Foodie News

Major barbecue festival brings an Australian flair to Houston — and chef competition

Things are heating up for Celebrate Australia, the VIP party at this year's Houston International Festival that takes place Thursday May 1 at Hermann Square Park in front of City Hall. As CultureMap first reported back in March, organizers have enlisted some of Houston's highest profile chefs for a friendly competition of barbecue vs. barbie.

Fittingly for iFest, the chefs are bringing a variety of international flavors to the competition. People hoping for smoked brisket and pulled pork should look elsewhere.

Ten chefs are set to compete at the event. In addition to previously announced participants like Eleven XI's Kevin Bryant and Cyclone Anaya's Jason Gould (an actual Australian), a couple of new Houstonians have joined the party in the form of Trenza's Susie Jimenez and Bob Iacovone of Fish & The Knife. Here's the full list of chefs and dishes:

Kevin Bryant, Eleven XI: Jalapeno-stuffed, bacon-wrapped pork shank with heirloom tomato creamed corn

Donald Chang, Nara: Spicy Korean pork ribs stew

Jason Gould, Cyclone Anaya's: Mountain pepper-rubbed grilled lamb loin with raisin chutney

Susie Jimenez, Trenza: Spiced pork ribs with papaya chipotle barbecue sauce

Soren Pedersen, Upcoming Danish restaurant: Gulf prawns with achiote and avocado

Bob Iacovone, Fish & The Knife: Sake-marinated pork rib with sweet heat sauce and Creole coleslaw

Joe Gerardi, Fleming's: Thai marinated filet skewers served with an Asian vegetable and soy nut slaw

Staci Davis, Radical Eats: Barbecue brisket on sweet potato waffle

Patricia Alvarez-Burdette, Mr. Peeples: Bourbon baby back ribs with apple slaw

Dwayne Carrington, Fiesta Mart: Aussie Outback barbecued lamb breast

A panel of media judges that includes Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, 790 AM morning show host Lance Zierlein, Houston magazine publisher Peter Remington, Houston Press food critic Kaitlin Steinberg and me will evaluate the entrants and declare who wins the bragging rights.

The event will benefit the Houston Festival Foundation’s year-round arts and education programs that reach up to 900,000 students in the Greater Houston area and beyond.

iFest sponsor Fiesta is providing Lone Star Legacy Beef, seafood and other animal proteins for the competition. CultureMap is a media partner of the event.

The $75 tickets include food, drinks and live entertainment from the Down Under Band and FrenetiCore Dance Company. Only 250 tickets will be sold — you might want to act fast.

Soren Pedersen, formerly of Sorrel Urban Bistro.

Photo by Kimberly Park

Soren Pedersen, formerly of Sorrel Urban Bistro.

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Hot Houston hand roll spot is first restaurant at new EaDo development

Handies Douzo Facebook

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Houstonians with a seemingly unlimited appetite for sushi hand rolls will soon have another destination to satisfy their cravings. Handies Douzo will open its next location in East Blocks, an adaptive reuse project in EaDo.

On track to open in late 2026 or early 2027 at 1107 Hutchins Street, the EaDo location will be Handies Douzo’s fifth, joining the original in the Heights as well as restaurants in Montrose, Spring Branch, and an upcoming outpost in Uptown’s new Central Park Post Oak development. Like those siblings, it will serve Handies’ familiar menu of hand rolls (temaki), crudos, and sashimi that’s overseen by founding chefs and co-owners Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham. The 2,000-square-foot space will feature Handies’ familiar U-shaped counter seating.

Handies is known for wrapping its rolls in crispy seaweed that gives each bite a distinct crunch. The well-executed dishes and affordable prices helped Handies earn a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

"We've been very intentional about where we grow, and East Blocks immediately stood out," Pham and Lee said in a statement. "There's an authenticity to EaDo and a strong sense of community that aligns with our brand. We're excited to be part of a project focused on creating an energetic, walkable destination."

1107 Hutchins rendering Handies will occupy 2,000 square feet at 1107 Hutchins.Courtesy of Pagewood

1107 Hutchins and the nearby 2202 Dallas — each of which are 15,000 square feet — represent phase one of local real estate firm Pagewood’s plans to East Blocks. First announced in 2023, plans call for renovating warehouses into a walkable district of shops, restaurants, offices, and green space. Gensler is leading architecture and design for the project, with landscape architecture by SWA.

"East Blocks reflects a long-term belief in EaDo and the kind of place it’s becoming," said Mat Volz, Managing Principal of PAGEWOOD. "As the project has evolved, our commitment to that vision has only strengthened. Breaking ground on Phase 1 is an exciting step forward, particularly as this neighborhood prepares to welcome the world. With the FIFA Fan Festival taking place just steps from East Blocks and bringing thousands of visitors daily to EaDo, we see this project playing a meaningful role in that energy and in the long-term evolution of the district."

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