Morgan Wallen's ACMs concert tops this week's 5 hottest Fort Worth headlines

This week's hot headlines

Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Country music bad boy Morgan Wallen headlines ACM Awards benefit show in Dallas-Fort Worth. Dallas-Fort Worth will be the center of the country music universe on May 11, when the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are broadcast from The Star in Frisco. As with any worldwide, Super Bowl-level event, there'll be many happenings leading up to it. First up: a benefit concert headlined by Morgan Wallen.

2. Fort Worth's buzzy new Koe Wetzel's Riot Room pops open beer-can chicken. Koe has arrived: Koe Wetzel's Riot Room, a new Fort Worth bar and restaurant in which famed country singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel is partnered, has softly opened in the 7th Street district at 1100 Foch St., with live music and a food menu of Southern and Texas classics.

3. Meet the 9 rising star chefs heating up Fort Worth's food scene. While we count down to the big Tastemaker Awards party, we are getting to know the nominees in an editorial series leading up to the event. Up next, the category of Rising Star Chef of the Year. While most of these talented chefs are not new to the industry, many are newer to the local culinary scene or have new ventures. Here are the nominees.

4. Big week for music fans with news of a dozen concerts coming to Dallas-Fort Worth. For summer concert lovers in Dallas-Fort Worth, last week brought a bounty of good news with a big round of tours coming through Texas in 2023. Details have been revealed for tours featuring Drake, TLC, Christopher Cross, Steve Miller Band with Cheap Trick, Willie Nelson, and many more.

5. Where to eat: Best Fort Worth restaurants for Easter 2023 dining. Brunch has become a big trend, but it has always been a thing on Easter Sunday, when it's a tradition to hit up a brunch as a reward for attending Mass. It's such a thing that some restaurants in Fort Worth that are usually closed on Sundays open for special hours on this one holy day. Here's than where to get brunch (and dinner) on Easter Sunday in Fort Worth.

Courtesy photo

Meet the 9 rising star chefs heating up Fort Worth's food scene

Tastemaker Awards

It's almost time to celebrate the top restaurant and bar talent in Tarrant County at the 2023 Tastemaker Awards, returning to Fort Worth for a second year.

The awards ceremony will take place April 27 at The 4 Eleven at 411 S. Main St. The signature tasting event will feature bites and beverages from the nominees and will be hosted by Fort Worth chef Jon Bonnell. Get your tickets here. (Note that early bird ticket sales end April 2.)

While we count down to the big party, we are getting to know the nominees in an editorial series leading up to the event.

Up next, the category of Rising Star Chef of the Year. While most of these talented chefs are not new to the industry, many are newer to the local culinary scene or have new ventures. All are making a name for themselves by showcasing their expertise and influence in their scratch-made dishes that are generating buzz around town. Our panel of judges think these chefs will be leading Fort Worth's culinary scene in the years to come.

Here are the nine nominees for Rising Star Chef of the Year, in alphabetical order:

Chad Burnett - Koe Wetzel's Riot Room
Chad Burnett’s lengthy, wide-ranging resume includes stints at Scottsdale’s Biltmore resort, Nana Grill at the Hilton Anatole, and Soho in Addison. He’s spent time as a culinary school instructor at two colleges, and has experience as a pastry chef, making him very well-rounded in the kitchen. Today he oversees the culinary program for Funky Lime Hospitality, the group that owns Whiskey Garden, Your Mom’s House, and Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room, newly opened in the West 7th nightlife district. The bar also operates as a full-service restaurant, and Burnett's Texas-inspired must-haves include beer-can chicken, Texas hot chicken fried steak, and brisket queso.

Austin Carlson - Wicked Butcher
Austin Carlson leads the kitchen alongside chef Richard Triptow at this high-end underground downtown steakhouse, where the hefty butcher cuts are dry-aged in-house. Carlson previously directed the culinary program for other DRG Concepts, including Dallas Chop House, Wild Salsa, and Chop House Burger. He joined DRG after cooking at Nonna Restaurant in Dallas and has cooked in restaurants in Italy and across Europe. His culinary talent is evident not only in his recipe execution, but the artistic and visually appealing presentation found in all Wicked Butcher dishes.

