Houston Cocktail Bar Julep Wins at the James Beard Awards 2022

In her acceptance speech for the Outstanding Bar Program award, Julep’s owner Alba Huerta thanked Houston and her team

The James Beard Foundation, a national non-profit culinary arts organization, announced Houston’s beloved cocktail bar Julep as the winner of the national Outstanding Bar Program category at its 2022 Beard Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13.

Julep owner and award-winning mixologist Alba Huerta took the stage with her “girl gang,” for extra support to accept the award. Though she didn’t prepare a speech (“I was trying to get into this dress and shoes,” she said), Huerta gave heartfelt thanks to the Beard Foundation for recognizing the bar industry — a form of culinary art that Huerta noted doesn’t always receive equal attention — and, of course, her Texas hometown.

“Thank you to my home city of Houston, Texas for loving immigrants — for loving immigrants like me, like my family — and welcoming us and giving us the path to opening our own businesses,” Huerta said during the event, which was livestreamed on Twitter.

Huerta also shouted out other Houston nominees and supporters who were present at the event, and her Julep staff, who she noted was hosting a 25-cent oyster party in celebration of the awards.

“They’re the most talented, committed group of people,” Huerta said.

Julep’s recent achievement is a noteworthy honor — not only because the James Beard Awards are comparable to Oscar night of the culinary industry, but also because Houston has not taken home a Beard Award since 2017. Hugo Ortego, the chef behind Hugo’s and Xochi, won that year in the Best Chef Southwest category, which was a multi-state award.

Since then, Houston has received several nominations. This year alone, there were six Houston area chefs named finalists — four of whom were in the national categories.

Julep, a swanky bar known for its many variations of the julep cocktails, was also named No. 46 on North America’s 50 Best bars list. The annual ranking by the 50 Best organization, which features bars across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, was announced Tuesday, June 7, in New York.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.