The James Beard Awards are heating up, and San Antonio is along for the ride — albeit in small numbers. Two of the area’s 5 semifinalists advanced to finalist status.
Considered the Oscars of the food world, the James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its Restaurant and Chef Awards on April 3. Here are all of the Texas nominees in the national categories:
- Best New Restaurant: Barbs-B-Q (Lockhart)
- Outstanding Bar: Las Ramblas (Brownsville)
- Outstanding Hospitality: Gemma (Dallas)
- Outstanding Restaurant: Mixtli (San Antonio)
- Outstanding Restaurant: Convenience West (Marfa)
- Outstanding Chef: David Uygur, Lucia (Dallas)
San Antonio's two semifinalist nominees in the national categories were Mixtli for Outstanding Restaurant and David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes of Burnt Bean Co. (in Seguin) for Outstanding Chef.
The foundation also announced the finalists for Best Chef: Texas. Of San Antonio's three semifinalists, only one, Christopher Cullum of Cullum’s Attaboy, earned finalist status. Even if he doesn't get the win, he'll be featured on April 4 as a nominee in CultureMap's own Tastemaker Awards, possibly taking home the title of Chef of the Year.
Mixtli made it to the James Beard Award finals.
Best Chef Texas:
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó (Houston)
- Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy (San Antonio)
- Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin)
- Misti Norris, Petra & the Beast (Dallas)
- Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria (Mission)
The finalists are drawn from a pool of semifinalists that included 11 nominations for Houston, nine for Austin, and eight for Dallas.
Notably, only Las Ramblas returns from 2023 in the national categories. All of this year's other finalists are new to the categories. Similarly, none of last year’s finalists for Best Chef: Texas returned to the category. Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland of Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin had been among last year’s finalists for Best Chef: Texas. This year, they did not advance to the finals.
The awards recognize excellence by chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories ranging from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. Winner must also have “demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” according to the organization’s website. The awards also include media categories that will be announced on April 30.
“Congratulations to all of our esteemed honorees and nominees on this remarkable achievement,” Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said. “Your vision, and continued dedication to excellence — both on and beyond the plate — make you true leaders of American culinary. Thank you for all you are doing to set a better standard for our industry and broader food system.”
The Foundation will reveal its Restaurant and Chef Award winners at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