Jonathan Esparza - Toro Toro
Originally from California and raised outside Guadalajara, Mexico, Jonathan Esparza dreamed of becoming a doctor as a child but missed getting into medical school, narrowly failing the entrance exam. He moved to Puerto Vallarta and worked one summer in a Mexican restaurant – it was the gateway to an extensive restaurant and hospitality career. He attended culinary school and worked in several high-end restaurants, in banquet events, and at multiple Four Seasons properties including Santa Fe, Palm Beach, and Los Cabos. He met Toro Toro founding chef Richard Sandoval while in Santa Fe and was hired as Toro Toro’s executive chef last year. He uses his culinary experience and time growing up on a cattle ranch to influence the Latin steakhouse menu.

Angel Fuentes - Guapo Taco
The Monterrey, Mexico native left his computer programming gig at an early age to embark on a restaurant career, eventually serving as managing partner and chef of Mariachi’s Dine-In in a Riverside gas station. Word spread via social media, and the taqueria quickly gained a loyal following for its discreet location and picture-perfect tacos. That was 2018, but by 2021 the restaurant moved to bigger digs on the west side of town. Fuentes stayed put in that space where he opened Guapo Taco, using his creativity to expand on the menu, which features birria tacos, burritos, tortas, beef cheek barbacoa, and the popular chile chicken posole soup that comes in red or green.

Naveesh Laul - Omni Fort Worth
The New Delhi native intended to practice medicine before following his culinary dream and joining the kitchen management training program at The Taj Group of Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Laul's extensive career led him to serve bureaucrats, diplomats, and Bollywood celebrities for more than a decade, working in multiple Five Diamond fine dining restaurants. He left Taj Hotels in 2016 to take an executive sous chef position at the Omni Fort Wort Hotel, and was promoted executive chef in 2019. Laul also spends time teaching yoga as a Sahaja yoga meditation instructor.

Dustin Lee – The Beast & Co.
A newcomer to the culinary world, Dustin Lee left his corporate engineering sales gig in 2020 to embark on a restaurant career. His previous job exposed him to fine dining around the world, and Lee uses his experiences to influence his menu at The Beast & Co., which he opened on West Magnolia Avenue in 2022. Over the past year, he’s gained a following for an evolving menu of scratch dishes with worldly flair, like soba noodles with coconut curry, burrata with gremolata and grilled bread, and masala spice cake with curry ice cream. Lee also prides himself on The Beast's extensive wine selection.

Greg Pawlowski - il Modo
This native of Michigan took the reins at il Modo last year, bringing with him a love of the culinary arts that began as a child. Pawlowski studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York before working for Wolfgang Puck for eight years, helping to open four concepts. On this ground-floor restaurant at The Kimpton Harper hotel downtown, Pawlowski utilizes the in-house pasta-making room to produce Italian favorites like rigatoni with beef Bolognese and linguini with clams, and has introduced wood-fired pizzas, a braised lamb shank, and a 42-ounce Florentine porterhouse steak served with roasted garlic and bone marrow butter.

Rene Ramirez - 225 BBQ
Native of Pleasant Grove is not a newcomer to the local barbecue scene but is earning attention with his 225 BBQ concept where he's serving barbue with Mexican-American influences inside Maverick's, a longtime Arlington watering hole. He made the move to Maverick's last fall after serving his brisket tacos, brisket ramen, and fan-favorite brisket-stuffed “Cherry Bombs” (bacon-wrapped habanero peppers also filled with cream cheese) from a trailer outside Division Brewing. Customers can now sit down to eat his brisket elote, birria tacos, and honey-glazed pork belly – and even order a cold beer to wash it down if they wish.

Dayne Weaver - Dayne's Craft Barbecue
Local enthusiasts already know Weaver is legendary in the Fort Worth barbecue scene. He’s received a slew of accolades and awards and has been recognized state-wide for his Central Texas-inspired ‘cue. Weaver’s trailer was previously situated outside the former Lola’s Trailer Park location near West 7th Street. When they moved, Weaver was presented the opportunity to open his own permanent home on Camp Bowie West, in the up-and-coming Westland area near J.D.’s Hamburgers. While he waits for the brick-and-mortar, his trailer is parked there now, serving brisket bacon and the fan-favorite smash burger made with ground beef and coarsely chopped brisket.

