TOP CHEFS

6 San Antonio chefs stir up city pride as UNESCO culinary ambassadors

Jason Dady was one of 6 San Antonio chefs to be selected as a 2025-2027 UNESCO culinary ambassador.

Photo courtesy of Jason Dady.

Six San Antonio chefs are moving from local kitchens to the international stage through the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy program. For the next two years, the culinary crew will represent Alamo City during global food festivals, media engagements, and other events showcasing South Central Texas flavors.

A selection committee at the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office picks chef ambassadors biennially to serve a two-year term. Each is asked to demonstrate local cooking techniques and recipes that embody the area's rich mix of culinary traditions.

A special presentation will take place in the fall to officially recognize the chosen ambassadors, who include:

Stephannie Beyers, chef/owner of Eat Chingon
Ana Sofia Sada Cervantes, Culinary Institute of America — San Antonio
Jason Dady, executive chef/ owner, Jason Dady Restaurant Group
Joel "Tatu" Herrera, executive chef, Desert Spoon, and chef/owner of Folklores Coffee House
Geromino Lopez, executive chef at Hotel Emma
Lizzeth Martinez, chef/owner of Naco Grayson

Naco owners Lizzeth Martinez and Francisco Estrada Lizzeth Martinez, who owns Naco with husband Francisco Estrada, was one of three women selected for the ambassador program. Courtesy of Naco Mexican Eatery

"We are thrilled to introduce the new cohort of chef ambassadors, who will play a vital role in promoting the vibrant culinary heritage of San Antonio," says World Heritage Office Director Colleen Swain in a release. "Their commitment to promoting San Antonio's culinary landscape, community involvement, and innovation embodies the spirit of our city's gastronomy."

The office collected applications from March 1 to May 31 for the 2025-2027 term. The 2025 committee included Jose Frade, Johnny Hernandez, Elizabeth Johnson, Frank Salinas, and David Gonzalez.

"The overwhelming talent we encountered during the selection process is a testament to the incredible diversity, skill, and dedication present in San Antonio's culinary landscape," said Johnson, chef/owner of Pharm Table, in a statement. "I am eager to see how our chef ambassadors showcase the distinctive flavors that set our city apart on the global stage."

UNESCO designated San Antonio as a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017. The rare honor, held by only two U.S. cities, is bestowed on municipalities with a unique contribution to world cuisine. Alamo City, which played a pivotal role in Tex-Mex cuisine, was cited for its culinary legacy, blending indigenous roots with a complex mix of immigrant foodways brought about by colonialism.

unesco creative city of gastronomy ambassadors honors gastronomy chefs

SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Beloved San Antonio gastropub goes dark after 8-year run

HanzoBar.com

Hanzo in Alamo heights has temporarily closed.

UPDATE: Steve Mahoney's attorneys provided a statement about the temporary closure, but did not clarify if he was assuming ownership of the bar.

"Hanzo is not closed," wrote Mahoney's representation. "Hanzo is temporarily undergoing renovations, and Hanzo will reopen by January 2, 2026. Regarding the lawsuit, the matter has been amicably resolved by a settlement with terms agreeable to all Parties."

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After eight years in business, Hanzo is taking a break. In a sudden move, the gastropub at 7701 Broadway #124 in Alamo Heights posted a handwritten sign noting the popular San Antonio happy hour spot is temporarily closed.

Steve Mahoney — the prolific barman behind Francis Bogside, Blue Box Bar, and Lily's Greenville — first introduced Hanzo to San Antonio in May 2018. The concept was inspired by Japanese izakayas, offering Asian-influenced cocktails, sushi, and a shared plates menu created by then-Francis Bogside chef Justin Richardson.

The spot quickly became a neighborhood favorite for its generous happy hour deals, a staple of all the bars in Mahoney's portfolio. The pop culture interior, combining a punk aesthetic with Japanese movie posters and contemporary furnishings, made it a standout in Alamo City's nightlife scene.

It's unclear why Hanzo shuttered, but many of the bars Mahoney opened with late business partner Robert Darilek have slowly disappeared from the San Antonio scene, including Blue Box Bar (now home to Jue Let) and Blessed Bogside, nee Francis Bogside.

In September 2023, the Darilek's children took over management of the Mahoney Bar Group. According to reporting from the San Antonio Current, the family wanted to preserve their father's legacy and was concerned with out-of-control spending.

In June, Mahoney filed a civil lawsuit against Hanzo's LLC, requesting the company share its books. A commenter on the r/sanantonio Reddit thread claiming to be the general manager says the hiatus is related to that case, and Mahoney has reassumed ownership of the concept with plans to reopen after an interior and menu refresh. CultureMap could not confirm the identity of the account.

Hanzo itself has not made any formal announcement about the closure or a future reopening. Requests to both the bar and Mahoney's legal representation were not returned immediately. We will update this article as the story develops.

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