The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards return to celebrate Fort Worth's top restaurant and bar talent for 2025. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on the people and places that shape Fort Worth's dynamic dining scene.Join us April 23 at the 4 Eleven for our signature tasting event and awards ceremony. We’ll celebrate all of the nominees and unveil this year’s winners, and you’ll enjoy an evening full of chef-prepared bites and specialty drinks.Get to know the nominees in our editorial series, and then join us April 23 as we toast the Tastemakers.CultureMap Tastemaker Awards
April 23, 2025
GA 7 pm | VIP 6 pm
The 4 Eleven


NOMINEES

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez
Carshon's Deli
Megu French Japanese Cuisine
Pulido's Kitchen & Cantina
Taste Community Restaurant
Teddy Wongs
Terra Mediterranean
Walloon's Restaurant
Waters Restaurant
Wicked Butcher
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Mouhssine “Moose” Benhamacht, Cafe Americana
Julio Cartagena, Toro Toro
Fasicka Hicks & Patrick Hicks, Smoke 'N Ash BBQ
Jake Morgan, Plank Seafood Provisions
Greg Pawlowski, il Modo
Patrick Ru, Teddy Wongs
Alessandro Salvatore, Bocca Osteria Romana
Drew Thomas, Drew's Place
Antonio Votta, Bricks and Horses
Deborah Williamson, James Provisions
BAR OF THE YEAR
Annex, at Le Meridien Fort Worth Downtown
The Bar at Bowie House
The Down N' Out Bar
FW Thunderbird
The Holly
Hoppin'
Low Doubt Bar
Saddlerock Wine & Beer Co.
Rabbit Hole
Wines From a Broad
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Soy Cowboy
The Chumley House
Crystal Springs Hideaway
Cafe Americana
Rex's Bar & Grill
The Blue Room
Los Guapos
The Sicilian Butcher
Bouvier Brasserie
La Cabrona
Milo's Cocina Mexicana
Fort Redemption
Bocca Osteria Romana
Son of a Baker Pizzeria
Whiskey Cake
James Provisions
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Avoca Coffee Roasters
Casa Azul Coffee
Gregorys Coffee
JoJo Baklava Cafe & Sweets
La La Land Kind Cafe
Low Doubt Bar
Match Point Coffee
Race Street Coffee
Vagabond Coffee Bar
White Rhino Coffee
BEST BBQ
Angelo's BBQ
Brix Barbecue
Dayne's Craft Barbecue
Goldee's Bar-B-Q
Heim Barbecue
Hurtado Barbecue
Panther City BBQ
Sabar BBQ
Smoke-a-holics BBQ
Smoke'N Ash BBQ
Terry Black's Barbecue
225⁰ BBQ
RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Waylon Cornelius, Will Rogers Memorial Center
Tony France, Farena, Loews Arlington Hotel
Steffen Goltz, Grace
Steve Hoogeboom, 61 Osteria
Damian Lopez, Bouvier Brasserie
Jorge Olvera, Wishbone & Flynt
David Pacheco, Restaurant506 at the Sanford House
Jose Soto, Bacchus Kitchen + Bar
Sydney Toledo, Inspirations Fork & Table
Joshua Villegas, Son of a Baker Pizzeria
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
Lea Ann Bray-Salinas, Texas Harvest Pie Co.
Michael Hart, Blue Bonnet Bakery
Lindsey Lawing, Sweet Lucy's Pies
Tasha Monticure, Bodega South Main
Hans Peter Muller, Swiss Pastry Shop
Anna Narinian, D’Caramel Patisserie
Kris Trawick, Baked Bread & Pastry Co.
Nicole Ward, Sinsational Cakes
Chad Williams, Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Christine White, Shady Oaks Country Club
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Bodega South Main
Four Sisters - A Taste of Vietnam
Gusto's Burger Bar + More
Lola's Cuban Food Restaurant & Bar
Los Vaqueros Restaurant
Mancuso's Italian Ristorante
Taste of Europe
Tesoro Mexican
Towne Grill
Vickery Cafe