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Best restaurants for lunch top this week's 5 hottest Fort Worth headlines

This week's hot headlines

1. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 6 best restaurants to grab lunch. The March edition of Where to Eat, our monthly feature recommending best Fort Worth restaurants to try, centers on a meal that needs some attention: lunch. Here are six Fort Worth restaurants where you can grab a bite for lunch.

2. The top 10 neighborhood restaurants in Fort Worth offer a feeling of home. Up first in our special editorial series leading up the Tastemaker Awards, the category of Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. These places are close and convenient to established residential neighborhoods and offer a feeling of home that keeps regulars coming back over and over again. Here are the 10 nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year.

3. Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 7 best new bars for March. A fresh batch of new bars has popped up in recent weeks, and this round is prime for spring sipping. All offer either expansive patios or picturesque interiors, and there’s plenty of space at each to spread out; so going with a group is welcomed. Live music is also a common theme with this collection of new spots.

4. 10 new ideas for a FOMO-free spring break staycation in Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s spring break time across North Texas. For families who did NOT jet off to ski the slopes or head to the beach, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in Dallas-Fort Worth. We once called this "staying home." Now it's a "staycation!" Here are 10 new ideas for fun things to do, even into the weekend.

5. 5 Texas cities make a splash as best places for family-friendly vacations. Fort Worth families looking to create lasting memories - or just really need a last-minute getaway for spring break - don’t need to look outside their state. In a new report from lawn care company Lawn Love, five Texas cities ranked high as Best Cities for Kid-Friendly Vacations.

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Cafe

The top 10 neighborhood restaurants in Fort Worth offer a feeling of home

Tastemaker Awards

In 2022, CultureMap Fort Worth debuted its own edition of the Tastemaker Awards, a culinary celebration that shines a light on top restaurant and bar talent in Tarrant County in various categories, as voted on by peers. The awards ceremony is back for 2023 and will be held April 27 at The 4 Eleven at 411 S. Main St.

The signature tasting event will feature bites and beverages from the nominees and will be hosted by Fort Worth chef Jon Bonnell. Tickets are now on sale, here. (Note that early bird ticket sales end April 2.)

While we wait for the big party, get to know the nominees. All will be profiled as part of a special editorial series leading up to the event.

Up first, the category of Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. These places are close and convenient to established residential neighborhoods and offer a feeling of home that keeps regulars coming back over and over again.

Here are the 10 nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, in alphabetical order:

Cafe Bella
Open since 2000 in the hidden Westcliff Shopping Center, Café Bella is the Cheers of several nearby neighborhoods, from Bluebonnet Hills to Tanglewood. Except at this place “where everybody knows your name,” it’s up to you to BYOB. Perhaps that’s part of the draw, along with the unpretentious classic Italian dishes served at affordable prices, like chicken piccata, fettucine alfredo, and baked lasagna. The interior is also inviting, with faux floral hanging from the ceiling along with preset glassware and folded napkins. Also inviting is the owner, Eli Golemi, who’s gained a loyal following not only for her comforting dishes but for her gracious personality – like that of a best friend.

Carshon's Deli
Family owned and operated since 1928, this kosher-style delicatessen has been in its current location in South Fort Worth since the 1970s, serving generations of patrons. Located near a busy intersection at Berry Street and Cleburne Road, the sandwich shop draws regulars for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, chicken and tuna salads, soups, chili, and toasted bagels. Don’t miss the Strawberry Delight, a layered slice of whipped cream, strawberries, and crumbled shortbread. Carshon’s is cash only and is only open for breakfast and lunch but does serve beer and wine.

Guapo Taco
Because of its discreet location inside a Riverside gas station, this neighborhood taco joint may fly under the radar – but not to its neighbors in the know. Angel Fuentes (who has also been nominated for a Tastemaker Award for Rising Star Chef) opened the eatery in 2021, but he had already gained a following as co-owner of another taco hot spot, Mariachi’s Dine-In, which had been in the same space since 2018 before moving to West Fort Worth. Now as the sole proprietor, the Monterrey, Mexico native has been able to showcase hometown flavors along with personal creativity. Patrons will find birria tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and tortas along with elote, beef cheek barbacoa, and green or red chile chicken posole. Customers can order to-go easily or sit and enjoy a plate in the colorfully decorated, sectioned-off area of the gas station’s convenience store.

