2013 Houston Culinary Awards Finalists Announcement

August 1, 2013: Today kicks off voting for the 2013 Houston Culinary Awards. My Table magazine founded the Houston Culinary Awards 17 years ago, and today this is the Houston restaurant world’s most prestigious awards program.

Each of the 25 award categories below originally had between 12 and a staggering 35 nominees. In late June our hard-working nominating committee — made up of sponsors’ reps and local food writers — analyzed and argued over each until we pulled seven finalists per category.

Below, you’ll see the seven 2013 finalists in each category. We have also included all past winners in each category, in case you’re curious. Note: We wait five years before entering a past winner back into the pool of nominees. In other words, a winner has to sit out their category for five years.

Want to buy tickets to the awards dinner on Sunday, October 6, at The Houstonian? The evening includes a cocktail party, sit-down dinner and lively awards ceremony. Seats are $150 each, and a table of 10 is $1500. For event details — including who is on the culinary dream team cooking up our stunning dinner — click here.

The Houston Culinary Awards dinner, which is open to everyone, always sells out. Avoid disappointment and buy your tickets now.

 

1. RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR

  • Laurenzo Family (Laurenzo’s, El Tiempo)
  • Marco Wiles (Da Marco, Dolce Vita, Poscól)
  • Michael Cordúa (Americas, Artista, etc.)
  • Shepard Ross (BAC, Glass Wall)
  • Terrance Gallivan & Seth Siegel-Gardner (The Pass & Provisions)
  • Tony Vallone (Tony’s, Ciao Bello)
  • Tracy Vaught (Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s, etc.)
PAST WINNERS
1997 Robert Del Grande
1998 Alex Brennan-Martin
1999 Mark Cox
2000 Damian Mandola
2001 Michael Cordúa
2002 Frankie B. Mandola & Bubba Butera
2003 Tracy Vaught
2004 Claire Smith
2005 Charles Clark & Grant Cooper
2006 John Sheely
2007 Lance Fegen
2008 Bryan Caswell & Bill Floyd
2009 James Silk, Meagan Silk & Richard Knight
2010 Alex Brennan-Martin
2011 Harris Pappas & Chris Pappas
2012 Chris Shepherd

 

2. CHEF OF THE YEAR

  • Anita Jaisinghani (Indika, Pondicheri)
  • Brandi Key (Coppa)
  • Kevin Bryant (Eleven XI)
  • Kiran Verma (Kiran’s)
  • Manabu Horiuchi (Kata Robata)
  • Ryan Hildebrand (Triniti)
  • Ryan Pera (Revival Market)
PAST WINNERS
1997 Mark Cox
1998 Robert Del Grande
1999 Carl Walker
2000 Tony Ruppe
2001 Tim Keating
2002 Hugo Ortega
2003 Mark Holley
2004 Lance Fegen
2005 Robert Gadsby
2006 John Sheely
2007 Jason Gould
2008 Bryan Caswell
2009 Monica Pope
2010 Chris Shepherd
2011 Hugo Ortega
2012 Randy Evans

 

3. UP-AND-COMING CHEF OF THE YEAR (age 35 or younger)

  • Erin Smith (The Clumsy Butcher group)
  • Grant Gordon (Tony’s)
  • Justin Yu (Oxheart)
  • Kaz Edwards (Uchi)
  • Lyle Bento (Underbelly)
  • Mario Valdez (Rainbow Lodge)
  • Seth Siegel-Gardner & Terrence Gallivan (The Pass & Provisions)
PAST WINNERS
1997 Claire Smith
1998 Aaron Guest
1999 Hugo Ortega
2000 Alberto Baffoni
2001 Lance Fegen
2002 Scott Tycer
2003 Toby Joseph
2004 Randy Evans
2005 Bryan Caswell
2006 Jason Gould
2007 Jamie Zelko
2008 Jeff Axline
2009 Jose Luis Vela
2010 David Cordúa
2011 Philippe Gaston
2012 Matt Marcus

 

 4. OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE

  • Brasserie 19
  • Coppa Ristorante
  • Max’s Wine Dive
  • Oxheart
  • Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
  • Philippe Restaurant
  • Vic & Anthony’s
PAST WINNERS
1997 Rotisserie for Beef & Bird
1998 Cafe Annie
1999 Brennan’s
2000 Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
2001 Mark’s American Cuisine
2002 Scott’s Cellar
2003 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
2004 Vic & Anthony’s
2005 Ibiza
2006 Cafe Rabelais
2007 Catalan
2008 Reef
2009 Backstreet Cafe
2010 The Tasting Room
2011 Brennan’s of Houston
2013 13 Celsius

 

5. PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR (includes breadmakers)

  • Dominique Bocquier (Au Petit Paris)
  • Heath Wendell (Slow Dough)
  • Jody Stevens (Jodycakes)
  • Karen Man (Oxheart)
  • Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar)
  • Susan Molzan (Petite Sweets)
  • Vanessa O’Donnell (Ooh La La, Katy)
PAST WINNERS
1999 Marilyn Descours
2000 Emmy Vest
2001 Sara Brook
2002 Susan Molzan
2003 Ruben Ortega
2004 Thierry Tellier
2005 Pam Manovich
2006 Lisa Biggerstaff
2007 Rebecca Masson
2008 Catherine Rodriguez
2009 Katie Leggett
2010 Ruben Ortega
2011 Bobby Jucker
2012 Monica Glenn

 

6. OUTSTANDING BAR SERVICE

  • Down House
  • El Gran Malo
  • Goro & Gun
  • Grand Prize
  • Hugo’s
  • Mockingbird Bistro
  • The Original OKRA Charity Saloon
PAST WINNERS
1999 La Griglia
2000 Mercury Room
2001 Brennan’s
2002 Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
2003 Downing Street Ltd.
2004 The Sam [Bar]
2005 Uptown Sushi
2006 Bar Annie
2007 Hugo’s
2008 Gravitas
2009 Anvil Bar & Refuge
2010 Capital Grille
2011 Brennan’s of Houston
2012 Truluck’s Steak & Stone Crab

 

7. SERVICE PERSON OF THE YEAR (includes dining room managers)

  • Jon Paul (The Steakhouse, Galveston)
  • Mary Donna Moceri (Grotto)
  • Matthew Hunt (Uchi)
  • Michael Fulmer (Triniti)
  • Shepard Ross (Brooklyn Athletic Club)
  • Tim Neely (Rainbow Lodge)
  • Tina Nguyen (Sullivan’s Steakhouse)
PAST WINNERS
1999 Tom Jensen
2000 Tino Escobedo
2001 Pino Sanchez
2002 Armando Rivera
2003 Maeve Pesquera
2004 Chris Shepherd
2005 Isidro Neri
2006 Bill Floyd
2007 Shepard Ross
2008 Kathryne Castellanos
2009 Mark “Bubba” St. Cyr
2010 Sean Beck
2011 Hector Andrade
2012 Matthew Pridgen

 

8. HOUSTON CLASSIC (a restaurant in business for 10 or more years)

  • Backstreet Cafe
  • Fung’s Kitchen
  • Hugo’s
  • Ouisie’s Table
  • Pico’s Mex-Mex
  • Tony’s
  • Vic & Anthony’s
PAST WINNERS
2008 Brennan’s
2009 Goode Co. Texas Barbeque
2010 Carrabba’s
2011 Niko Niko’s
2012 Ninfa’s on Navigation

 

9. BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

  • Brasserie 19
  • Brenner’s on the Bayou
  • Oxheart
  • Philippe Restaurant
  • The Pass & Provisions
  • Triniti
  • Uchi
PAST WINNERS
1999 Américas (Post Oak)
2000 Masraff’s on Post Oak Lane
2001 Zula
2002 Pesce
2003 Artista
2004 Bank Jean-Georges
2005 Bistro Moderne
2006 Glass Wall
2007 *17/Alden Hotel
2008 The Grove
2009 Mark’s American Cuisine
2010 Américas (The Woodlands)
2011 Brennan’s of Houston
2012 Américas (River Oaks)

 

10. BEST NEW RESTAURANT (must have opened since June 1, 2012)

  • Brooklyn Athletic Club
  • Eatsie Boys Cafe
  • Eleven XI
  • Etoile Cuisine et Bar
  • MF Sushi
  • Sparrow Bar + Cookshop
  • The Pass & Provisions
PAST WINNERS
1999 Tony Ruppe’s
2000 Masraff’s on Post Oak Lane
2001 Pesce
2002 Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar
2003 Hugo’s
2004 Bank Jean-Georges
2005 Noé
2006 Glass Wall
2007 Reef
2008 The Grove
2009 Benjy’s on Washington
2010 Haven
2011 El Real Tex-Mex
2012 Uchi
 
 

PART 2: HOUSTON FOODIE STAR AWARDS

1. FAVORITE BAKERY

  • Angela’s Oven
  • El Bolillo
  • French Gourmet Bakery & Cafe
  • Kraftsmen Baking
  • Petite Sweets
  • Ruggles Cafe Bakery
  • Rustika Cafe & Bakery
PAST WINNERS
2010 French Riviera Bakery & Cafe
2011 Three Brothers Bakery
2012 Slow Dough Bread Co.

