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Prestigious James Beard tasting event spotlights star Houston chefs in one of only 5 U.S. stops

Dawn Burrell will host three of her fellow Top Chef contestants.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

The organization behind America's most prestigious culinary awards will host an event featuring some of Houston's top chefs. The James Beard Foundation's Taste America Culinary Series will kick off in Houston on June 29.

Houston is one of only five cities nationally that will host a tasting event, which is designed to celebrate chefs and independent restaurants with a walk-around tasting format that features participants serving signature dishes from their stations. Local and national sponsors will contribute beverage stations and "other activations," according to the event's website.

Participating chefs include three who are among this year's finalists for the James Beard Awards, which will be announced in Chicago on June 13. They are Best Chef: Texas nominees Christine Ha and Tony Nguyen of Xin Chao and Outstanding Pastry Chef nominee Ruben Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo's, Xochi, etc.). They'll be joined by Top Chef finalists Dawn Burrell (Late August) and Evelyn Garcia with her business partner Henry Lu (Kin), as well as CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar) and Kaitlin Steets (Theodore Rex).

“I am so excited to have the James Beard Foundation in Houston,” Masson tells CultureMap. "I'm honored to be participating alongside some of our city's greatest chefs."

Houstonian Michelle Wallace (Gatlin's BBQ) and Phoenix chef Cassie Shortino will participate as representatives of the TasteTwenty, a group of 20 chef teams in 20 cities who are promoting the foundation's Good Food for Good initiative.

“It is an honor to be a member of James Beard Foundation’s TasteTwenty and have the opportunity to represent Houston’s incredible food community,” Wallace said in a statement. “I can’t wait to be together with Chef Cassie and all of the other participating Houston chefs to celebrate and share our food together with guests.”

In addition to enjoying the chefs' food, attendees will have a soundtrack provided by DJ Seek, aka Blood Bros. BBQ co-founder Robin Wong, and Input Output will present its interactive displays that combine light and sound.

The event is presented in partnership with Houston First and sponsored by Capital One. Tickets, priced at $175 for general admission and $225 for premier access (enter an hour earlier), are on sale now.

“We are grateful to our partners at Houston First for hosting the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America kick-off event. We are excited for Houston residents and visitors to experience the incredible culinary talent of our inaugural TasteTwenty chefs," said Siobhan Flaherty Haber, vice president of events at the James Beard Foundation. "By sharing their stories, we hope participants understand the importance of independent restaurants in their communities and are inspired to join our growing community of food lovers around the country, who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable food system for all."

Dawn Burrell.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Dawn Burrell.

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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.

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