Los Vaqueros
When your neighborhood is the Fort Worth Stockyards, your customers may come from all over the world. But the Cisneros family, who opened the Tex-Mex institution on North Main Street in 1983, welcomes every guest as if they are a next-door neighbor. In an area of glitzy revitalization with the addition of Mule Alley, Los Vaqueros is a mainstay now celebrating 40 years in business under the same ownership. Regulars, whether locals or out-of-towners, visit for the airy chips and fresh salsa, sour cream enchiladas, stuffed chiles rellenos, and the popular Don Juan Coco Von – chicken breast marinated in wine sauce with mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes served with guacamole. Because the restaurant offers a massive footprint in what was formerly a warehouse, accommodating large families here is easy to do.

Roy Pope Grocery
Open since 1943, Roy Pope Grocery has been a neighborhood go-to for generations. The Camp Bowie Boulevard grocer, wine shop, and café received a facelift when a new ownership group took the reins in 2020. What stayed the same: custom beef butchery, high-end shelf stable products, chef-made hot and cold deli items, and a wide lineup of wine and beer. What’s new: an on-staff sommelier, wine club, gourmet coffee bar, indoor and outdoor seating, floral department, frozen custard, house-made sangria, and even occasional live music. The new-and-improved Roy Pope earned a nod from Texas Monthly as of the state's best new restaurants in 2022.

Tokyo Café
Simply referred to as “Toyoko” to its regulars, this West Fort Worth Japanese restaurant and returning Tastemaker winner has a steady stream of patrons from nearby neighborhoods, along with destination diners who drive in from the outskirts of town. That’s because owners Mary and Jarry Ho, both graduates of Texas A&M, have kept Tokyo Café innovative and relevant while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere. Jarry’s parents started the restaurant in 1997; he took over in 2003. In 2009, he hired chef Kevin Martinez, who’s added his adventurous influence to the menu, attracting a new generation of young foodies. The restaurant survived a terrible fire in 2014 that led to a two-year closure. Upon its reopening, customers came back in droves, ready to support their favorite neighborhood Japanese eatery that’s popular for date night, girl groups, and young families, too.

Tributary Café
When a restaurant owner chooses to open their restaurant just blocks away from where they live, the investment into the neighborhood is pretty big. That’s the case with Tributary Café on Race Street, whose owners Cindy and Roney Wheeler live in nearby historic Oakhurst. The couple opened the Louisiana-inspired eatery in a renovated 1940s bungalow in 2016. Because the restaurant is an actual house with wooden floors, front porch, and covered patio, the feel is definitely neighborly. Wheeler has an extensive restaurant background (Nonna Tata, Zodiac at Neiman Marcus), and once owned her own place in Waxahachie. She moved back to Fort Worth and wanted to showcase some of her favorite Creole dishes in a then up-and-coming part of the Riverside district. Today she has a slew of regulars who visit for fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, fried oyster po’ boys, and specials like etouffee-topped burgers. Other draws are the weekend live music, Sunday brunch, and happy hour from 2-6 pm Wednesday through Friday.

Tu Hai
A man named Jimmy Ho opened this Vietnamese mainstay at Belknap and Beach streets in 1986. Some of the same customers who knew Jimmy are greeted today by his son Lee, who’s run the family business since 2009. What keeps a good neighborhood restaurant running smoothly on all cylinders is not fixing what isn’t broken, and that’s what the younger Ho has done here. Affordable prices, a simple interior, good food, and quick service has kept regulars – from nearby workers to neighborhood families – coming back. Always popular are the various pho as well as the shrimp and bean sprout-stuffed Saigon “pancakes” (which more resemble an omelet) and the French baguette banh mi. It’s a place to eat adventurously in what feels like a home-cooking café.

