The anticipate the James Beard Awards is over.
Calling all meals lovers, cooks, and hospitality employees: The 2025 James Beard Award winners have been introduced.
The occasion, which is also known as the “Oscars of Meals,” passed off in Chicago on June 16, and this yr, Houston made its comeback. Thomas Bille of Stomach of the Beast took dwelling Finest Chef: Texas. His restaurant serves up fine-dining Mexican delicacies within the northern suburb of Spring.
“I am awestruck,” he says. “I really feel nice. I really feel that the previous 20 years of working within the kitchen have culminated into this, the place I will obtain accolades.”
He was up towards 4 different cooks in his class, together with Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó—which additionally now has a Michelin star for its Mexican heirloom corn–targeted tasting menu. Final yr, Chavez was the one Houston chef to make the finalist spherical for Finest Chef: Texas, however fell in need of an award.
Bille says he did not anticipate this win, however he hopes it is going to assist open doorways for extra alternatives and completely different ideas he has in thoughts.
Stomach of the Beast first opened 5 weeks earlier than the pandemic hit. Though it survived the chaos, Bille selected to shut the restaurant’s doorways in July 2021. He went on to guide the kitchen at former restaurant Chivos within the Heights, however in the end left to revive his beloved idea. And in November 2023 he formally relaunched Stomach of the Beast with assist from his spouse.
“My spouse and I poured our life financial savings and credit score into this restaurant with no monetary backers,” he says. “To have the ability to do that on a nationwide scale, it is wonderful.”
Stomach of the Beast additionally acquired a Bib Gourmand throughout Michelin’s award ceremony for its Texas information final yr. The Bibs acknowledges eating places “that serve good meals at average costs.”
The winners of the James Beard Awards are thought-about to be the very best of the very best in the case of the nation’s culinary group. This yr can also be notably particular as a result of it marks the awards’ thirty fifth anniversary. They’re in honor of James Beard, America’s first “foodie.” He first rose to fame after the success of his cookbooks, his stint because the host for the nation’s first meals program, and for his work to determine the James Beard Cooking College.
In years prior, a number of Houstonians have risen to the ranks as James Beard Award winners. In 2023, chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter, the proprietor of Thai restaurant Road to Kitchen, made historical past as the primary Houston-based chef to win the newly created class Finest Chef: Texas. Earlier than 2020, our Lone Star State was lumped in with Finest Chef: Southwest. Hugo Ortega and Chris Shepherd have each taken dwelling awards within the former class. Alba Huerta of Julep additionally had a historic win in 2022 for the class of Excellent Bar Program, which was the primary time Houston gained a nationwide class.
Congratulations to all of the winners this yr, and shoutout to our fellow Texan Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie’s in Austin, who took dwelling the award for Excellent Skilled in Beverage Service. Though a few of our native favourite locations fell in need of a win, we’re nonetheless pleased with all of the 2025 finalists, and we’re already trying ahead to subsequent yr.
Editor’s notice: Some SagaCity Media employees members served as James Beard Award judges and committee members.