 

2. FAVORITE BARBECUE

  • Brooks’ Place BBQ
  • Corkscrew BBQ
  • Gatlin’s BBQ
  • Killen’s BBQ
  • Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Que
  • The Brisket House
  • Virgie’s Bar-B-Que
PAST WINNERS
2010 Goode Co. Texas Barbeque
2011 Luling City Market
2012 Pappas Bar-B-Que

 

3. FAVORITE BREAKFAST

  • Barnaby’s
  • Blacksmith
  • Down House
  • Fountain View Cafe
  • Kenny & Ziggy’s
  • Ouisie’s Table
  • Revival Market
PAST WINNERS
2010 The Buffalo Grille
2011 The Breakfast Klub
2012 Tiny Boxwood’s

 

4. FAVORITE BURGER

  • Burger Guys
  • Christian’s Tailgate
  • Lankford Grocery
  • Little Big’s
  • Little Bitty Burger Barn
  • Mockingbird Bistro
  • Underbelly
PAST WINNERS
2010 Becks Prime
2011 Hubcap Grill
2012 Bernie’s Burger Bus

 

5. FAVORITE COFFEEHOUSE

  • Blacksmith
  • Boomtown Coffee
  • Catalina Coffee
  • Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails
  • Inversion Coffee House
  • Revival Market
  • Southside Espresso
PAST WINNERS
2010 Empire Cafe
2011 Brasil
2012 Paulie’s

 

6. FAVORITE HOUSTON FOOD BLOG

  • Arbitrary Criticism (Catherine Martin)
  • Blue Jean Gourmet (Nishta Mehra)
  • CultureMap
  • Eater Houston
  • H Town Chow Down (Albert Nurick)
  • Houston Foodie (J.C. Reid)
  • Urban Swank (Felice Sloan & Shanna Jones)
PAST WINNERS
2010 Cook’s Tour (Alison Cook)
2011 29.95.com
2012 “Eating Our Words,” Houston Press

 

7. FAVORITE MOM & POP ETHNIC

  • Aladdin (Mideastern)
  • El Rey (Mexican)
  • Flor de Cuba (Cuban)
  • Himalayan Restaurant (Pakistani)
  • Huynh (Vietnamese)
  • Istanbul (Turkish)
  • Pollo Bravo (Peruvian)
PAST WINNERS
2010 Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill
2011 Niko Niko’s
2012 Mai’s

 

8. FAVORITE FOOD TRUCK/CART

  • Brooks Place BBQ
  • H-Town StrEATS
  • Koagie Hots
  • Mélange Crêperie
  • Phamily Bites
  • Pi Pizza
  • St. John’s Fire
PAST WINNERS
2010 Little Miss Cupcake
2011 Eatsie Boys
2012 Bernie’s Burger Bus

 

9. FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SPOT (serves food after 11 pm)

  • Dot’s Coffee Shop
  • FuFu Cafe
  • Little Big’s
  • Mai’s
  • Pho Binh by Night
  • Tacos a Go-Go
  • The Hay Merchant
PAST WINNERS
2010 House of Pies
2011 Katz’s Deli
2012 BB’s Cafe (Montrose location)

 

10. FAVORITE BARTENDER

  • Alba Huerta (The Clumsy Butcher group)
  • Alexander Gregg (Goro & Gun)
  • Bill Boyd (Grand Prize)
  • James Watkins (Cordúa group)
  • Jeremy Olivier (Down House)
  • Joe Hausner (Eleven XI)
  • Sheridan Fay (El Gran Malo)
PAST WINNERS
2010 Sean Beck
2011 Justin T. Burrow
2012 Bobby Heugel

 

11. FAVORITE OUTDOOR DINING

  • Batanga
  • Brennan’s of Houston
  • Brooklyn Athletic Club
  • El Gran Malo
  • Eleven XI
  • Haven
  • The Grove
PAST WINNERS
2010 Backstreet Cafe
2011 Brenner’s on the Bayou
2012 Tiny Boxwood’s

 

12. FAVORITE SUPERMARKET

  • 99 Ranch Market
  • Canino’s Produce Market
  • Hubbell & Hudson
  • Phoenicia Specialty Foods
  • Revival Market
  • Sprouts Farmers Market
  • Super H Mart
PAST WINNERS
2010 Central Market
2011 H*E*B
2012 Whole Foods

 

13. FAVORITE BAR OR PUB

  • 13 Celsius
  • Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar
  • El Gran Malo
  • Grand Prize Bar
  • Liberty Station
  • Mongoose Versus Cobra
  • The Original OKRA Charity Saloon
PAST WINNERS
2010 Anvil Bar & Refuge
2011 The Ginger Man
2012 The Hay Merchant

 

14. FAVORITE SWEETS/ICE CREAM

  • Araya Artisan Chocolate
  • Cloud 10 Creamery
  • Crave Cupcakes
  • Fat Cat Creamery
  • Fluff Bake Bar
  • Michael’s Cookie Jar
  • Petite Sweets
PAST WINNERS
2010 The Chocolate Bar
2011 Amy’s Ice Creams
2012 Hank’s Ice Cream Parlor

 

15. FAVORITE WINE SELLER

  • Cha
  • 13 Celsius
  • French Country Wines
  • Houston Wine Merchant
  • Richard’s Liquors & Fine Wines
  • Sonoma Retail Wine Bar & Boutique
  • Vine Wine Room
PAST WINNERS
2010 Spec’s
2011 Central Market
2012 The Tasting Room
 

Ready to vote? Click here. Voting for the 2013 Houston Culinary Awards is open until August 31, 2013.

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