• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Meet the Tastemakers

    Houston's best food pop-ups tempt diners with creative 'cue, exotic eats, and smash burgers

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 16, 2023 | 4:21 pm

    Of all the categories in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, Best Pop-Up/Startup is distinct. First introduced in 2021, it recognizes food-based businesses that don’t operate in traditional bar or restaurant settings.

    These entrepreneurs reach consumers in a variety of ways, including online sales, farmers markets, and pop-ups at bars and breweries. That scarcity — and the if you know, you know aspect of occasional service — helps motivate people to experience these creations before they’re gone.

    The trend shows no signs of slowing down. Consider this year's Best New Restaurant and Rising Star Chef of the Year categories that feature several former Best Pop-Up/Startup nominees, including Neo, Tatemó, and Louie’s Italian American. How many of this year’s nominees will make the transition to full-time restaurants remains to be scene, but all are worthy of recognition.

    Trill Burgers cheeseburger smash burger
      
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Trill Burgers has been a smash hit (get it?).

    Who will win? Find out April 13 at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as our emcee Bun B reveals the winners. Buy your tickets before they sell out.

    Ally Barrera - Sweet Bee's Bakehouse 
    Some of the Houston area’s best croissants come from Barrera’s Pearland kitchen. Expertly laminated with a crispy exterior and a delicate interior, they’re a sight to see. In addition to traditional flavors, Barrera prepares croissants filled with flavors such as hazelnut chocolate, guava cream cheese, and Doritos. The chef contributes more sophisticated, plated desserts to 5Kinokawa, the omakase restaurant in the Heights.

    Andrea de Gortari - The Bake Happening 
    Houstonians turn to The Bake Happening for elaborate custom cakes — say, a chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream and salted caramel that’s decorated with images from the TV show Justified or Godfather-themed cookies complete with a severed horse head. De Gortari raised her profile with a winning appearance on an episode of Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. She regularly participates in pop-up markets that promote BIPOC creators or in support of the LGBTQIA community.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
    View this post on Instagram
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A post shared by Andrea de Gortari (@the_bake_happening)
     


    Andy Nguyen and Bun B - Trill Burgers 
    Arguably, the California restaurateur and Houston hip-hop legend have teamed up to create the city’s most successful pop-up of all time. People line up for hours for a Trill Burger, and it earned the prize of America’s top burger spot from a panel of celebrity judges on Good Morning America. Credit the simplicity of a classic smash burger that gets a boost from its signature Trill sauce and sauteed onions. Trill Burgers will utilize the momentum from another successful run at the Rodeo to launch its eagerly anticipated brick and mortar restaurant in the Montrose area.

    Don Nguyen - Khói Barbecue 
    For a man with a day job, Nguyen devotes considerable effort to making his Vietnamese-influenced barbecue. Not only did he reach the finals of season three of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl and begin bottling his signature curry sauce, he acquired property north of downtown to serve as Khói’s base of operations. That’s good news for people who look forward to Nguyen’s barbecue brisket pho, beef rib curry bowls, housemade sausages, and other creations. The property has also allowed Khói to host collaboration dinners with other pitmasters.

    Jane Wild 
    No other chef in Houston may hustle harder than Jane Wild. She serves her “food for rebel souls” every Saturday at the Urban Harvest farmers market, every Sunday at either the Heights Mercantile or Rice Village markets, and at other markets around town. Regardless of where they find her, Houstonians will find Wild serving all manor of sweet and savory pastries, from breakfast muffins that contain an egg to gluten-free bagels, cookies, and her signature salted honey pie.

    Joseph Boudreaux - Boo's Burgers 
    Operating at the Tipping Point coffee shop and at pop-up markets around town, Bourdreaux’s smash burgers utilize good techniques. The chef developed a custom burger grind that mixes chuck and short rib, makes his own pickles, and tops them with a signature sauce. Recently, the chef has expanded his repertoire by serving gumbo and collaborating with Houston chef Dawn Burrell on a Thanksgiving-themed pop-up.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
    View this post on Instagram
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A post shared by Joseph Boudreaux (@whos_boudreaux)
     


    Joseph Quellar and Cindy Conde - JQ's Tex-Mex BBQ 
    Quellar and Conde have built their business around birria tacos that use smoked brisket that’s bathed in consomme, covered in cheese, and cooked on a griddle until the corn tortilla gets nice and crispy. The duo have also built a following for their smoked fajitas tacos and brisket tamales that get a boost from housemade salsas. A permanent weekend residency at Heights-area coffee shop Amsterdam Company means obtaining the tacos will be easier than ever.

    Suu Khin - Burmalicious by Suu 
    This Houstonian reached the finals on season 11 of Masterchef, Gordon Ramsay’s competition cooking show, by serving dishes inspired by her Burmese heritage. Building on that success, she’s making the transition from home cook to pop-up chef with a series of sold out dinners, appearances at different markets, and a recent collaboration with Musaafer chef Mayank Istwal. Anyone who’s sampled dishes such as samosa salad, crab curry, and laphet knows that Khin has a bright future in Houston’s culinary world.

    Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela - Willow's Texas BBQ 
    This dynamic duo put their spin on traditional barbecue by including elements of their Mexican heritage. Villarreal, who had a winning guest appearance on the barbecue-themed episode of Top Chef’s Houston-based season, turns out expertly-prepared brisket, ribs, sausage, and other proteins. Barela contributes sides such as jalapeno creamed corn, cole slaw, and her signature marinated tomatoes. Look for them at bars and breweries across the inner loop.

    tastemakers
    news/restaurants-bars
    popular
    series/2023-houston-tastemaker-awards
    series

    Matcha News

    TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha latte for Hill Country flood relief

    Teresa Gubbins
    Jul 11, 2025 | 9:30 am
    Keith Lee and matcha drink
    Instagram
    Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink.

    The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Texas-based TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

    Lee, a social media sensation whose online food reviews have benefited hundreds of small restaurants, is partnering with La La Land Kind Cafe on a special drink: Called the La La Land X Keith Lee Latte, it's a matcha drink in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Kerr County flood relief.

    La La Land is the coffee chain founded in Dallas in 2019 with a mission to provide opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need. It has three locations in Houston, along with 10 across Dallas-Fort Worth and six in Southern California.

    The new Keith Lee Latte will consist of double ceremonial matcha, with secret syrup, matcha cloud, a whole fresh strawberry, flaky salt, and matcha powder. (See Lee enjoy the latte in the video below.)


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
    View this post on Instagram
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A post shared by Keith Lee (@keith_lee125)
     


    Matcha is the Japanese green tea powder that has experienced a surge in popularity, appearing in everything from drinks like the matcha latte to desserts like matcha mousse.

     Keith Lee Latte Keith Lee Latte is a matcha drink.Instagram 

    Lee, who relocated to Dallas in 2024, has been on a matcha kick ever since he tried it in Chicago, which he says "led me down a rabbit hole," and it has become his trademark drink. In May, he visited seven cafes across DFW in search of the perfect matcha in town, and that included La La Land, where he ordered a matcha with almond milk.

    He also has a charitable history, including a special visit he made to Taste Project in Fort Worth to donate $4,000 to support the nonprofit's mission to fight food insecurity.

    The Keith Lee Latte will be available at all La La Land cafes beginning Friday July 11, for a limited time only. From July 11-27, 100 percent of all proceeds will support flood relief efforts in Kerr County — "a community in our home state that’s hurting," La La Land Cafe says.

    mediaweathercelebrities
    news/restaurants-bars
    popular
    series/2023-houston-tastemaker-awards
    series
    Loading...