The 35th annual James Beard Awards honoring outstanding chefs, restaurants, bars and more released its list of semifinalists in each of its many categories this week.
Texas is so big that it has its own Best Chef category, which is organized by each U.S. region. Twenty talented chefs from the Lone Star State reached the semifinals in this category, most of which are in South Texas and the Houston area.
Last year, Ana Liz Pulido of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission, Texas, took home the award for Best Chef: Texas. It was the only award earned by a Texas chef that night.
There are three new James Beard Awards categories this year that all pertain to drinks and beverage service: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
Looking ahead, Restaurant and Chef Awards will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 16, where the winners in each category will be announced at the ceremony.
Here is the full list of Texas chefs that made the semifinals in the 14 categories by region.
Central Texas
Best Chef: Texas
Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio, Uroko, Austin
Evan LeRoy, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin
Outstanding Chef
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin
Best New Restaurant
Lao’d Bar, Austin
Outstanding Bar
Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar, Austin
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (New category)
Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie's, Austin
South Texas
Best Chef: Texas
Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone, San Antonio
Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter, San Antonio
Grey Hwang, Shiro Japanese Bistro, San Antonio
Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio
John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes, Chika, San Antonio
Alex Sarmiento and Brenda Sarmiento, El Pastor Es Mi Señor, San Antonio
Eugenio Uribe, Le Rêve, Brownsville
Outstanding Chef
David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin
Outstanding Hospitality
Mixtli, San Antonio
Dallas-Fort Worth
Best Chef: Texas
Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ, Arlington
Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas, Doña Maria, Irving
Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas
Emerging Chef
RJ Yoakum, Georgie, Dallas
Outstanding Bakery
Starship Bagel, Lewisville
Outstanding Bar
Apothecary, Dallas
Best New Bar (New category)
Bar Colette, Dallas
West Texas
Best Chef: Texas
Alexandra Gates, Cochineal, Marfa
Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa
Outstanding Restaurant
ELEMI, El Paso
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Mateo Herrera, La Puerta del Sol, El Paso
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Taconeta, El Paso
Houston area
Best Chef: Texas
Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston
Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring
Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston
Evelyn Garcia, Jūn, Houston
Beatriz Martines, Xalisko, The Woodlands
David Skinner, Ishtia, Kemah
Outstanding Restaurateur
Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality Group (Hamsa, Badolina Bakery, and Doris
Metropolitan), Houston
Sara Stayer and Martin Stayer, Nobie's, Toasted Coconut, and Nonno's, Houston
Emerging Chef
Suu Khin, Burmalicious, Houston
Best New Restaurant
Ema, Houston
Outstanding Bakery
Koffeteria, Houston
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
March, Houston
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (New category)
Andres Blanco, Le Jardinier, Houston