The Return of Tastemakers

Dallas-Fort Worth’s most celebratory food fest returns for 2016

Come to the Tastemaker Awards on May 19 at Hall of State at Fair Park. It’s going to be delicious.

Photo by Jon Shapley

May brings the return of the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards,in which we celebrate two of the things we love most in this world: food and drink. The annual program honors the top talent in the Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant and bar industry.

Here’s how it works. We collaborated with two panels of experts, including previous Tastemaker Award winners, to come up with a list of nominees in Dallas and Fort Worth. Then the panels selected winners in every category, except for Best New Restaurant, which will be determined by readers in a bracket-style competition in May.

In Dallas, those categories include Rising Star Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Sommelier of the Year, Bar of the Year, Brewery of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and Best Sushi Restaurant. For this inaugural year in Fort Worth, we have Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year, in addition to Best New Restaurant.

The best part is that the program culminates in a party on May 19, 7-10 pm, where we will honor the nominees and announce the winners for both cities. Of course that includes savoring — like we did last year — tastes from the to-be-announced participants. Tequila Herradura is our presenting sponsor, so there will be tastings and special tequila cocktails mixed by our Bartender of the Year contenders.

This year the event takes place at Hall of State in Fair Park, the site of our Dallas launch party. Remember that?

New for 2016, we are offering early admission to anyone willing to pay a wee bit more. That ticket price, to get in an hour early, is $60. General admission is $50, and a special young professionals ticket (35 and under) is $40. (Yes, we will be checking ID’s!) More complete event details can be found here.

Also new this year, we have recruited celebrity chef Dean Fearing to serve as emcee, and he will preside over a short ceremony to bestow honors on the Tastemaker Award winners.

So buy your tickets now, and we’ll see you on May 19. Between now and then, we will celebrate all of the nominees in a special editorial series, so stay tuned to learn more about these restaurant and bar superstars.

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Italian Restaurant News

Chicago Italian restaurant Quartino readies for Texas debut at The Colony

Photo courtesy of Quartino

Quartino is bringing its amazing Italian food to The Colony.

A new Italian concept from Chicago is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth: Quartino Ristorante and Wine Bar, a Chicago-based authentic Italian neighborhood restaurant, pizzeria, and wine bar, is making its Texas debut with a location in the Grotto District of Grandscape, in The Colony.

According to a release, it'll open June 19.

Quartino will occupy two levels of indoor and outdoor bar and dining room seating. A red-toned brick exterior with awnings gives the space a relaxed yet refined vibe.

Quartino features an approachable menu of Italian shared plates that feature regional specialties, like artisanal salumi, housemade cheeses, Neapolitan-style pizza, handmade pasta, Aquerello risotto, and seafood.

The bar program includes an expansive, value-driven wine list highlighting family-owned, small-production wines available by the quartino (quarter liter), mezzo (half-liter), litro (liter) and bottle; plus craft cocktails, negronis, and house-made limoncello.

Quartino is part of Gibsons Restaurant Group, which also owns and operates American brands like Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse and Gibsons Italia in Chicago and The Boathouse at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida.

GRG chose to expand into Texas because of the area’s promising future. This is the first Quartino to open since the original opened in 2005. It is the latest location for GRG, one of the highest-grossing independent restaurant groups in the nation.

Quartino's General Manager, Erick Starke, recently relocated his family from Chicago to The Colony. He says, “Quartino selected The Colony as its first home in Texas because of its friendly people, incomparable growth, culture, and diversity. Our goal is to serve up southern hospitality Italian style and create an unforgettable experience for our customers."

Customers can make dining reservations at www.quartinoristorante.com.

GRG founder Steve Lombardo says that customer satisfaction is at the heart of every GRG restaurant.

“Quartino is known for its commitment to the highest quality, authentic Italian food and wine, a lively dining experience, and putting the customer first, and we are excited to bring this experience to North Texas," Lombardo said.

Quartino is located at 5754 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX 75056, directly behind and across the street from Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, and next to Thirsty Lion.

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About Quartino:
Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar first opened in December 2005 by Gibsons Restaurant Group and founding chef John Coletta in Chicago’s vibrant and bustling River North neighborhood. Quartino is the recipient of the coveted Ospitalita Italiana, which is awarded by the Italian government and recognizes restaurants that uphold the traditions of Italian culture. In 2022, Thrillist named Quartino as one of the Best Italian restaurants in Chicago. Quartino is on Open Table’s 2019 list of the 100 Best Restaurants in America for a Big Night Out. In 2018, Quartino was named one of the world’s 70 best restaurants with a pizzeria by Ristorazione Italiana Magazine. Always festive and welcoming with two spacious levels and outdoor seating, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar is open daily for lunch and dinner.

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