The stars last night shone big and bright, deep in the heart of 713 Music Hall in Downtown, where Houston hosted the Michelin Guide Texas Ceremony. In its inaugural selection, six Houston restaurants were awarded stars among the 15 named from across the state, with top honors going to BCN Taste & Tradition, March, Le Jardinier, Musaafer, Tatemo, and Corkscrew BBQ. With the spotlight on fine French fare, regional Indian cuisine, the food and wine of the Mediterranean, a Mexican tasting menu, the flavors of Catalan, and craft barbecue, the lauded restaurants are a worthy representation of Houston’s diversity.
“Our anonymous Inspectors were impressed by the culinary community across the state of Texas,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides. “The selection reflects their findings by highlighting uniquely Texas flavors, such as barbecue and Tex-Mex, as well as several international influences. We are very honored to welcome these restaurants to the Michelin Guide family for the first time and we toast to the tremendous spirit of the Texas restaurant community!”
Texas is the 11th Michelin Guide destination in North America, following Mexico, which also launched this year. Restaurants in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio were considered for the Texas guide, with selections based on a set of universal criteria, including quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, cooking techniques, reflection of a chef’s voice and personality within the cuisine, and consistency.
An exclusive group of Texas industry professionals, food media, and chefs and restaurateurs were invited to witness the ceremony and celebrate the momentous occasion. Spotlights illuminated the entrance of 713 Music Hall, guiding guests to the dramatic red carpet flanked in crimson drapes leading into the sprawling venue. During the cocktail hour, guests were served Franciacorta wines and bubbles as they mingled and posed for photo ops with the Michelin Guide’s beloved mascot, the Michelin Man.
The ceremony began promptly at 7 p.m. on 713 Music Hall’s main stage with a truly out of this world moment during which a heartfelt video message was presented from the astronauts aboard the International Space Station honoring all of the night’s culinary stars. The presentation of Special Awards, Recommended, Bib Gourmands, and Michelin Stars followed.
The city of Austin led the gamut with seven restaurants receiving stars, including Barley Swine, Craft Omakase, Hestia, Olamei, Interstellar BBQ, La Barbecue, and Leroy & Lewis BBQ; with Dai Due and Emmer & Rye earning the only two Michelin green stars awarded for their commitment to sustainability. San Antonio and Dallas rounded out the list, with each receiving single stars for Mixtli and Tatsu, respectively.
The spotlight was on Houston once again when Steven McDonald earned a special Michelin Sommelier Award for Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. A total of 45 Texas restaurants were awarded Bib Gourmands, which is a nod to places that showcase great food at a good value. Houston was well represented on this list as well, with Blood Bros. BBQ, Theodore Rex, Street to Kitchen, Rosemeyer BBQ, Nancy’s Hustle, Belly of the Beast, Mala, Nam Gaio, Ema, Rosie Cannonball, Kau Ba, Killen’s, Killen’s BBQ, Pinkerton’s BBQ, Nobie’s, the Pit Room, Tejas Chocolate, and Truth BBQ all earning recognition.
A final toast among the winners gathered on stage and an explosive confetti-filled finale marked the ceremony’s finish, and the offical start of the Michelin after parties.
Joined by owners Shammi and Mithu Malik, Musaafer’s executive chef, Mayank Istwal, expressed the gravity of being the only South Asian restaurant in Texas recognized by the guide. “We represent the nearly 1.5 billion people of India. It is a great honor, and it means a lot,” he shared after his win. “This is for the people back home, one hundred percent.”
While no stranger to receiving national accolades, Terry Wong, one of the founders of Blood Bros. BBQ. was still in awe after the ceremony. “We are so honored to be mentioned alongside these guys,” he expressed. “It’s unbelievable. Don’t ever wake me up!”
All in all, 117 Texas restaurants were honored throughout the evening, including Big Gourmands and Michelin recommended restaurants, with 26 cuisines represented.
“I truly don’t think this will change how we do things,” admits chef Felipe Riccio, who celebrated double wins for his Goodnight Hospitality concepts, Rosie Cannonball and March. “The attention, the recognition, the excitement, the drive—it is all just fuel for the fire. It’s only up from here.”