Weinberger's Deli
It’s no accident that this Grapevine sandwich shop feels a bit like Chicago – Weinberger’s originated in the Windy City in 1952 before opening in historic downtown Grapevine in 2002. For more than two decades, the deli has attracted locals and out-of-towners for professionally crafted sandwiches. Without a doubt, sandwich making is an art here – that’s the way owner Dan Weinberger intended it. Customers rave about the authenticity of the Chicago-style specialties, from the hot pastrami sandwiches to the Chicago dog. But the menu goes on and on; there are cheesesteaks, Cuban sandwiches, gyros, club sandwiches, sausages, and even meatloaf sandwiches. Regulars know their favorites, so if you’re not sure what to order while in line, step out of the way until you do.

Winslow's Wine Café
Many patrons conveniently walk to this Crestline area wine bar and restaurant from their nearby homes. Winslow’s was opened by Joe Berry in 2008 in a former gas station on Camp Bowie Boulevard and was named for his beloved blue heeler. Here, the pizzas are wood-fired, the cozy bar is always busy, and the wine goes down smooth. Berry has modified the menu over the years to reflect what his clientele craves – think parmesan truffle fries, jumbo lump crab cakes, and fig and prosciutto pizza. Winslow’s is also popular for Sunday brunch or a glass of wine on the comfortable patio, where there’s always a familiar face.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Celebrate Fort Worth's culinary all-stars at the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards

A Toast to the Tastemakers

Get ready to celebrate the stars of Fort Worth's restaurants and bars. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards return this spring — and tickets are on sale now.

Join us April 27 at The 4 Eleven for an evening honoring the very best of Fort Worth's culinary scene.

That means our signature tasting event where you'll sample special bites from this year's participating nominees and sip an array of cocktails, beer, and more. Then we'll reveal the winners in our short and sweet awards ceremony.

The Tastemaker Awards shine a spotlight on the people making the local restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity. Nominees and winners are determined by a panel of industry experts, including past winners — except for Best New Restaurant (more on that in a bit).

This year, we’ll award winners in all of the following categories: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bar of the Year, Brewery of the Year, Rising Star Chef of the Year, Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant, and — just to add a little sizzle — Best Burger.

You can see all of the nominees here and learn more about them in our special editorial series leading up to the big event.

At the awards ceremony on April 27, we’ll unveil the winners in each category, including the winner of Best New Restaurant, which will be determined by you in a bracket-style online tournament.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event, valet, and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase April 2 (or whenever Early Bird tickets sell out). Grab your tickets now, because this party will surely sell out.

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The event is brought to you by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Ellum Ranch Patio Water, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, and more to be announced soon.. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Cuisine for Healing.

Photo courtesy of The Fitzgerald

The 10 most delectable dining headlines Fort Worth devoured in 2022

This year's hottest headlines

Editor's note: Looking back at our most-read dining stories of 2022, we see Fort Worth's adoration of a certain Texas grocery store that's finally expanding into Tarrant County - it claimed two spots in our top 10. Readers also gobbled up news about new restaurants, a new high-tech McDonald's, and Fort Worth's very first Tastemaker Awards event honoring local culinary superstars.

1. McDonald's tests out one-of-a-kind new restaurant model in Fort Worth. McDonald’s is trying out a brand new test restaurant concept, and the only place it's happening is in Fort Worth. Located at 8540 West Fwy., the new store is a first-of-its-kind test restaurant that the company says is designed for customers on-the-go.

2. New Crazy German restaurant serves Dallas-Fort Worth the best wursts. There's a very-authentic German restaurant newly opened in North Texas. Called The Crazy German, it opened quietly on February 1 in a little shopping center at 27379 E. University Dr. in Aubrey and comes with the best credentials: The owner was born and raised in Germany.

3. Best Fort Worth restaurants for Thanksgiving 2022 dining-in or to-go. One minute it's January. The next minute, we were thinking about the holidays. It's never too soon to start dreaming about pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and stuffing fragrant with sage and thyme. In late October, we rounded up the best restaurants to get Thanksgiving 2022 feasts in Fort Worth.

4. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 5 hot new restaurants for March. Fort Worth saw a burst of restaurants open early in the year. There was a little something for everyone, including high-profile chef-driven spots and bar-driven restaurants with generous outdoor space. For our March edition of Where to Eat, we presented five need-to-know restaurants that recently had opened.

Photo courtesy of The Fitzgerald

Oysters from The Fitzgerald.

