Earlier this evening, hundreds of Houston’s brightest culinary stars gathered in the ballroom of The Houstonian Hotel for the presentation of My Table magazine’s 2015 Houston Culinary Awards.
The gala evening was hosted by Teresa Byrne-Dodge, publisher/editor of My Table magazine, emceed by St. John Flynn of Houston Public Media and presented by Sysco. The city’s top chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders, farmers’ market vendors, bakers, wine pros, food-truck owners and passionate foodies gathered to honor finalists and winners of the 2015 Houston Culinary Awards. The evening also included a special tribute to veteran restaurateurs Tony and Donna Vallone, recipients of the 17th Legends of Houston Restaurants Award.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds benefited the Grant Gordon Foundation, which addresses issues in the medical field that further suicide prevention amongst those suffering from neurological diseases such as MS.
Finalists and winners of the 2015 Houston Culinary Awards are shown below, with the winners bolded in red. Winners of the past five years in each category are also shown. We expect to have photos available soon, so check our Facebook page for updates. Also coming soon: our video with highlights from the evening.
PART I: HOUSTON CULINARY AWARDS
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Ian Rosenberg & Mike Sammons (Weights + Measures, 13 Celsius, Mongoose versus Cobra)
Michael Cordúa (Americas, Artista, Churrascos, etc.)
Rick & Shiva Di Virgilio (Oporto, Oporto Midtown, The Queen Vic)
Ronnie Killen (Killen’s Steakhouse, Killen’s Barbecue)
Shepard Ross (BAC, Glass Wall, Pax Americana)
Tony Vallone (Tony’s, Ciao Bello, Vallone’s)
Treadsack Group (Down House, D&T Drive Inn, Johnny’s Gold Brick)
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 ALEX BRENNAN-MARTIN
2011 HARRIS PAPPAS & CHRIS PAPPAS
2012 CHRIS SHEPHERD
2013 SETH SIEGEL-GARDNER & TERRENCE GALLIVAN
2014 TRACY VAUGHT
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Danny Trace (Brennan’s)
Ja’Nel Witt (former executive chef at Corner Table)
Jose Hernandez (Radio Milano)
Luis Roger (BCN Taste & Tradition)
Manabu Horiuchi (Kata Robata)
Richard Kaplan (Weights & Measures)
Ryan Pera (Coltivare, Revival Market)
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 CHRIS SHEPHERD
2011 HUGO ORTEGA
2012 RANDY EVANS
2013 BRANDI KEY
2014 RONNIE KILLEN
UP-AND-COMING CHEF OF THE YEAR
(age 35 or younger)
Adam Dorris, 32 (Pax Americana)
David Guerrero, 32 (Andes Cafe)
Erin Smith, 32 (Main Kitchen)
Justin Yu, 30 (Oxheart)
Kate McLean, 30 (Tony’s)
Omar Pereney, 21 (Peska Seafood Culture)
Terrence Gallivan & Seth Siegel-Gardner, both 35 (The Pass & Provisions)
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 DAVID CORDÚA
2011 PHILIPPE GASTON
2012 MATT MARCUS
2013 LYLE BENTO
2014 TRAVIS LENIG
OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE
Brasserie 19
Camerata
Hugo’s
Mockingbird Bistro
Oxheart
The Pass & Provisions
Underbelly
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 THE TASTING ROOM
2011 BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON
2012 13 CELSIUS
2013 MAX’S WINE DIVE
2014 PAPPAS BROS. STEAKHOUSE
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
(includes bread makers)
Jody Stevens (Jodycakes)
Johnny Wesley (Holley’s)
Karen Man (Oxheart)
Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar)
Samantha Mendoza (Triniti)
Susan Molzan (Petite Sweets)
Vanessa O’Donnell (Ooh La La)
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 RUBEN ORTEGA
2011 BOBBY JUCKER
2012 MONICA GLENN
2013 HEATH WENDELL
2014 ROY SHVARTZAPEL
OUTSTANDING BAR SERVICE
Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar
Down House
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos
Public Services Wine & Whiskey
Reserve 101
The Original OKRA Charity Saloon
Weights + Measures
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 CAPITAL GRILLE
2011 BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON
2012 TRULUCK’S STEAK & STONE CRAB
2013 HUGO’S
2014 TRINITI
SERVICE PERSON OF THE YEAR
(includes dining room managers)
Brendon Fetzer (Canopy, Woodbar)
Carlos Neri (Backstreet Cafe)
David Keck (Camerata)
Orlando Duque (Churrascos/Shepherd Plaza)
Sam Governale (Fleming’s)
Shepard Ross (Brooklyn Athletic Club)
Steven McDonald (Pappas Bros.)
