Foodie News

Underbelly, Uchi & more: It's a Goode evening for winners at the HoustonCulinary Awards

Chris Shepherd with his Houston Culinary Award for Restaurateur of the Year
Photo by Sarah Rufca
My Table editor and publisher Teresa Byrne-Dodge, with Levi Goode, reads theproclamation from the mayor declaring Oct. 7, 2012, as Jim Goode Day.
Photo by Sarah Rufca
The winners of the 2012 Houston Culinary Awards
Photo by Sarah Rufca
The dinner was prepared by an all-star line-up of chefs, including crews fromUchi, Vic & Anthony's, Fluff Bake Bar and Greenway Coffee & Tea.
Photo by Sarah Rufca

It looks like 2012 will go down as the year of the Anvil empire at the My Table Houston Culinary Awards.

The bar and restaurant concepts owned by or associated with the Montrose bar took home several big awards in front of a fun, foodie crowd of 320 at the Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston on Sunday night.

Underbelly was recently named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Esquire, so it came as no surprise when it came up as a big winner, nabbing awards for Restaurateur of the Year for chef/owner Chris Shepherd and Service Person of the Year for manager Matthew Prigden.

To complete the Anvil-associated domination, co-owner Bobby Heugel took home Favorite Mixologist, while Ninfa's on Navigation was awarded a Houston Culinary Award for Houston Classic.

Underbelly's beer-centric conjoined twin, Hay Merchant, was named Favorite Pub or Bar under the more casual Foodie Star Awards. To complete the Anvil-associated domination, co-owner Bobby Heugel took home Favorite Mixologist, while Ninfa's on Navigation (which Heugel and partners Kevin Floyd and Michael Burnett recently signed on to manage) was awarded a Houston Culinary Award for Houston Classic, a restaurant in business for 10 or more years.

But Anvil, Underbelly & Co. weren't the only big winners in the room. Uchi earned two big awards, with a win in Best New Restaurant and Monica Glenn named Pastry Chef of the Year. Tiny Boxwood's won two Foodie Star Awards, for Favorite Breakfast and Favorite Outdoor Dining, while Bernie's Burger Bus was named both Favorite Food Truck/Cart and Favorite Burger.

Randy Evans of Haven took home Chef of the Year and Eatsie Boys' Matt Marcus was named Up-And-Coming Chef of the Year, another new milestone for a food truck at the Houston Culinary Awards.

The Legends of Houston award was given to Jim Goode, the founder of the Goode Company family of restaurants and accepted by his son, Levi Goode.

After My Table editor and publisher Teresa Byrne-Dodge read a proclamation from Mayor Annise Parker naming Oct. 7, 2012, Jim Goode Day in Houston, Goode talked about how his father started the original Goode Co. Barbecue on Kirby with $6,000 and thanked his extended family for all the sacrifices they made to succeed in the restaurant industry.

Check out the full list of Houston Culinary Awards and Foodie Star Awards winners:

2012 Houston Culinary Awards

Restaurateur of the Year — Chris Shepherd, Underbelly

Chef of the Year — Randy Evans, Haven

Up-and-Coming Chef of the Year (age 35 or younger) — Matt Marcus, Eatsie Boys

Outstanding Wine Service — 13 Celsius

Pastry Chef of the Year (includes breadmakers) — Monica Glenn, Uchi

Outstanding Bar Service — Truluck's Steak & Stone Crab

Service Person of the Year — Matthew Prigden, Underbelly

Houston Classic (a restaurant in business for 10 or more years) — Ninfa's on Navigation

Best Interior Design — Américas River Oaks

Best New Restaurant (must have opened since June 1, 2011) — Uchi

2012 Houston Foodie Star Awards:

Favorite Bakery — Slow Dough Bread Co.

Favorite Barbecue — Pappas Bar-B-Que

Favorite Breakfast — Tiny Boxwood's

Favorite Burger — Bernie's Burger Bus

Favorite Coffeehouse — Paulie's

Favorite Houston Food Blog — Eating Our Words

Favorite Mom & Pop Ethnic — Mai's Restaurant

Favorite Food Truck/Cart — Bernie's Burger Bus

Favorite Late Night Spot — BB's Cafe, Montrose

Favorite Mixologist — Bobby Heugel

Favorite Outdoor Dining — Tiny Boxwood's

Favorite Supermarket — Whole Foods Market

Favorite Pub or Bar — Hay Merchant

Favorite Sweets/Ice Cream — Hank's Ice Cream Parlor

Favorite Wine Seller — The Tasting Room

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say boo

Houston smash burger pop-up finds permanent home on East End esplanade

Photo by Drea Karolina

Boo's Burgers wil occupy a kiosk on the Navigation Esplanade.

One of Houston’s favorite burger pop-ups is opening a brick and mortar restaurant. Boo’s Burgers will open a permanent location in early 2025.

Located in the Second Ward at 2510 Navigation Boulevard, Boo’s Burgers will occupy a kiosk on the bustling Navigation Esplanade. A permanent location represents the next step for chef Joseph Boudreaux, who founded Boo’s Burgers in 2021 while he was working as a barista at a downtown coffee shop. Prior to that, he worked at a number of restaurants, including Leeland House and Tiny Champions.

Boo's Burgers Joseph Boudreaux Chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux.Photo by Drea Karolina

Those experiences helped shape the chef’s take on the classic smash burger. It features a 50-50 ratio of chuck and short rib that he grinds himself with a little fat for extra juiciness. It gets topped with a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, pickles that Boudreaux makes himself, and burger sauce.

“Burgers are something everyone in Houston can relate to,” Boudreaux said in a statement. “We’ve tapped into that shared memory of local mom-and-pop burger stands while weaving in the city’s unique blend of southern charm and urban culture. The East End feels like the perfect place for Boo’s next chapter. It’s a vibrant community that’s rich in history, where we can create a space that’s both familiar and exciting.”

Joseph Bourdeaux smashburger That's a photogenic burger. Photo by Eric Sandler

Having a permanent location will allow Boudreaux to expand his menu with food specials and sides. Diners can also expect a full range of drinks and desserts. The restaurant’s design will take inspiration from streetwear and hip hop, establishing it as a uniquely Houston destination. Prior to the opening, Boudreaux will host Boo’s Burger Run, a bi-weekly pop-up series with chefs from the East End and other parts of Houston.

“We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Boudreaux added. “We’re building a space where food, culture, and community come together. We want Boo’s to be the kind of place where people feel connected to Houston’s past and future.”

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