5. H-E-B supermarket chain opening first location in Tarrant County. In the biggest news of August, adored Texas supermarket chain H-E-B is opening a location in Tarrant County: specifically, Mansfield. The store will be located at the corner of US 287 and Broad Street. This will become the first H-E-B store in Tarrant County, joining its sibling Central Market in Fort Worth.

6. Location accidentally leaked for possible H-E-B supermarket in Fort Worth. On June 8, it was looking like Fort Worth was going to get an H-E-B grocery store, according to a press release from Parkside at Alliance Town Center that got nearby residents excited. An H-E-B spokesperson confirmed that the company owned land there but had no immediate plans to build a store. Then in October, H-E-B finally made it official: Fort Worth's Alliance is getting an H-E-B store after all. A groundbreaking took place at the northwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and North Riverside Drive on November 16.

7. Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space. Gigi Howell, a Fort Worth restaurant veteran, announced in January that she was opening her own burger joint. Called JD's Hamburgers, it's now located at 9901 Camp Bowie West, a space previously occupied by bars such as Last Call and Randi's Knotty Pine Saloon.

8. Fort Worth's best restaurant, chef, and more winners crowned at 2022 Tastemaker Awards.The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards program came to Fort Worth for the very first time this year, with a brand-new event to honor the city’s talented and hard-working culinary stars. The nominees for bar, chef, and restaurant of the year, best new restaurant, and best breakfast were introduced in an editorial series, and winners were crowned at an awards ceremony and signature tasting event on Tuesday, May 10 at the 4 Eleven venue.

9. Fort Worth bar is one of 9 across the U.S. to host spooky Halloween pop-up. A Fort Worth bar was one of the few bars across the U.S. chosen to host a special pop-up with a Halloween theme. Called Black Lagoon, it was an immersive Halloween pop-up bar concept that hit nine cities across the U.S., and that includes Nickel City, the neighborhood bar located at 212 S. Main St. in Fort Worth.

10. Authentic deep-dish pizza from Chicago is coming to Fort Worth. An authentic Chicago-style pizza name announced in February it was coming to Fort Worth: Rosati's Pizza, a chain based in Illinois that's been doing Chicago-style pizza since 1964, then opened a location at 5152 Golden Triangle. It went into a new little center at the intersection of Park Vista Boulevard in far north Fort Worth.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

The Tastemaker Awards toast the best in Texas dining for 2023

A taste of Texas

It’s another one for CultureMap’s history books. The 2023 Tastemaker Awards, which recognized Texas' best chefs, restaurants, and more culinary superstars of the year, have finally come to a close.

The series kicked off April 13 with our sold-out Houston Tastemaker Award at Silver Street Studios, then we came home to Fort Worth, to the 4 Eleven, for our second annual event, April 27. The Texas culinary tour steered us over to Dallas' Fashion Industry Gallery on May 4. From there, we took a drive to the Hill Country for Austin’s evening festivities at Fair Market on May 11, then concluded our journey with our second-ever fête in San Antonio on May 18.

The 2023 Tastemaker Awards honor the state’s most innovative culinary pioneers, allowing nominated chefs and restaurants to showcase their talents for guests before announcing the winners during a live ceremony.

Guests sampled chefs’ specialty bites and imbibed a variety of creative cocktails or mocktails, with a few Topo Chicos sprinkled in throughout the evening. But as always, our nominees and winners are the main focus of our program and are the reason we can bring these celebrations to life.

While a panel of local food and beverage pros choses a majority of the winners, the winner of Best New Restaurant is determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. New this year in each city, a sizzling on-site Burger Throwdown sponsored by Goodstock Beef by Nolan Ryan.

Without further ado, let’s meet our 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners, listed by city:

Fort Worth:

Restaurant of the Year: Fitzgerald
Chef of the Year: Juan Ramón Cárdenas, Don Artemio
Bar of the Year: Birdie’s Social Club
Best New Restaurant: Calisience
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Angel Fuentes, Guapo Taco
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cafe Bella
Best Burger: Dayne’s Craft Barbecue
Best Brewery: Martin House Brewing Company

Dallas:

Restaurant of the Year: Shoyo
Chef of the Year: Junior Borges, Meridian
Bar of the Year: Lounge Here
Best New Restaurant: Quarter Acre
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Mike Matis, Fearing’s
Pastry Chef of the Year: Maricsa Trejo, La Casita Bakeshop
Bartender of the Year: Haley Merritt, Midnight Rambler
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: El Rincon del Maiz
Wine Program of the Year: Pappas Bros.
Best Burger: Wulf Burger
Brewery of the Year: Manhattan Project Beer Co.