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 SEAN BECK
2011 HECTOR ANDRADE
2012 MATTHEW PRIDGEN
2013 MATTHEW HUNT
2014 MICHAEL FULMER
HOUSTON CLASSIC
(a restaurant in business for 10 or more years)
Backstreet Cafe
Damian’s
Fung’s Kitchen
Molina’s
Ouisie’s Table
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos
Tony’s
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 CARRABBA’S
2011 NIKO NIKO’S
2012 NINFA’S ON NAVIGATION
2013 HUGO’S
2014 VIC & ANTHONY’S
BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
Brasserie 19
Caracol
Kuu
Oporto Fooding House & Wine
Peska
Triniti
Weights + Measures
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 AMÉRICAS (THE WOODLANDS)
2011 BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON
2012 AMÉRICAS (RIVER OAKS)
2013 BRENNER’S ON THE BAYOU
2014 LIBERTY KITCHEN & OYSTERETTE
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
(must have opened since June 1, 2014)
BCN Taste & Tradition
Bernie’s Burger Bus Stop
Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Oporto Fooding House & Wine
Pax Americana
Peska Seafood Culture
Weights + Measures
RECENT PAST WINNERS:
2010 HAVEN
2011 EL REAL TEX-MEX CAFE
2012 UCHI
2013 THE PASS & PROVISIONS
2014 LIBERTY KITCHEN & OYSTERETTE
PART II: HOUSTON FOODIE STAR AWARDS
FAVORITE BAKERY
Dessert Gallery
Drew’s Pastry Place
El Bolillo
Kraftsmen Baking
Petite Sweets
Rustika Cafe & Bakery
Take the Cake!
PAST WINNERS:
2010 FRENCH RIVIERA BAKERY & CAFE
2011 THREE BROTHERS BAKERY
2012 SLOW DOUGH BREAD CO.
2013 FRENCH GOURMET BAKERY & CAFE
2014 COMMON BOND
FAVORITE BARBECUE
Brooks’ Place BBQ
CorkScrew BBQ
Jackson Street BBQ
Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Que
Ray’s BBQ Shack
Roegels Barbecue Co.
Virgie’s Bar-B-Que
PAST WINNERS:
2010 GOODE CO. TEXAS BARBEQUE
2011 LULING CITY MARKET
2012 PAPPAS BAR-B-QUE
2013 GATLIN’S BBQ
2014 KILLEN’S BARBECUE
FAVORITE BARTENDER
Alba Huerta (Julep)
Alexander Gregg (Moving Sidewalk)
Chris Frankel (Spare Key)
Lainey Collum (Prohibition Supperclub)
Laurie Sheddan Harvey (Triniti)
Monica Richards (Picos)
Terry Williams (Anvil)
PAST WINNERS:
2010 SEAN BECK
2011 JUSTIN BURROW
2012 BOBBY HEUGEL
2013 SHERIDAN FAY
2014 RICHARD MIDDLETON
FAVORITE BREAKFAST
Adair Kitchen
Blacksmith
Common Bond
Down House
La Guadalupana
Revival Market
Weights + Measures
PAST WINNERS
2010 THE BUFFALO GRILLE
2011 THE BREAKFAST KLUB
2012 TINY BOXWOOD’S
2013 BARNABY’S
2014 AVALON DINER
FAVORITE BURGER
Brooklyn Athletic Club
Christian’s Tailgate
Down House
Jonathan’s The Rub
Mockingbird Bistro
Pappas Burger
RDG + Bar Annie
PAST WINNERS:
2010 BECKS PRIME
2011 HUBCAP GRILL
2012 BERNIE’S BURGER BUS
2013 LANKFORD GROCERY