PARTICIPANTS

Bodega South Main
2025 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee
2025 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Crystal Springs Hideaway
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee

D’Caramel Patisserie
2025 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

Dayne's Craft Barbecue
2025 Best BBQ Nominee

James Provisions
2025 Chef of the Year Nominee
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee

La Cabrona
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee

La La Land Kind Cafe
2025 Best Coffee Shop

Los Guapos
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Restaurant506 at the Sanford House
2025 Rising Star Chef of the Year Nominee

Sinsational Cakes
2025 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

Soy Cowboy
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Terra Mediterranean
2025 Restaurant of the Year Nominee

The Omni Fort Worth Hotel
2025 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

Toro Toro
2025 Chef of the Year Nominee

Towne Grill
2025 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Whiskey Cake
2025 Best New Restaurant Nominee


Teresa Gubbins
Editor | CultureMap Fort Worth, CultureMap Dallas

Stephanie Merry
Editorial Director | CultureMap

Blaine Staniford
61 Osteria
2024 Restaurant of the Year Winner

Preston Paine
Executive Chef | The Crescent Hotel Fort Worth, Emilia’s, The Blue Room
2024 Chef of the Year Winner

Gabriela Rivera Zelaya
General Manager | Plank Seafood Provisions
2024 Best New Restaurant Winner

Michael Rios
Executive Chef | Trinity Street Restaurant & Bar
2024 Rising Star Chef of the Year Winner

Tareka Lofton
PastryChef | Loft 22 Cakes
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Winner

Katie Fleharty
Senior Emerging Markets Manager | 101Media

Trey Chapman
Critic, Writer, Food Show Host and Publisher | Trey's Chow Down

Celestina Blok
Contributing Writer | CultureMap Fort Worth

Malcolm Mayhew
Contributing Writer | CultureMap Fort Worth

Celia Guerrero
FW Foodie & Content Creator

JUDGES

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon


PARTNERS

The Yuengling Company

The Yuengling Company
Yuengling has persevered for six generations, spanning over 196 years, and has been continuously family-owned and operated since 1829. The Yuengling family remains committed to producing the highest-quality portfolio of beers for customers to enjoy. They vow to honor and respect the traditions that have kept the company strong and independent for nearly two centuries. Whether you are raising a glass of Yuengling for the first time or have been a lifelong fan, thank you for supporting “the Oldest Brewery in America."

Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Still Austin Whiskey Co.is a grain-to-glass distillery started in 2015 and located in the heart of Austin. It places a strong emphasis on sustainability with a focus on cutting carbon emissions through local sourcing, increasing the biodiversity of the region through heritage grains, returning spent grains to local ranchers to feed their animals, and operating a distillery that is designed for energy efficiency and water conservation. It only uses 100% Texas-grown corn, rye, and malted barley in its whiskey products sourced from local Texas farmers. Flagship products include “The Musician” Straight Bourbon and Cask Strength Bourbon, “The Naturalist” American Gin, and “The Artist” Straight Rye. You can find more information about Still Austin Whiskey Co. by visiting its website at Still Austin Whiskey Co. - Grain to Glass Distillery in Austin, Texas or by following them on social media.

PicMe Events
PicMe Events is passionate about creating picture-perfect experiences. They work closely with clients to create immersive, exciting, and simply outstanding events and experiences. From surprises to show-stoppers, intimate gatherings to mass brand activations, they can do it all. Using the world’s best photo booth technology, they deliver immersive and engaging events that will leave your guests wanting more. Their No. 1 priority is making sure that their clients are able to walk away from their event satisfied and with memories they can treasure for years to come.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected]


BENEFICIARY

The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation
The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation seeks to foster, celebrate and sustain Fort Worth’s food, beverage and hospitality community. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raises funds for local grant programs and culinary scholarships. To date, the Foundation has raised $325,000 for grants and scholarships supporting deserving culinary students from Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation