Talent

Jose Acosta

Terra Vino Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
The Woodlands, TX

Ricardo Bravo

The Woodlands Resort Westin at The Woodlands Embassy Suites, The Woodlands, TX

Edwin Chanas

El Quetzal Bakery & Restaurant, Houston, TX

David Cordua

The Lymbar
Houston, TX

Urvin Croes

Infini
Aruba

Amanda Cusey

The Terrace
Lake Charles, LA

Renato De Pirro

Bari Ristorante
Houston, TX

Fernando Desa

Goya Foods
Houston, TX

Fadi Dimassi

Fadi's
Houston, TX

Jio Dingayan

Money Cat
Houston, TX

Jorden Dolan

Savory Events Luxury Catering
The Woodlands, TX

Tim Eckard

McCormick & Schmick's, Houston, TX

Paul Friedman

The Chef's Table
Houston, TX

Masaru Fukuda

Pacha Nikkei
Houston, TX

David Guerrero

Andes Cafe
Houston, TX

Richard Huber

Swift + Company
Houston, TX

Erwin Hüsken

2 Fools & A Bull
Aruba

Vinny Lantigua

Cowboys & Indians
Houston, TX

Armando Llanes

Mando’s Kitchen
Houston, TX

Adolfo Lopez

Costa Fina Latin Coastal Kitchen
Tomball, TX

Luis Lopez

Killen's Steakhouse
Houston, TX

Beatriz Martinez

Xalisko
Houston, TX

Kady Miller

Alchemy Bake Lab
Katy, TX

Nancy Manlove

Puff by Chef Nancy Manlove

Joe Murphy

Nobu
Houston, TX

Elda Orioli

Via Emilia
The Woodlands, TX

Thomas Perez

Plane & Level
Spring, TX

Phillip Rosas

Azzurro Italian Coastal Cuisine
The Woodlands, TX

Elizabeth Stone

Silver Stone Events
Houston, TX

Mario Valdez

Mastro's Ocean Club
The Woodlands, TX

Johnny Wesley

HTX Nitro Creamery
Houston, TX

Molly Austad

Wine Director, Bludorn and Navy Blue, Houston, TX

Jennifer Chapple, CSW

Vice President of Sales, Share A Splash

Julie M Dalton, CWE

Master Sommelier for the Post Oak Hotel Wine Director for Stella's Wine Bar, Houston, TX

Andrew Dunsky

State Portfolio Manager, RNDC Texas Certified Sommelier, WSET III Wine

Bill Freidhof

Vice President of Sales Llano Estacado, Houston, TX

Troy Johnson

Divisional Manager South, Michael David Winery, Houston, TX

Shawn Long

Regional Director, The Wine Group, Houston, TX

Teresa Mckinney

DipWSET, CSW, President of Delectatio Wines
Magnolia, TX

Denman Moody

Advanced Oenophile, Wine Author, Wine Lecturer
Houston, TX

Doug Oldani

Regional Manager, Palm Bay International
Houston, TX

Randall Pettit

Regional Sales Manager, Alexander Valley Vineyards
Galveston, TX

Ron Saikowsik

Wine Columnist, Houston Community Newspapers
Houston, TX

Simon Solomon

Import Specialist, Winebow Imports
Houston, TX

Monique Studak

Principal, Thirst for Knowledge
Houston, TX

LEAD JUDGE
Pat Sharpe

Executive Editor/Food Writer, Texas Monthly, Austin, TX

FINAL ROUND JUDGE
Tanji Patton

Executive Producer & TV Host, Goodtaste with Tanji, Houston, TX

FINAL ROUND JUDGE
Blaine Staniford

Executive Chef, Grace, 61 Osteria, Fort Worth, TX

Bart Black

Corporate Chef, Professional Reps, Houston, TX

Dawn Burrell

Bravo Top Chef Alumna, Executive Chef, Late August, Houston, TX

David Denis

Délégation USA - Canada Maitres Cuisiniers de France, Executive Chef / Managing Partner, Cocody Restaurant & Bar, Houston, TX

Fernando Desa

Executive Chef & Product Development Manger, Goya Foods, Inc

Keisha Griggs

Chef/Educator/Restauranteur/Food Justice Activist, Ate Kitchen, KUJI Kitchen, Bocage Catering, Black Chef Table, Houston, TX

Jose Hernandez

Chef/Owner, Brasserie du Parc
Houston, TX

Stephanie Lamour

Program Director, Culinary Institute LeNotre, Houston, TX

Nancy Manlove

Private Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen Winner, Jersey Village, TX

Sunil Srivastava

Executive Chef/Owner, Verandah Progressive Indian Cuisine, Houston, TX

MarkAnthony Staha

ALTERNATE
D'Artagnan Bebel

SVP/General Manager Fox Television Industrial Foodie, Houston, TX

ALTERNATE
Dedrick Donnell

Private Chef/Caterer and Owner, Fresh Cuisine, Houston, TX

Lisa & Billy Andersen

Judging Directors

Julie & James Montemayor

Judging Coordinators