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    What's Eric Eating Episode 70

    Legendary Houston chef dishes on upcoming food fest, plus first taste of a Creole sensation

    CultureMap Staff
    Oct 11, 2018 | 3:10 pm

    On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," legendary Houston chef Monica Pope joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss her career, her involvement in Vinegar Hill Houston, and next weekend's third annual Butcher's Ball. The conversation begins with Pope explaining how, at the age of 17, she decided she wanted to "change the way Houston eats," which she achieved by promoting local farmers at her four restaurants: the Quilted Toque, Boulevard Bistro, t'afia, and Sparrow Bar + Cookshop.

    Recently, Pope united with Axelrad owner Adam Brackman to convert the original location of Beaver's into a new bar called Vinegar Hill Houston that will also provide up-and-coming chefs with the opportunity to hold three month residencies in its kitchen. "We are going into this knowing we're going to set the bar again, and 12 years from now everyone is going to be following in our footsteps and trying to hit that bar," Pope says.

    She's also presenting a children's cooking class at The Butcher's Ball. Now in its third year, the event shines a spotlight on farmers and ranchers who follow sustainable practices with a full day of tastings, competitions, demonstrations, and entertainment. "It is a great event, and I'm excited to be back this time," Pope says.

    "I think they try to do good, which is more than I can say for some of the food frenzy out-of-control stuff," she adds. "There is a good end to these events."

    Participating chefs include a number of former podcast guests, such as Dominick Lee (Poitin), Patrick Feges and Erin Smith (Feges BBQ), Bobby Matos (State of Grace, La Lucha), Ryan Lachaine (Riel), Sean "Buffalo" Carroll (Melange Creperie), and E.J. Miller (International Smoke). Tickets ($100) are available now.

    Prior to Pope joining the show, Sandler and co-host Rebecca Masson (chef-owner of Midtown's Fluff Bake Bar) discuss the news of the week. Their topics include a lively debate about the prospects of the chef residencies at Vinegar Hill, whether the shuttering of Smith & Wollensky means a slowing down of Houston's steakhouse boom, and how much they're looking forward to the arrival of Light Years, the new natural wine bar and shop in Montrose. In the restaurant of the week segment, the duo rave about their meal at Eunice, the Cajun-Creole brasserie that recently opened near Greenway Plaza.

    ---

    Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on iTunes or Google Play. Listen to it every Saturday at 11 am on SportsMap 94.1.

    Monica Pope is this week's guest.

    Monica Pope head shot
      
    Courtesy photo
    Monica Pope is this week's guest.
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    Texas Tastemakers

    Best Texas restaurants and chefs honored with 2025 Tastemaker Awards

    Amber Heckler
    May 13, 2025 | 10:02 am
    Leo's River Oaks
    Photo by Andrew Hemingway
    Best New Restaurant: Leo's River Oaks.

    CultureMap has finally completed its statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with the 2025 Tastemaker Awards.

    The series kicked off April 3 with our Houston Tastemaker Awards at Silver Street Studios, then we moved south to San Antonio on April 10 for our biggest party there yet, at the Briscoe Museum.

    We then headed to North Texas for our Fort Worth celebration at 4 Eleven on April 23, followed by our Dallas celebration at Astoria Event Venue on May 1.

    Last, but certainly not least, our Texas culinary tour finished strong with our Austin fête at Fair Market on May 8.

    The 2025 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' brilliant and diverse culinary landscape and honored those who've made the biggest impact in the past year. Our nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their flavorful bites and treats during each of the celebrations, and winners were revealed in an onstage ceremony.

    Guests dined on chef-created dishes and sipped on a variety of creative batched cocktails. But nothing could take away the focus from our acclaimed nominees and winners, who are the main reason we bring these celebrations to life year after year.

    Nominees were, as always, determined by a panel of local industry experts, including previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap staff. They voted on winners in categories such as Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, and more. The champion in the Best New Restaurant category was determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament.

    Our 2025 “wild card” category was a competition for Best Coffee Shop in each of our cities; the ones that keep us caffeinated and happy day after day.

    Readers in each city got to know all the nominees through a special editorial series for weeks leading up to the events.

    Now without further delay, let’s meet our 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Award winners all across Texas, listed by city:

    Houston:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Baso
    • Chef of the Year: Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
    • Bar of the Year: Johnny’s Gold Brick
    • Best New Restaurant: Leo’s River Oaks
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jacques Varon and Max Lappe, Baso
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Stephanie Velasquez, Ema/Papalo
    • Bartender of the Year: Aaron Lara, Kira
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
    • Best Pop-Up/Startup: Suu Khin, Burmalicious
    • Best Coffee Shop: Blacksmith

    San Antonio:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Ladino
    • Chef of the Year: John Russ, Clementine
    • Best New Restaurant: Freight Fried Chicken
    • Bar of the Year: Gimme Gimme
    • Brewery of the Year: Roadmap Brewing Co.
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cullum’s Attagirl
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Alessia Benavides, Chocolatl
    • Best Coffee Shop: Folklores Coffee House

    Fort Worth:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Teddy Wongs
    • Chef of the Year: Alessandro Salvatore, Bocca Osteria Romana
    • Bar of the Year: The Rabbit Hole Pub
    • Best New Restaurant: Whiskey Cake
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Steve Hoogeboom, 61 Osteria
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Lindsey Lawing, Sweet Lucy's Pies
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Bodega South Main
    • Best Barbecue: Panther City BBQ
    • Best Coffee Shop: Avoca Coffee Roasters

    Dallas:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Mister Charles
    • Chef of the Year: Jeff Bekavac, Goodwins
    • Bar of the Year: Columbian Country Club
    • Best New Restaurant: Nikki Greek Bistro & Lounge
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Roman Murphy, Perch Bistro
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Ryan Stipp, Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Porch
    • Best Eatertainment: Chicken N Pickle
    • Best Coffee Shop: Merit Coffee

    Austin:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Este
    • Chef of the Year: Peter Klein, Holiday
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Heejae Galluccio, Birdie’s
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Abby Love, Abby Jane Bakeshop
    • Bar of the Year: Equipment Room
    • Best New Restaurant: Tancho Sushi
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Little Darlin’
    • Brewery of the Year: St. Elmo Brewing Co.
    • Best Coffee Shop: Desnudo Coffee

    Leo's River Oaks
      
    Photo by Andrew Hemingway

    Best New Restaurant in Houston for 2025: Leo's River Oaks.

    The Houston Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Stella Artois, Chardon, Jim Beam Black, Ritual Zero Proof, Seedlip, Valencia's Tex-Mex Garage, Hornitos, Ghost Hill Organic Vodka, and PicMe Events. A portion of proceeds benefited our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

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