Round Up: Texas James Beard Award Semi-Finalists
Discover > Best Of Texas > Round Up: Texas James Beard Award Semi-Finalists
Texas culinary excellence is on the menu for the 2022 James Beard Award ceremony, featuring a slew of Lone Star awardees in the foundation’s most diverse roster to date. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards has a particular mission: to “recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.”
This year’s edition is the first following a major overhaul to the Awards’ structure, after an audit of the policy and procedure was carried out due to a host of controversies in early 2020. This year promises to be particularly exciting for Texans, as the Foundation premieres the category of “Best Chef: Texas”. This year’s nominees include Tiffany Derry of Roots Southern Table, Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen of Xin Chà o, Quy Hoang of Blood Bros BBQ, Steven McHugh of Cured, and Iliana de la Vega of El Naranjo.
As we await the announcement of this year’s finalists, let’s catch up on the rundown of the additional 2022 Texas nominees.
Outstanding Restaurateur: Chris Williams of Lucille’s Hospitality Group in Houston
Executive Chef Chris Williams is at the helm of Houston’s Lucille’s. Locally owned and operated in the bustling heart of Houston’s Museum District, Lucille’s specializes in refined Southern cuisine, infused with diverse international flavor. The restaurant was co-founded in 2012 by brothers Chris and Ben Williams as a tribute to their great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith. Today, Chef Chris Williams is in the running for the honor of Outstanding Restaurateur, for his work paying homage to the beloved classics of down-home Southern food.
Emerging Chef: Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria in Austin
Raised in the Central Valley of California and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Edgar Rico is the co-founder and executive chef of Nixta Taqueria in Austin. Chef Rico spearheads what is known as a counter-service, casual concept taqueria, offering authentic tacos and tostadas in a warm, laidback environment. For this chef, the meaning of food is simple: “imaginative creations steeped in technique, history, tradition and finesse.” This year, Chef Edgar Rico is a semi-finalist for the award of Emerging Chef.
Best New Restaurant: Roots Southern Table, Farmers Branch
Founded by Chef Tiffany Derry, a “Best Chef: Texas” nominee, Roots Southern Table pays homage to the culinary traditions of the South. The venue promotes itself as more than a celebration of food — “it’s the celebration of who we are.” For Chef Derry, whose inspiration is drawn largely from the traditions of her grandmother, her goal is to make guests feel as if they are coming home to those they love most. The restaurant focuses on field-to-table seasonal dining and is a nominee for this year’s Best New Restaurant.
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Ruben Ortega of Xochi in Houston
Named after Xochitl, the Goddess of Flowers, Xochi is the latest creative achievement of Chef Hugo Ortega and the team at H Town Restaurant Group. Xochi is a vivid celebration of the culinary diversity of Oaxaca, Mexico, sporting an unparalleled menu of Oaxaca-inspired food and drink. Many mouth-watering delicacies such as cremosa de chocolate, a dense chocolate pudding served on an airy sponge cake with peanut powder (how long does peanut powder last?) and strawberries, are the work of Chef Ortega, a semi-finalist in the bid for this year’s honor of Outstanding Pastry Chef.
Outstanding Hospitality: Hugo’s in Houston
Nestled in a historic building in the heart of Houston’s Montrose area, Hugo’s specializes in world-class, authentic Mexican cuisine. Chef Ortega of Hugo’s brings the foods of his homeland to the people of Houston, including homemade classics such as moles, tortillas, and an award-winning wine program. Bringing Latin-inspired contemporary comfort to its visitors, Hugo’s is a 2022 nominee for the award of Outstanding Hospitality.
Outstanding Bar Program: Julep in Houston
Considered to be one of Houston’s must-visit bars, Julep tells the story of Southern cocktails through a jam-packed menu that features drinks such as the Tepache Julep, a delicious beverage made of sous vide pineapple, white wine, mezcal, maraschino, raspberry, and tamarindo. Julep is a nominee for the 2022 award of Outstanding Bar Program.
Which of these nominees are you rooting for in the upcoming Awards? Let us know in the comments below!
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