The James Beard Foundation has announced its list of finalists for the 2010 awards, via Twitter.  Congratulations to Bryan Caswell of Reef, a finalist for Best Chef, Southwest.

The list:

Best Chef: Northwest: Naomi Pomeroy, Andy Ricker, Ethan Stowell, Cathy Whims, Jason Wilson

Best Chef: Pacific: Michael Cimarusti, Jeremy Fox, David Kinch, Matt Molina, Michael Tusk

Best Chef: Southwest: Bryan Caswell, Saipin Chutima, Ryan Hardy, Claude Le Tohic, Rick Moone

Best Chef: South: Zach Bell, Scott Boswell, John Harris, Christopher Hastings, Michael Schwartz Best

Best Chef: Southeast: Hugh Acheson, Sean Brock, Linton Hopkins, Andrea Reusing, Bill Smith

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Cathal Armstrong, Jeff Michaud, Peter Pastan, Michael Solomonov, Bryan Voltaggio

Best Chef: New York City: Michael Anthony, Wylie Dufresne, Gabrielle Hamilton, Daniel Humm, Michael White

Best Chef: Northeast: Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier, Peter X. Kelly, Michael Leviton, Tony Maws, Marc Orfaly

Best Chef: Midwest: Isaac Becker, Gerard Craft, Colby Garrelts, Alexander Roberts, Lenny Russo

Chef: Great Lakes: Michael Carlson, Koren Grieveson, Arun Sampanthavivat, Bruce Sherman, Alex Young

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award: Timothy Hollingsworth, Johnny Monis, Grégory Pugin, Gabriel Rucker, Sue Zemanick

Outstanding Pastry Chef Award: Amanda Cook, Michelle Gayer, Kamel Guechida, Nicole Plue, Mindy Segal

Best New Restaurant: Bibou, Flour + Water, Frances, Locanda Verde, Marea, RN74

Outstanding Service Award: Alinea, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, La Grenouille, Michael Mina, Vetri

Outstanding Restaurateur Award: Tom Douglas, Pat Kuleto, Keith McNally, Richard Melman, Stephen Starr

Outstanding Restaurant Award: Babbo, Boulevard, Daniel, Highlands Bar & Grill, Spiaggia

Outstanding Chef Award: José Andrés, Tom Colicchio, Gary Danko, Suzanne Goin, Charles Phan

In its March 18, 2010 issue, the Houston Press recognized ten Houston blogs that rock their world.  Among a crowded field of truly outstanding talent, H-Town Chow Down was one of two Houston food blogs to be honored.

We were both extremely surprised and deeply honored.  Houston has no lack of top-notch food blogs, many of which you'll see listed on our sidebar. To be selected from this impressive field is an accomplishment of which we are very proud.


Thank you to Cathy Matusow and the rest of the Houston Press staff for selecting us from this incredibly talented field.  Writing this blog is at times exciting, frustrating, rewarding, and befuddling, but never boring, and recognition like this motivates us to do an even better job.  We've met some fantastic people in the process, and enjoyed some truly memorable meals, but more than anything, we've connected with many of our readers, met some in real life, and enjoyed the interaction, especially when they disagree.

We look at this recognition by the Houston Press as a challenge for us to reach higher and deliver an even better product for our readers.  Thank you again to the Houston Press and our readers.

Update: An anonymous tipster suggests that Tesar was not forced out, rather that he left his establishment to pursue other opportunities. However, our original source stands by his story.

Bad news for fine dining fans - John Tesar is no longer with Tesar's in the Woodlands. Sources say that investors forced him out. More details as they develop.

Many Houstonians are making the annual drive to Austin for the zoo that is SXSW, and the question always comes up: "Where do we eat"?


We've got some favorite places, but the locals have created a Food Bloggers' Guide to Austin with information about everything you could possibly want to eat.  (Thanks to Katherine Shilcutt for pointing out this and other guides to food at SXSW.)

The guide is quite comprehensive... except for burgers.  I didn't see a burger guide.  So here's ours.

H-Town Chow Down Two Minute Guide to Burgers in Austin:

Hot

Casino El Camino (on Sixth Street) for the best burgers in town.  Thick, juicy, and incredibly flavorful.
Dan's or Fran's (all over town) for the classic griddled burger.
Dirty's (on the Drag) for a bit of Austin history from a grill that's rumored to be about three decades overdue for a good cleaning.

Not

Hut's (on Sixth Street) Revered for years as a great historic burger joint, it's certainly old but it's not very good, with mediocre industrial patties on unmemorable buns.

Spring break is fast approaching, and SXSW is getting ready to go in Austin.  So what's a foodie to do?  We're heading west, to fabulous Las Vegas, home of the cloned celebrity-chef restaurant and the $1.99 shrimp cocktail.  Las Vegas has always been about the money, and we are very curious to see how the town has adapted to the current recession.


We'll be hanging out Rat Pack-style on the strip (while watching our dimes), and will be reporting on our findings.  But we need your help.  What are the must see, must do restaurants and attractions?  Where are the bargains?  What should we avoid?

We know that the readers of this blog are a savvy bunch, and look forward to your suggestions and comments.

Today we had to run by Market Street to pick up something for dinner, and drove by the location of 1252 Tapas Bar, the new Tapas spot in the Woodlands.  They're getting ready to open in a few days, and we had a chance for a brief look-around and a chat with Hernan, the manager.

The focus of the establishment is obviously tapas, but it's also going to offer a wide selection of wine and a full bar.  The bar and mingle area take up a good portion of the bright, airy restaurant, and there's an outside patio overlooking the Woodlands Central Park, complete with both tables and sofas for lounging.

This is the organization's first restaurant in the US.  Previously, they have operated restaurants in Mexico City.

Since the closing of Mi Luna, the Woodlands has been without a good place to enjoy tapas.  We're looking forward to sampling the tapas at 1252; we'll be back for a full report after the grand opening.

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