Celebrating culinary all-stars

Toast Houston's top restaurant and bar stars at 2025 Tastemaker Awards

Join us for the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards on April 3.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Save the date for the tastiest food and drink event of the season: The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards return this spring to celebrate Houston's top restaurant and bar talent — and discounted tickets are on sale now.

Join us April 3 at Silver Street Studios for our signature tasting event and annual awards ceremony. You'll enjoy a full evening of chef-driven bites, perfectly paired sips, and the big reveal of the Houston Tastemaker Award winners for 2025.

The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards program shines a spotlight on the people and places that make Texas' top cities world-class culinary destinations.

Houston is just the beginning. Mark your calendars for our other 2025 events:

San Antonio: April 10 at The Briscoe Western Art Museum
Fort Worth: April 23 at The 4 Eleven
Dallas: May 1 at Astoria Event Venue
Austin: May 8 at Fair Market

This year in Houston, we'll present awards for Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bar of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Rising Star Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best Pop-up/Startup, and Best Coffee Shop.

Our panel of industry experts — including past Tastemaker winners — selects all nominees and winners, except for the Best New Restaurant winner, which will be determined by you, our readers, in a heated online tournament.

The 2025 Houston Tastemaker Awards nominees will be unveiled soon, and readers will get to know all of our nominees in a special editorial series leading up to the big event on April 3.

A limited number of pre-sale tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event, valet, and a dedicated bar). Prices will go up soon.

More delicious details about each event are coming soon. But don't delay: Nab tickets for Houston — and all of our 2025 events — now.

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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Stella Artois, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of Houston proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

awards ceremony best bar best restaurant culinary event silver street studios southern smoke foundation tastemaker tastemaker awards tastemakers

riel returns

Shuttered Houston restaurant revived for 1 night only at Canada Day pop-up

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

One of the saddest restaurant closures of 2025 will get a one-night-only revival. Favorite dishes from Riel will return at Chardon on Sunday, June 28 for an event being called “Booze Can Sunday.”

While a French fine dining restaurant might seem like an unlikely host for a Riel revival, Chardon executive chef E.J. Miller once served as Riel’s opening sous chef. Miller invited his former boss, Riel chef-owner Ryan Lachaine, to join him for a pop-up that honors Canada Day.

Together, the duo will serve some of Riel’s most popular dishes, including:

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies
Steak Au Poivre Poutine with Cheese Curds
Deli Dog
Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders
Torche Kolaches
Mushroom Empanadas
Gator Karaage
Maple Whiskey Soft Serve with Foie Caram

The day will also feature drink specials such as Canadian Jell-O Shots, Molson X, Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, and more. Robin Wong, a co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and a successful DJ, will spin throughout the event.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

"Riel was a special place for a lot of people, and Booze Can Sunday was always one of the most anticipated events of the week," said Miller. "Ryan and I wanted to bring back that energy for one day, celebrate the restaurant that meant so much to us, and give guests a chance to revisit some of the dishes and memories they loved."

Riel Restaurant Ryan Lachaine E.J. Miller A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by Eric Sandler

Riel opened in January 2017 and closed in August 2025. In between, it earned wide acclaim for the way Lachaine blended his Canadian upbringing and Ukrainian heritage with the modern Gulf Coast cuisine he learned while working at restaurants such as Reef and Underbelly.

Currently, Lachaine works as the executive chef at River Oaks restaurant State of Grace. He added two Riel signatures to State of Grace’s menu — the caviar tater tots and signature butter burgers.

Chardon, which earned a Best New Restaurant nomination in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for its blend of classic French fare with Texas ingredients, opened in February 2025. In addition to Riel, Miller’s resume includes SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, International Smoke, and Muse.

Booze Can Sunday takes place from 3-9 pm. Attendees are encouraged to register on Eventbrite.

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