Houston:

CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards 2023

Photo by Ashley Gongora

The ants garnishing Guapo Taco's chips were the talk of the Fort Worth event.

Restaurant of the Year: Bludorn
Chef of the Year: Mark Clayton, Squable
Bar of the Year: Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge
Best New Restaurant: Aiko
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
Pastry Chef of the Year: Shawn Gawle, Goodnight Hospitality
Bartender of the Year: Kristine Nguyen, Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Craft Pita
Wine Program of the Year: Nancy’s Hustle
Best Pop-Up: Khói Barbecue
Best Burger: Burger Bodega

Austin:

Restaurant of the Year: Birdie’s
Chef of the Year: Amanda Turner, Olamaie
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Joaquin Ceballos, Este
Pastry Chef of the Year: Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería
Bar of the Year: Nickel City
Bartender of the Year: Erin Ashford, Olamaie
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Nixta Taqueria
Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
Brewery of the Year: Lazarus Brewing Co.
Best Burger: Dai Due
Best New Restaurant: Maie Day

San Antonio:

Restaurant of the Year: Carriqui
Chef of the Year: Robbie Nowlin, Allora, Arrosta
Bar of the Year: Amor Eterno
Brewery of the Year: Künstler Brewing
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Magpie
Pastry Chef of the Year: Sofia Tejeda, Hotel Emma
Best Burger: Last Place Burger
Best New Restaurant: Reese Bros BBQ

These are the 5 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

This week in gluttony

Doughnuts, burgers, and whiskey – oh my! A sweet collaboration happens this Friday night. Also plan for a summer afternoon tea, a complimentary wine tasting, museum happy hour, and a hysterical wine tasting event themed after a hit comedy.

Thursday, June 1

Crimson Wine Tasting at Neighbor’s House Grocery
The boutique downtown grocer and eatery hosts complimentary wine tasting for sipping and shopping. Guests will get to try four different wines from Napa’s Crimson Wine Group. Drop by anytime from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Friday, June 2

Kimbell Happy Hour
Friday means it’s time for the Kimbell Art Museum’s weekend happy hour. Visit from 5-7 pm for beverages and bites, along with live music by the Allegro Guitar Society. Members will receive 10 percent off drinks.

Doughnut-Burger Collaboration at Whiskey Ranch
Whiskey Ranch does National Doughnut Day with a sweet and savory collab featuring three Fort Worth favorites: TX Whiskey, FunkyTown Donuts, and JD’s Hamburgers. The $35 ticket includes three different TX cocktails paired with gourmet mini doughnuts, including a bacon burger doughnut slider by JD’s. Cocktails include Blackberry Sour, Pecan Old Fashioned, and Parker County Peach TX Whiskey Tea. There’ll also be DJ music and a build-your-own-doughnut hole sundae bar. The event will run from 6-9 pm.

Saturday, June 3

Catalina Canned Wine Mixer at Truck Yard Alliance
Truck Yard in Alliance is throwing a “bro-down” party themed after the 2008 hit movie Step Brothers. Wear your best tuxedo t-shirt for a wine tasting, photo ops, food trucks, and a Step Brothers cover band. Admission is free, but a $15 wine tasting is offered from 7-9 pm, featuring six wine samples and a souvenir glass filled with frose. Costume contests will be held at 5 pm and 10 pm.

Sunday, June 4

Summer Afternoon Tea at Indulge
The downtown cooking studio and tea room will host a Sunday afternoon summer tea party. Enjoy three courses including chicken tarragon sandwiches, roasted vegetable phyllo cups, and street corn crostinis, along with scones with clotted cream and jam, cream puffs, madeleines, and shortbread cookies. Tea choices include black or herbal blend. The tea service is $65 and begins at 2 pm.

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