Tastemaker Awards

Dallas culinary superstars and food fans toast the 2021 Tastemaker Awards

It was all the very best food and drink at the 2021 Dallas-Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards, CultureMap's celebration of the top restaurants, bars, and culinary masters, held at the Fashion Industry Gallery in downtown Dallas on August 19.

Dozens of bars and restaurants dished out spectacular tastes in a hedonistic feast. A portion of the proceeds benefited Harvest Project Food Rescue, which fights food insecurity in Dallas. The annual event, coming back from an all-virtual edition in 2020, proved to be the most delicious one yet.

Lines formed quickly for small plates and samples from some of Dallas-Fort Worth's most popular and influential eateries. Buzzy dishes included Mendocino Farms' “Not So Fried” chicken sandwiches; wagyu sliders from Jaxon Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden; slipper lobster "pancakes" from Saint Ann's; beef udon from Marugame Udon; pepper and garlic shrimp with peri peri chicken from Dahlia Bar & Bistro; and smoked pheasant and goat cheese grits from Backyard at Hotel Drover.

Those with a sweet tooth delighted in Bobbers Burgers' Dole Whip vegan soft-serve cups and dainty but delectable personal-sized Route 66 Pecan Pies from Haywire.

Chefs from Omni Dallas passed out the most Instagrammable plate of the night, with their colorful cheese ball "towers" — a dried date with blue cheese mousse, red grape with boursin and pistachio, and heirloom cherry tomato with herb goat cheese mousse — stacked high on a skewer for easy photo-snapping and snacking.

VIP ticket-holders could arrive early to valet park easily and mingle in a lounge just for them. Beer drinkers made themselves at home in the Beer Garden presented by Deep Ellum Brewing Company.

The main bar poured signature cocktails featuring the spirits of sponsors Maestro Dobel Tequila and Stranahan's Single Malt Whiskey. A fan favorite was the Summer Garden (created by last year's Bartender of the Year winner, Josh Hendrix), made with Boodles Rhubarb & Strawberry Gin, fresh watermelon and lime juices, and FeverTree Pink Grapefruit Soda. Guests paced themselves at the Topo Chico Hydration Station.

But this party wasn't just a feeding frenzy; we had some awards to present. Celebrity emcee, comedian CJ Starr, announced winners in 14 categories from restaurants and bars across Dallas-Fort Worth. They were selected by judges consisting of past winners, food and beverage industry experts, and CultureMap editors: Chas Martin, Toby Archibald, Gavin Secchi, Diana Zamora, Josh Hendrix, Jacob Tindall, Lisa Stroup, Marc Ramirez, Kim Pham, Fabian Hernandez, Jamil Bata, Vu Ly, Stephan Courseau, Janice Provost, Alex Gonzalez, Sarah Hooton, Markus Kypreos, Mike Hoque, Malcolm Mayhew, Celestina Blok, Samantha Calimbahin, Eric Griffey, Connie Bally, Henry Abuto, Stephanie Merry, and Teresa Gubbins.

One of the biggest awards of the night was for Best New Restaurant, voted on by the CultureMap readers. The winners were Monarch in Dallas and La Onda in Fort Worth. They were greeted with some of the heartiest cheers of the evening.

Winners accepted gorgeous glass trophies onstage and posed for pictures; some groups even streamed the presentation live on social media for their fans to watch at home.

Two special awards were given to individuals who contributed greatly to the local dining scene during the pandemic; they went to chef Jon Bonnell (Waters, Bonnell's) in Fort Worth and bread queen Meadors Ozarow (Empire Baking) in Dallas.

Between feasting and celebrating, guests stopped to snap Insta-worthy photos at the photo booth and bought raffle tickets benefiting Harvest Project Food Rescue. A DJ kept the beats lively all night.

Spotted in the crowd, having great foodie fun, were Dallas dining VIPS, award winners and nominees, and guests Troy Gardner, Matt Balke, Liz Mitchell, Kim Finch, Dayne and Ashley Weaver, George Kaiho, Brooks Anderson, Jimmy Contreras, Claudia Randalls, Gustavo Guevara, Marisol Leiva, Caroline Sheridan, Paulina Leiva, Grace Kelly, Christian Kelly, Laura Russell, Tara Hollis, Darlene Hollis, Darren Chankhamany, Tina Le, Amber Bufkin, and Faith Heitz.

