Tatemó’s Emmanuel Chavez Is a James Beard Award Finalist
The lauded chef was named one of Food & Wine’s 2023 ‘Best New Chefs’
The James Beard Foundation, a national non-profit culinary arts organization, announced the finalists for its annual restaurant and chef awards on Wednesday, April 3. Chef Emmanuel Chavez, known for his celebration of maize and elegant, expansive presentations of Mexican cooking at Tatemó, was named a finalist for the Best Chef: Texas Award. The chef first opened his tortilleria in 2019 before finding its permanent home in 2021 in Northwest Houston.
Houston semifinalists who unfortunately didn’t make the finalist list this year include:
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality Group (Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Bādolina Bakery & Café), Houston, TX
- Outstanding Restaurant: Nancy’s Hustle, Houston, TX
- Best New Restaurant: Jūn, Houston, TX
- Outstanding Bakery: Koffeteria, Houston, TX
- Outstanding Hospitality: Bludorn, Houston, TX
- Emerging Chef: Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston, TX
- Best Chef (Texas): Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX
- Best Chef (Texas): Mark Clayton, Squable, Houston, TX
- Best Chef (Texas): Victoria Elizondo, Cochinita & Co., Houston, TX
The James Beard Foundation winners will be announced on Monday, June 10, in Chicago during an awards ceremony. The semifinalists were announced on January 24.
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2024. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation.
