CFF lineup revealed

Houston's top chefs and hottest new restaurants star in farm-to-table food festival returning this fall

A Dallas-based food festival will return to Houston for its second year. Chefs for Farmers will be held Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 at Autry Park, the new mixed-use development near the intersection of Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive.

Saturday’s event is a barbecue-themed happening titled “You Can’t Handle the Truth.” Led by Truth BBQ owner Leonard Botello IV, the event will also feature chefs such as Christian Hernandez (Albi), Travis Lenig (Field & Tides), and three representatives from Blood Bros. BBQ: co-owner Robin Wong, chef Arash Kharat, and pitmaster/co-owner Quy Hoang.

It also offers a first taste of four restaurants that will open at Autry Park later this year: Annabelle Brasserie; an all-day restaurant from Berg Hospitality; Turner's Cut, a luxurious steakhouse from Berg Hospitality; Auden, a globally inspired, vegetable-forward restaurant; and Mayahuel, a Mexico City-inspired cantina and cocktail bar.

At Sunday’s “Flavor Face Off,” attendees will vote for their favorite creation from a roster of more than 25 participants. Headliners include James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega (representing Backstreet Cafe), Top Chef finalist Evelyn Garcia and her business partner Henry Lu (Jun), CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Rising Star Chef of the Year nominee Jerrod Zifchak (Navy Blue), and James Beard Award semifinalist Alex Au-Yeung. (See below for a full list of participants for both days.)

Early bird pricing for both days is $135 for general admission and $180 for VIP passes that offer entering an hour earlier. Prices rise to $150 and $200, respectively, on Saturday, August 19. Tickets include food, wine, beer, cocktails, live entertainment, and more.

Having covered the “chefs” aspect of the event, let’s turn to “for farmers.” According to press materials, the event worked with local nonprofit Urban Harvest to identify local farmers who will supply ingredients for the chef’s dishes. CFF hopes to foster relationships between the participating chefs and farmers in the hope of exposing the farmers to new customers.

A representative tells CultureMap that each participating chef is given a $200 stipend to spend with the local farmer they partner with. Confirmed farms include Animal Farm, Stakar Farms Wagyu, Laughing Frog Farm, Blackwood Educational Land Institute, and Verdegreens Farms.

In addition, the Houston Food Bank will be on-site promoting its Empty Bowls fundraiser. Created by local artists, each $25 bowl sold benefits the food bank. Last year, CFF donated $5,000 to Urban Harvest and $5,000 to the Houston Food Bank, which also raised an additional $1,500 from selling bowls.

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Participants for Saturday, September 30

Albi – Christian Hernandez
Annabelle Brasserie and Turner’s Cut – Russell Kirkham
Auden – Kirthan Shenoy
Blood Bros BBQ – Robin Wong, Quy Hoang, Arash Kharat
Chi’Lantro BBQ – Ryan Sumagaysay
Craft Creamery – Steve Marques
Davis St. at Hermann Park – Mark Holley
Field & Tides – Travis Lenig
Georgia James – Greg Peters
Loch Bar – Aaron Panganiban
Mayahuel – Luis Robledo Richards
SmallBites Mini Donuts – Erika Villarreal
Truth BBQ – Leonard Botello IV
Wolfgang Puck Catering Houston Commissary – Larry de la Flor

Participants for Sunday, October 1

Amrina – Jassi Bindra
Andiron – Mario Da Silva
Backstreet Café – Hugo Ortega
Brasserie 19 – Michael J. Hoffman
Craft Creamery – Steve Marques
Degust – Micah Rideout
Eau Tour – Kent Domas
Eunice – Drake Leonards
Frankie B. Mandola’s Catering – Adolfo Monjaras
Hidden Omakase – Marcos Juarez
Jūn – Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu
Lees Den – Maria Gonzalez
Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette – Luis Machuca
Lick Honest Ice Creams – Anthony Sobotik & Kendall Melton
Local Foods – Geoff Hundt
Lulu’s – Jose Monterrosa
Magnol French Baking – Otto Sanchez
Mayahuel – Luis Robledo Richards
Navy Blue – Jerrod Zifchak
Nobu Houston – Joe Murphy
Ostia – Travis McShane and Ray Melendi
Phat Eatery – Alex Au-Yeung
Rainbow Lodge – Mark Schmidt
Roma – Shanon Scott
Rosewood Beef – Michael Scott
Th Prsrv – David Skinner
Toro Toro – Paul Peddle
Wild Concepts – German Mosquera

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

Sample dishes from more than 25 restaurants at Chefs for Farmers.

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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.

news-you-can-eat openings honest mary's

CFF lineup revealed

Houston's top chefs and hottest new restaurants star in farm-to-table food festival returning this fall

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Bowling over Houston

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

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