2014 UNDERBELLY
FAVORITE COFFEEHOUSE
Agora
Catalina Coffee
Common Bond
Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails
Greenway Coffee & Tea
Siphon Coffee
Southside Espresso
PAST WINNERS:
2010 EMPIRE CAFE
2011 BRASIL
2012 PAULIE’S
2013 BLACKSMITH
2014 REVIVAL MARKET
FAVORITE FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR
(a new category as of 2014)
Animal Farm
Atkinson Farm
Blue Heron Farm
Georgia’s Grassfed Beef
Pat Greer’s Kitchen
Plant It Forward Farms
Wood Duck Farm
PAST WINNER:
2014 THE GRATEFUL BREAD
FAVORITE FOOD TRUCK/CART
Brooks Place BBQ
Cousins Maine Lobster
Pi Pizza
Tacos Tierra Caliente
Tandoori Nite
The Burger Joint
The Rice Box
PAST WINNERS:
2010 LITTLE MISS CUPCAKE
2011 EATSIE BOYS
2012 BERNIE’S BURGER BUS
2013 H-TOWN STREATS
2014 THE WAFFLE BUS
FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SPOT
(serves food after 11 pm)
Dot’s Coffee Shop
Jinya Ramen
Mai’s
Pho Binh by Night
Spanish Flowers
Theo’s
Weights + Measures
PAST WINNERS:
2010 HOUSE OF PIES
2011 KATZ’S DELI
2012 BB’S CAFE MONTROSE
2013 THE HAY MERCHANT
2014 TACOS A GO-GO
FAVORITE MOM & POP ETHNIC
Aladdin (Mideastern)
Cafe TH (Vietnamese)
Himalaya Restaurant (Pakistani)
Huynh (Vietnamese)
Mala Sichuan (Chinese)
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos (Mexican)
Thien An Sandwiches (Vietnamese)
PAST WINNERS:
2010 FADI’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
2011 NIKO NIKO’S
2012 MAI’S
2013 EL REY
2014 IRMA’S
FAVORITE OUTDOOR DINING
Batanga
Brooklyn Athletic Club
Canopy
Ibiza
Punk’s Simple Southern Food
RDG + Bar Annie
The Grove
PAST WINNERS:
2010 BACKSTREET CAFE
2011 BRENNER’S ON THE BAYOU
2012 TINY BOXWOOD’S
2013 BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON
2014 RAINBOW LODGE
FAVORITE PUB OR BAR
Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar
D&T Drive-Inn
Julep
La Carafe
Moving Sidewalk
Public Services
The Pastry War
PAST WINNERS:
2010 ANVIL BAR & REFUGE
2011 THE GINGER MAN
2012 THE HAY MERCHANT
2013 13 CELSIUS
2014 WEST ALABAMA ICE HOUSE
FAVORITE SUPERMARKET
99 Ranch Market
Canino’s Produce Market
Heights General Store
Revival Market
Sprouts Farmers Market
Super H Mart
The Fresh Market
PAST WINNERS:
2010 CENTRAL MARKET
2011 H-E-B
2012 WHOLE FOODS
2013 PHOENICIA
2015 TRADER JOE’S
FAVORITE SWEETS/ICE CREAM
Cacao & Cardamom
Cloud 10 Creamery
Common Bond
Dessert Gallery
Fluff Bake Bar
Ooh La La
Petite Sweets
PAST WINNERS:
2010 THE CHOCOLATE BAR
2011 AMY’S ICE CREAM
2012 HANK’S ICE CREAM PARLOR
2013 CRAVE CUPCAKES
2014 FAT CAT CREAMERY
FAVORITE WINE SELLER
Beckrew Wine House
Camerata
D&Q The Beer Station
French Country Wines
Plonk
Richard’s Liquors & Fine Wines
Sonoma Retail Wine Bar & Restaurant