We've only barely recovered: CultureMap's statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with 2024 Tastemaker Awards has finally come to an end.
The series kicked off March 27 with our sold-out Houston Tastemakers at Silver Street Studios, then we moved south to San Antonio for our third-ever fiesta at the Briscoe Museum on April 4.
We stuck around in Central Texas for the festivities at Distribution Hall in Austin on April 11, then headed north to Fort Worth for our biggest celebration there yet on May 2. The Texas culinary tour concluded with our North Texas neighbors in Dallas at the Fashion Industry Gallery on May 16.
The 2024 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' most innovative culinary pioneers, as nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their talents for guests with delicious bites and treats before our emcees announced the winners during the live ceremony.
Guests dined on our venerated chefs’ specialty hors d'oeuvres, sipped on a variety of creative batched cocktails, and stayed hydrated with a chilled Topo Chico in hand. 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 are, as always, produced by a panel of previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap staff. While our judges vote on most of the winners, the champion in the Best New Restaurant category is determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. New to the 2024 categories in each city was a competition for the best patio.
Without further ado, let’s meet our 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners all across Texas, listed by city:
- Restaurant of the Year: Tatemó
- Chef of the Year: Luis Mercardo and Paolo Justo, Neo
- Bar of the Year: Refuge
- Best New Restaurant: Andiron
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Lucas McKinney, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
- Bartender of the Year: Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Burger Bodega
- Wine Program of the Year: March
- Best Pop-Up/Startup: Jane Wild
- Best Patio: Better Luck Tomorrow
- Restaurant of the Year: Leche de Tigre
- Chef of the Year: Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack
- Best New Restaurant: Thai Bird
- Bar of the Year: Bar Loretta
- Brewery of the Year: Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Clementine
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Jenn Riesman, Rooster Crow Bakery
- Best Patio: The Good Kind Southtown
- Restaurant of the Year: Canje
- Chef of the Year: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie's
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eli Rodriguez, Bufalina Due
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
- Bar of the Year: Holiday
- Bartender of the Year: Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
- Best New Restaurant: Poeta
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Birdie's
- Brewery of the Year: Jester King Brewery
- Best Patio: Jester King Brewery
- Restaurant of the Year: 61 Osteria
- Chef of the Year: Preston Paine, Emilia's, The Blue Room
- Bar of the Year: Thompson's Bookstore
- Best New Restaurant: Plank Seafood Provisions
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Michael Rios, Pantry on Magnolia
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Tareka Lofton, Loft22 Cakes
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Los Asaderos
- Best Patio: Joe T. Garcia's
- Restaurant of the Year: Petra & The Beast
- Chef of the Year: Noah Hester, Hamm's Meat & Market
- Bar of the Year: Whiskeys Dallas
- Best New Restaurant: McRae's American Bistro
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Will Salisbury, Carbone
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Tida Pichakron, Haute Sweets Patisserie
- Bartender of the Year: Fernanda Rossano, Kaiyo
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Terilli's
- Wine Program of the Year: Sister
- Best Patio: Taco Y Vino
Andiron is Houston's best new restaurant.
