Austin’s best restaurant, chef, and more crowned at Tastemaker Awards

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Amid all the ups and downs of the pandemic, Austin’s restaurant and bar scene has endured, with chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders, and hospitality workers facing immense challenges to keep us all enjoying the local food and drink we crave.

Because of this, we know that despite the ever-changing landscape of this new world and the difficulties that come with it, highlighting and celebrating the achievements of our Austin restaurant and bar heroes is of the utmost importance.

We were overjoyed to honor the city’s best culinary talents at the annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. On August 5th at the Fair Market we honored all our nominees in Austin and San Antonio and finally presented the Tastemaker winners 2021 with the help of our gallant presenter Tim League.

Meet the winners of Austin Tastemaker 2021 and read below what makes them so special. And visit them soon to ensure these pillars of our fellowship triumph now and in the future.

Restaurant of the year: Nixta

Nixta – the colorful, nontraditional taqueria that opened on E. 12th Street in late 2019 – is taking Austin by storm. The co-owners, chef Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, are known for their corn tortillas, which are made through the meticulous and arduous process of nixtamalization. The result is, as they say at Nixta, “bombless corn tortillas”. But culinary creativity doesn’t stop with the tortillas. Rico skilfully processes ingredients like beet tartare, yellowfin tuna, duck confit and roasted cauliflower, and the restaurant offers a variety of seasonal specialties that both challenge and delight the Austin palate.

Chef of the year: German flower, The golden goose

As many Austin foodies know, the concept for L’Oca d’Oro began as a fairy tale in the imagination of Chef Fiore Tedesco. And given Austin’s love affair with the charming Italian restaurant in the Mueller neighborhood, that seems pretty much right. His passion for food is deeply rooted in every dish, from his spectacular handcrafted pasta to his use of sustainable ingredients. Every element of his cuisine is fueled by his Italian family traditions, keen taste buds, and nourishing vision of a restaurant, all of which culminate in a culinary crescendo that is unique to Austin.

Bar of the year: garage

Housed in – you guessed it – a parking garage in downtown Austin, this humble, industrial-inspired cocktail bar walks the fine line of accessibility while offering a nifty range of cocktails that would impress even the pickiest drinker. The space is lounge-esque and seductive, and the drinks are of the variety that invites you to linger, especially the old fashioned which is perhaps the best in town.

Aspiring Celebrity Chef of the Year: Damien Brockway, Distant Relative

Fans of East Austin’s Distant Relatives grill food truck, which specializes in “modern African American” dishes – primarily grilled meats, sandwiches, and side dishes – don’t need to be introduced to Pitmaster and Chef Damien Brockway as he has since gained a beefy following Opening. But just because he makes a living out of meat don’t be fooled that Brockway lacks culinary credibility. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and made his mark in fine restaurants across the country before moving to Austin.

Pastry Chef of the Year: Ariana Quant, Uchiko, Uchi

For pastry chef Ariana Quant, creating unique, fascinating desserts is child’s play. The graduate of the Culinary Institute of America earned her chops at her family’s Chinese restaurant and later traveled the country to master her pastry craft under some of the world’s most famous chefs. Their uchi and uchiko desserts – like everything else in these meticulous gourmet eateries – are polished, perfectly decadent, and impeccable. Whenever possible, look for Quant’s curated sweet boxes for ultimate dessert euphoria.

Bartender of the Year: Travis Tober, Old Pal, Nickel City

Travis Tober has a great talent for creating perfectly weird Austin cocktails. (Does anyone remember the spectacular but painstakingly prepared Tom Sellecks Mustache cocktail from Tobers Stint at the now closed VOX table?) Nowadays, the innovative bartender is also a bar owner, the one in the lovable East Side Dive Bar Nickel City and the newly opened one Old Pal Texas Tavern in Lockhart is in charge.

Neighborhood restaurant of the year: Bouldin Creek Cafe

A perfect fit in South Austin as the place to go for vegan and vegetarian cuisine, this popular bohemian cafe serves handmade coffee alongside freshly made breakfast plates, salads, sandwiches and entrees (do yourself a favor and try the massaman curry bowl). . With a very Austin-centric vibe, the Bouldin Creek Cafe also embodies the spirit of the Austin community by pledging to pay its employees a living wage, raise funds for local causes, donate to the needy, and vote for the marginalized strengthen.

Wine program of the year: LoLo

This East Sixth Street bottle shop was uncorked in February 2020, just before the pandemic. The hybrid retail store and bar have a large, rotating inventory of natural wines that can be enjoyed off-site or on-site – now that the terrace is back in operation. Enjoy savory and sweet bites alongside $ 8 house wines, or pop the cork on one of LoLo’s affordable bottles, all from independent farmers, importers, and distributors.

Brewery of the Year: Blue Owl Brewing

One of Austin’s most unique brewing operations, Blue Owl features a patented sour mash brewing technique that results in a delightfully tingling sensation on the tongue that is just as delicious in a light and crispy Mexican lager as it is in a thick and malty cherry thick. In February 2021, Blue Owl did the unthinkable and brewed a selection of respectable non-sour IPAs and pils. But to really experience Blue Owl’s specialty, opt for a mixed six-pack that showcases their acids.

Best New Restaurant: Plank Seafood Provisions

New to the domain, Plank Seafood Provisions is a coast-inspired oyster bar and seafood grill. And while the decor includes wooden boat sculptures, nautical rope accents, and marine-style artwork, this restaurant’s approach to seafood isn’t lazy. Plank is committed to sustainable and responsible seafood sourcing, and goes so far as to include sourcing details for each fish, fish roe, shellfish and meat product on its menu. From an impressive raw food bar to shared plates and a selection of wood grills, Austin’s seafood lovers are sure to be delighted.

Best ghost cuisine: Mother Klucker

This ghost Thai food is a funky concept from Chef Char Chongchitmate of Charoen Express and Bua Vanitsthian, co-owner of the Nashville-style Chicken as Cluck hot chicken concept. Mama Klucker is located in the Cloud Kitchens facility and specializes in Kao Mun Gai, the popular Southeast Asian poached chicken and rice dish that is served in a variety of starters over Mutter Klucker’s flavorful “fat rice” and with Mutters. Lucky sauce is served. While the Klucker gets the most attention here, the concept couldn’t have worked without the mother, and Chongchitmate admits that his mother taught him all of her secrets to create the best Kao Mun Gai. Chongchitmate calls her a “tiger mom”, but in this case we may have to be content with a loving “mother hen”.

And a toast to our San Antonio 2021 winners:

  • Restaurant of the year: Clementine
  • Chef of the year: Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack
  • Bar of the year: The Esquire Tavern
  • Best New Restaurant: Southerleigh Haute South
  • Best ghost cuisine: Curry boys

Arden Ward and Trey Gutierrez contributed to this story.

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