Cheers to the Tastemakers

Tastemaker Awards toasts the best Texas restaurants and bars for 2020

The mission of our annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards is to shine a spotlight on the top restaurant and bar talent in Texas. This summer, we honored the best of the industry and celebrated their resilience with our first-ever virtual Tastemakers.

In true 2020 fashion, the Tastemakers transformed from an in-person party to an in-home tasting experience.

Our Dallas-Fort Worth program, sponsored by Dripping Springs Vodka, Desert Door Sotol, Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Grandes Vinos, Topo Chico, and Alto, was held on July 30. The Austin and San Antonio awards kicked things off July 23, and we wrapped up in Houston on August 6.

Each event featured a streamed awards show hosted by the legendary Bun B, who first guided guests through the makings of the at-home party. Then, with the help of some special guests, he announced the local 2020 Tastemaker Awards winners. (If you missed the Dallas-Fort Worth show, you can watch it here.)

Nominees for each city were selected earlier this year by CultureMap editors and local panels of industry experts, including past winners. The panels then selected the winner in each category, except for Best New Restaurant, which was chosen by readers in our bracket-style tournament. This year, we also added a special Hero Award to honor individuals in the industry who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

Below, meet all of our 2020 Tastemaker winners, and join us in toasting them once again.

Austin

Restaurant of the Year: Comedor
Chef of the Year: Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley, Foreign & Domestic
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Edgar Ulysses Rico, Nixta Taqueria
Pastry Chef of the Year: Jules Stoddart, Olamaie
Best New Restaurant: Rebel Cheese
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Foreign & Domestic
Best Queso: Eldorado Cafe
Bar of the Year: Kinda Tropical
Bartender of the Year: Laura Maddox, Small Victory
Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
Brewery of the Year: Jester King
Hero Award: Derrick Chubbs, Central Texas Food Bank

San Antonio

Restaurant of the Year: Meadow
Chef of the Year: Esaul Ramos, 2M Smokehouse
Best New Restaurant: 225 Urban Smoke
Best Queso: Tlahco Mexican Kitchen
Bar of the Year: Little Death
Hero Award: Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurants

Dallas

Restaurant of the Year: The Charles Dallas
Chef of the Year: Justin Holt, Salaryman
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Toby Archibald, Georgie by Curtis Stone
Pastry Chef of the Year: Diana Zamora, Lockwood Distilling
Best New Restaurant: Georgie by Curtis Stone
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Parigi Restaurant
Best Queso: E-Bar Tex Mex
Bar of the Year: Black Swan Saloon
Bartender of the Year: Josh Hendrix, Las Almas Rotas
Wine Program of the Year: Macellaio
Brewery of the Year: 3 Nations Brewing
Hero Award: Jacob Tindall, 5G Studio Collaborative

Fort Worth

Restaurant of the Year: Ellerbe Fine Foods
Chef of the Year: Tim Love, Lonesome Dove, Love Shack, Gemelle
Best New Restaurant: Hot Box Biscuit Club
Bar of the Year: Blackland Distillery
Hero Award: Mike Hoque, Hoque Global

Houston

Restaurant of the Year: Himalaya
Chef of the Year: Jason Vaughan, Nancy’s Hustle
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Felipe Riccio, Rosie Cannonball
Pastry Chef of the Year: Julia Doran, Nancy’s Hustle
Best New Restaurant: MAD
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Les Ba’get
Best Pizza: Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana
Bar of the Year: Monkey’s Tail
Bartender of the Year: Lindsay Rae, Two Headed Dog
Wine Program of the Year: Public Services Wine & Whisky
Brewery of the Year: Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company
Hero Award: Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke Foundation

Himalaya, Houston Restaurant of the Year.

Photo by Shawn Chippendale

Himalaya, Houston Restaurant of the Year.

tastemakers

Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's an ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.