster Fettuccine at State of Grace
    Chef Ryan Lachaine is off to a strong start as the executive chef of the River Oaks restaurant. The lobster fettuccine — pasta made in-house, of course — features a generous portion of seafood along with a lobster-infused sauce americane. In addition to a couple of Riel favorites, the caviar tots and the butter burgers, he’s also introduced a cheese fondue that matches the menu’s Continental-influenced, retro vibe.

    Birria Beef Pacchei at Lazy Lane
    The newly opened Garden Oaks restaurant is putting a Houston spin on classic Mediterranean dishes. In this entree, house made pasta is paired with braised beef cheek, radishes, salsa verde, and herbs, turning the building blocks of barbacoa tacos into a form that fits the ambitious neighborhood restaurant. Other highlights from the meal included Spanish meatballs and crispy skin ocean trout over beet risotto.

    Deviled Crab at Credence
    One of the 14 Houston restaurants added to the Michelin Guide for 2025, the live fire restaurant near Memorial City Mall serves this dish instead of a crab cake. Blue crab meat gets sauteed in smoky tomato butter for a bite that’s sweet, smoky, and satisfying. Pair it with the grilled snapper for the full Gulf Coast seafood experience.

    Peking Duck at Maison Chinoise
    This contemporary Chinese restaurant from the company behind Toulouse and Lombardi Cucina Italiana is already winning fans in River Oaks. The Peking duck, a speciality of chef Jordan He, delivers tender meat, crispy skin, and paper-thin crepes that are worthy of any version served around town. Pair it with some of the restaurant’s extensive dumpling selection for the full experience.

    Branzino at Okto
    Chef Yotam Dolev recently updated the menu at this Mediterranean-influenced Montrose restaurant. Seared to achieve a crispy skin, the flakey white fish sits in a tomato-gazpacho broth with fennel and olives. Don’t miss the signature frena bread and Greek salad.

    Shrimp Po’ Boy at Boo’s Burgers
    One perk of moving from pop-up to brick-and-mortar is that it allows Boo’s Burgers chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux to indulge creative impulses such as a rotating Friday fish special that’s currently this sandwich. Loaded with a generous serving of crispy, well-fried shrimp, the sandwich is simply dressed shredded lettuce, tomato, and the chef’s smoky burger sauce. Get it before Boudreaux moves on to another special.

    Veal Piccata at Fielding’s River Oaks
    The River Oaks restaurants is fond of fusion flavors, and its take on veal piccata is no exception. Instead of the usual lemon-caper sauce, Fielding’s serves its veal in a richer mushroom cream sauce with fall-friendly caramelized apples and creamed spinach. It’s a heartier take on the classic that’s well-suited to winter’s recent arrival.

    Barbecue at Charm Taphouse & BBQ
    Thai fare meets Texas at this restaurant on the border of The Woodlands and Tomball. The house made sausages are a standout, particularly the beef-and-basil and German hotlink, particularly when dipped in the restaurant’s tangy nam jim jaew. While the brisket and ribs could’ve used a little longer in the smoking, a weekend prime rib special with a crispy crust and well-rendered fat already has me contemplating a return visit.

    Shrimp Tacos at Cochinita & Co.
    At this restaurant in the East End, plump shrimp are paired with a sweet and spicy pineapple pico and a morita aioli, then wrapped in house made corn tortillas. Good ingredients and precise execution — the shrimp are cooked gently enough to retain a springy texture and mild sweetness — make them some of my favorite tacos in Houston. A side of the vegetarian black beans make for a tasty companion.

    Tonkotsu Gachi at Japanese Ramen Gachi
    Influenced by Shawn the Food Sheep, I visited the two-year-old Med Center-area restaurant for dinner. The signature tonkotsu features a well-seasoned, milk-colored broth with deep pork flavor and major umami punch. Paired with some karaage it made for a very satisfying dinner — just be aware that the Food Sheep’s flock may overwhelm the restaurant’s ability to serve diners quickly.



    Charm Taphouse & BBQ

    Photo by Eric Sandler

    Try the sausages at Charm Taphouse & BBQ.

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