Hungry to be a part of it all next year? You can read about all the winners here, and we'll see you in 2022. Cheers!

Liz Mitchell of Thunderbird Station accepts her award for Bartender of the Year.

Liz Mitchell, Bartender of Year, Thunderbird Station

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Liz Mitchell of Thunderbird Station accepts her award for Bartender of the Year.

tastemakers

Still We Rise

Dallas' Black Tie Dinner rises high in 2025 as equality endures

Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Libby Gonzales, Liliana Villarreal, Deidre Coleman.

On the same weekend the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed marriage equality by refusing to revisit the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case, more than 2,000 guests filled the Sheraton Dallas for a night that celebrated resilience, love, and progress at the 44th annual Black Tie Dinner.

The timing of the November 8 gala, America’s largest LGBTQ+ fundraiser and one of Dallas' most anticipated of the season, couldn’t have been more poignant. The evening’s keynote speaker, Jim Obergefell, whose name became synonymous with marriage equality, received Black Tie Dinner's Equality Award and urged attendees to remember both the progress made and the challenges still ahead.

Marking a milestone in representation, this year’s event was co-chaired by Liliana Villarreal and Deirdre Coleman, the first time in the organization’s history that two women — not to mention two women of color — have steered the evening.

Black Tie Dinner Dallas 2025 There was no shortage of photo ops.Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Libby Gonzales, Liliana Villarreal, Deidre Coleman.

But first the event, with the theme this year of "Still We Rise," welcomed glamorously attired guests down the gold carpet (a nod to Wicked, perhaps?) for a lively cocktail hour spent browsing the extensive silent auction and capturing their striking ensembles at the many photo ops. Guests also vied for a $50,000 luxury car credit courtesy of Park Place Motorcars Dallas, marking the 17th year of partnership with the long-standing supporter.

Inside the ballroom, DFW's own Denise Lee began the program with a powerful performance of Andra Day's "Rise Up" before the BTD board of directors was introduced by U.S. Representative Julie Johnson, the first openly gay member of Congress from the South and the first woman to ever represent Texas' District 32.

Carl Nassib, the NFL's first openly gay active player, then introduced Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, who was honored with the Kuchling Humanitarian Award for their life-saving work supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

A fast-paced live auction was followed by representatives of the BTD 2025 beneficiaries:

Abounding Prosperity, Inc.
ASD - A Home for Life
Cathedral of Hope
Celebration Community Church
Dallas Hope Charities
Equality Texas Foundation
Finn's Place
Galileo Church / NTTN
HELP Center for LGBT Health & Wellness
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Kind Clinic
Legacy Cares
LGBTQ SAVES
Northaven Church
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
Resource Center
Synergy Wesley Foundation
Transition Resource Action Center
Turtle Creek Chorale
Uptown Players
The Women's Chorus of Dallas

Dallas native Hayley Orrantia and the band Extended Play entertained during dinner, before Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett brought the crowd to its feet with a message of unity and perseverance. She introduced Libby Gonzales, this year's recipient of the Mike Anglin Trailblazer Award, which is given to an LGBTQ+ individual under the age of 25 who has proven to be a change agent for the LGBTQ+ community on a local or national level.

Jasmine Crockett Black Tie Dinner Dallas 2025 Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.Photo by Selig Polyscope Company

Following an introduction by actor actor Brian Michael Smith, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, continued that call to action, reminding guests that courage — like fear — can be contagious.

From its beginnings in 1982 as a small gathering of friends to a national symbol of LGBTQ+ unity, Black Tie Dinner continues to define what it means to rise, again and again, together. Proceeds from the Dinner will be announced December 18 at The Empire Room in Dallas.

The 45th Annual Black Tie Dinner will take place November 14, 2026.

fundraisers charity lgbtq black tie dinner galas