James Beard Foundation Highlights Houston Chefs at Taste America 2025

Few names in the culinary world garner as much respect and awe as that of James Beard, the late chef, cookbook author and television personality. Equally as prestigious is the foundation that bears his name and the James Beard Awards which are bestowed upon the nation’s best chefs, restaurateurs and other hospitality professionals each year.

The James Beard Foundation does much more, however, than just recognize culinary innovators. The non-profit also advocates for those involved in American food culture with policy initiatives and educational community programming.

One of its public experiences is the Taste America series which tours across different cities, offering the public an opportunity to come face to face with some of our country’s brightest culinary stars. This year, its stop in the Bayou City will be at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, so along with delicious bites, there will also be a whole lotta glamor.

Co-hosted by Houston First, the gourmet event will take place October 8, beginning at 7 p.m., with Premier access at 6 p.m. The recently-released list of Houston chefs and their menus also announced that Taste Twenty chef Ope Amosu of ChopnBlok will be the headliner. Houstonians know the chef for his contemporary take on West African cuisine. He was nominated this year for a James Beard Award Best Chef: Texas and this week, ChopnBlok made the list of America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 in The New York Times.

In a press release, Amosu said he is humbled to serve as the host and to cook alongside such top-tiered chefs. He added, “Southwest Houston raised me since I was 3 years old and I am ready to play my part and show out for ‘us!’ I’m proud to showcase the dynamic flavors, my West African heritage and the community influences that fuel ChopnBlok while shining a spotlight on the city that shaped me.”

For his menu showcase, Amosu will be serving African palm butter chicken and prawns with Liberian greens and plantain-potato mash. Joining him in the culinary adventure will be local chefs such as Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemo), who was a finalist for a James Beard Award in 2024 and also earned his first Michelin star the same year. His Taste America treat will be a tuna tiradito with leche de tigre and masa cracker.

The superstar chef list also includes Top Chef Season 22 champion, Tristen Epps-Long (Buboy), scooping out baobab ice cream with peach-fig jam. JBA alums, Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu (Jun) return, offering pork meatballs with peanut curry. Attendees will also sample bites like Itek Tuchina Three Sisters, a dish of salmon squash, corn and beans from Choctaw chef David Skinner (Ishtia) and pad thai oatmeal fluffernutter from Vanarin Kuch (Koffeteria). Other talented chefs in the line-up include Victoria Elizondo (Cochinita & Co.), Suu Khin (Burmalicious), Flo Palanco (Flor y Miel), Felipe Riccio (March) and Michelle Wallace (B’tween Sandwich Co.).

There will also be beverage stations from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Klipsun Vineyard, Mijenta Tequila, Tito’s Vodka and William Grant & Sons.

Taste America: Houston
October 8, 6 p.m. (Premier), 7 p.m. (General)
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
1600 W. Loop S.
jamesbeard.org