Winners of the CultureMap Tastemaker awards like Chef Chris Shepherd of Georgia James pictured above were announced last week
This month the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards announced the winners of their annual celebration of Texan culinary talent. According to the CultureMap website, their mission “is to shine a spotlight on the people making the local restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity.” We were honored to see so many of our customers recognized for their vision, and we are so grateful to work with each and every one.
Houston:
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Felipe Riccio, Rosie Cannonball
Felipe Riccio fuses Italian, French, and Spanish techniques honed during his time training in Europe to create delicious comfort food with vegetables sourced from Rosie Cannonball’s farm located just outside Houston and locally-sourced meats. The lively atmosphere is largely influenced by the energetic dining cultures of Southern Europe. This is an amazing accomplishment for such a young chef, and we expect to see a lot more of him in the coming years!
Uses: Bonn and Enjoy by Bauscher; Ecco by Hepp; Barock and Unic by WMF; Mixology and Sublime by Luigi Bomioli
Best New Restaurant: MAD
MAD (De Madrid al Cielo) is aptly named for its homage to Madrid’s nightlife and the very best of Spanish cuisine. Their innovative tapas and shareable plates can be paired with delicious craft cocktails and their top-notch wine cellar. It’s been a hit since its opening last summer, and it’s not hard to see why!
Uses: Bach and Mixology by Luigi Bormioli
Bar of the Year: Monkey’s Tail
Monkey’s Tail creates a relaxed atmosphere with tropical cocktails and American cuisine like burgers, hot dogs, and pizza with a Latinx twist. The casual setting makes it suitable for a casual lunch with friends or a night on the town!
Uses: Ombre by Tafelstern; Bach, Aero, Michelangelo, and Atelier by Luigi Bormioli; Honey by Vidivi
Hero Award: Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke Foundation
This is an initiative we’re very familiar with, as we just posted about Shepherd’s amazing Southern Smoke Foundation a few weeks ago. Award-winning Chef
Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 that has a history of helping those in need. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and closures, Southern Smoke has distributed more than $3.8 million to laid off and furloughed restaurant workers across the country looking to pay the bills.
Uses: Options and B1100 by Bauscher; Ombre by Tafelstern; Carlton by Hepp; Unic by WMF; Atelier and Strauss by Luigi Bormioli; Nara by Playground
Dallas:
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Toby Archibald, Georgie by Curtis Stone
This New Zealand native is a talented chef who has worked with some of the top chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe such as The Greenhouse in London and Café Boulud in Toronto and New York City. Certainly a well deserved recipient of the Rising Star Award, and we can’t wait to see how high he can go.
Uses: See below under Best New Restaurant
Best New Restaurant: Georgie by Curtis Stone
Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone brings his love for top-quality, sustainably-sourced meat and the freshest seasonal ingredients to Georgie. Dining is an experience there, as evidenced by their steak tartare which arrives to the table under a smoke-filled glass dome. In addition to the lavish restaurant space, Georgie also sports a butcher shop.
Uses: Cosy Cottage and Marble by Tafelstern; Baguette by Hepp; Bach by Luigi Bormioli
We know this is a trying time for our industry, which is why we're continuously updating our Covid-19 Resources and Aid page with information about grants and initiatives to help.
