Best in Texas

Tangy Houston barbecue sauce crafted by U.S. Army vets crowned the best in Texas by H-E-B

Housotn, WarPig BBQ Sauce, HEB Primo Picks Quest for Texas Best, August 2017

WarPig BBQ For Use on Butts and Ribs Sauce from Houston will be on H-E-B shelves soon.

Courtesy photo

Five tasty brands from the Lone Star State have a lot to celebrate, as they have been crowned winners in H-E-B’s annual Primo Picks Quest for Texas Best. Judges narrowed the field of 25 finalists to five winners from around the state on Friday. They were awarded a total of $90,000 in cash prizes, along with prime space on H-E-B shelves in 2018.

Among the finalists were eight entrepreneurs from the Houston area, nine from the Austin area, six from the San Antonio region, one from the Dallas area, and one from the Rio Grande Valley.

The winner of the $25,000 grand prize and featured placement as a Texas Best Primo Pick is Mocha Marmalade from Austin’s Skull & Cakebones of Austin. This decadent chocolate is layered with Cuvee Coffee frosting and topped with Cuvee-infused chocolate pudding. Sascha Biesi and Yauss Berenji founded the company in 2013 to make delicious desserts without animal products. They have been a favorite vendor at the Austin City Limits Music Festival ever since, and they opened their gourmet brick-and-mortar bakery in Dripping Springs earlier this year.

The judges named two $20,000 first place winners. Houston’s Dennis Butterworth won with his WarPig BBQ For Use on Butts and Ribs Sauce, which was, as he describes, “forged in the trenches of barbecue competition” and is crafted by U.S. Army veterans. Bridget and Will McCoy of Bertram were recognized for their adorable Texas-shaped Lorraine’s Original Mini Texas Pecan Cakes, made using a secret family recipe and 100-percent Texas products from local growers.

Austinites Adrian and Mariana Paredes of perennial farmers market favorite Tamale Addiction won second place and $15,000 with their Poblano and Muenster Cheese Organic Masa Tamales, filled with strips of roasted poblano pepper, fresh red salsa made with chile de arbol, and melted muenster cheese. They will be available at H-E-B in a two-pack.

Cariño Cortez and Michael Cortez of La Familia Cortez Restaurants in San Antonio landed the third place $10,000 prize for Mi Tierra Salsa Verde, a secret mixture of oven roasted tomatillos and a blend of spices that create a tangy salsa great for enchiladas and much more.

The 2017 Quest for Texas Best competition drew 565 entries from more than 200 towns across the state. H-E-B business development managers judged submissions on taste and flavor, customer appeal, value, uniqueness, market potential, and differentiation from current products at most H-E-B stores.

“As we complete the fourth year of this statewide competition, we continued to be impressed by the inventiveness, creativity, and phenomenal resolve that our fellow Texans showcase,” said James Harris, H-E-B’s director of diversity and inclusion and supplier diversity, in a press release.

“Although only five competitors walked away with a title and prize, Quest for Texas Best is a win for all Texans. Small businesses have the opportunity to grow with H-E-B and our customers enjoy added variety and access to the best locally sourced products.”

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Bowling over Houston

Gluten-free Austin restaurant picks River Oaks for first Houston store

Rendering of Honest Mary's in River Oaks

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

It will be a Houston homecoming for restauranteur Nelson Monteith with the fall 2025 debut of Honest Mary’s in River Oaks.

“It’s a joy and honor to bring a brand we’ve worked hard to create in Austin and finally be able to share that concept with friends and family in Houston,” Monteith said in a statement. “There’s a bit of built-in comfort in knowing there are folks here who are already fans of Honest Mary’s. They’ve been asking us for years to open a location in Houston, and now it’s happening.”

Located at 2047-A West Gray St., Honest Mary's will occupy the current La Madeleine space. It is not known at this time when La Madeleine will close, but construction on Honest Mary's is expected to begin in May 2025.

Monteith and his wife, Mary, launched Honest Mary’s in 2017 after embracing mindful eating to improve their health. Since then, the Austin-based eatery that describes itself as serving "life-giving fast food" has expanded to four locations, with the upcoming River Oaks spot marking its arrival in Houston.

“There’s healthy food, fresh food, and fast food,” he said. “We wanted to create something that fits into that sweet spot without sacrificing quality or convenience. The trend towards healthy eating and the reality of busy lifestyles aren’t slowing down. We offer a place that caters to both.”

At the center of Honest Mary’s menu are five signature bowls ranging from poke to vegetarian, including the smoky poblano ($10.25) that features a basmati rice base with fresh vegetables of wild arugula, sweet corn, and pickled onions in a creamy poblano sauce. Co-partner and chef Andrew Wiseheart, known for Austin’s Contigo and Ladybird Taco, leads the kitchen.

Honest Mary's menu features healthy, gluten-free bowls. Guests can choose from five signature bowls at Honest Mary's, or create their own.Courtesy of Honest Mary's

Diners can build their own bowls by selecting a base like quinoa, proteins including grilled chicken and tuna, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes. Pickled onions, cucumber salad, and avocado are among the topping selections, with sauces like lemon garlic and cashew-lime crema.

Scratch-made sipping broths round out the menu, with the chicken bone broth packed with celery, carrots, onions and parsley, or an umami-rich seaweed and mushroom broth.

A selection of house-made aguas frescas and teas, local craft beer, wine, kombucha, and organic cold-pressed juices will be available, as will Honest Mary’s popular almond butter cookies sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

With its fully gluten-free menu, Honest Mary’s caters to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free. To align with Monteith’s dedication to nutrition, Honest Mary’s uses seed oils sparingly and prioritizes local and organic ingredients when possible.

“River Oaks Shopping Center has a unique blend of history and vibrant new concepts, making it the ideal home for us,” Monteith said. “We aim to be a neighborhood spot where people can enjoy delicious, healthy food.”

Lunden McGill and John Frazier of Baker Katz brokered the deal for the 2,200-square-foot space and additional patio with seating for 38 inside and 44 outside. Mark Odom Studio is responsible for architecture and design.

Honest Mary’s signature elements of terra cotta and blue tilework will be incorporated to provide consistency between all five locations, while Art Deco-inspired decor of lush greenery, warm wood tones and natural light will align the space with the River Oaks Shopping Center’s structure.

Takeaway, delivery, and dine-in will be provided daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

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