Here are Your 2017 Local Hero Award WINNERS!!
Thank you to Houston's local food community! With nearly 5,000 votes cast, the results are in and we're thrilled to introduce your 2017 Local Heroes... The party celebrating our finalists and winners was a blast and made possible by the generous contributions of our sponsors, please support them.
Presented by: Waitr, Harvest Green, NextSeed, Loam Agronomics, and Prohibition Supperclub and Bar
Supported by: ROXOR Artisan Gin, Snap Fitness, Ericksen Law Firm, Woops Macaroons and Strategic Materials
AND THE WINNERS ARE............
FARM AND NON-PROFIT
Plant It Forward is a nonprofit organization that works in Houston to provide refugees with the tools, training, and business skills needed to start and grow their own urban farm businesses. Plant It Forward farms 6.5 acres across 4 locations in Houston working with 9 refugee farmers, and plans to grow in 2017! Customers can access Plant It Forward produce through its Farm Share program, or by purchasing at local Farm Stands and Farmers Markets.
Website: Plant-it-Forward.org
Facebook: PlantItForwardFarms
FARMERS MARKET VENDOR
Caroline’s Creations and #TamaleMagic is the culmination of many years of experience in the kitchen. Caroline provides a wide variety of Tamale flavors to choose from which fits any gastronomic desire. Whet your appetite with Traditional Pork tamales or uniquely new flavors such as Cheese Steak tamales. Flavors change with the season. Which ones do you want to try? She’s a regular at the Tomball Farmers Market as well as the Heights Epicurean Market.
Website: Carolines-Creations.com
Facebook: CarolinesCreationsAndVintageDelights
FARMERS MARKET
Located in Historic Downtown Tomball you will find Harris County's largest weekly farmers market. The Tomball Farmers Market works to support the community by bringing in local farms and businesses dedicated to providing the highest quality food and handmade products. Through that support, the character and strength of a community is preserved for the next generation.
Website: www.TomballFarmersMarket.org
Facebook: TomballFarmersMarket
FOOD WRITER
Phaedra Cook is the editor, publisher and lead writer of Houston Food Finder, an online publication that she founded in November 2016. Cook started with her own blog, Houston Food Adventures, in 2010 and went on to be a contributor to My Table magazine, the Houston Press and Edible Houston. From 2014 to 2016, she also served as a restaurant critic and food editor for the Houston Press. Cook has written articles on Texas beef, humanely raised meat and Gulf coast seafood.
Website: HoustonFoodFinder.com
Twitter: PhaedraCook
CHEF
Chef Antoine Ware began his culinary career in New Orleans, working his way up in prestigious restaurants, such as Royal Sonesta and Mr. B’s Bistro. In 2013, he became Executive Chef at Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Terrace, where he brings his New Orleans flare to owner, Alli Jarret’s, South Carolina classics. Ware strongly values developing and maintaining relationships with farm vendors, making it possible to use farm-fresh local ingredients in every dish.
Website: HaroldsHeights.com
Facebook: HaroldsHeights
RESTAURANT
Dedicated to using the highest quality and freshest ingredients possible, Dish Society sources a majority of its items from local suppliers. The all-day diner turns out a seasonal menu with healthful modern twists on traditional favorites for breakfast, lunch, supper, and brunch. Currently, Dish Society has locations in the Galleria area, Katy, and is under construction on a third in Memorial.
Website: www.DishSociety.com
Facebook: DishSociety
Instagram: @dishsociety DishSociety
Twitter: @dishsociety DishSociety
BREWERY
Saint Arnold Brewing Company, located in Houston, is Texas' Oldest Craft Brewery. Our goal is to brew world class beers and deliver them to our customers as fresh as possible making them the best beers in Texas and Louisiana. We brew 10 year-round beers, seven seasonals and three special series - Divine Reserve, Icon and Bishop's Barrel and have won 21 medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
Website: www.SaintArnold.com
Facebook: SaintArnold
Twitter: SaintArnold
Instagram: SaintArnoldBrewing
Pinterest: SaintArnoldBrew
Snapchat: @SaintArnoldBeer
MIXOLOGIST
Born in Rochester, New York, Beck first developed an interest in wine while at University of Houston’s Honors College, where started working as a waiter at Backstreet Café 19 years ago. He helped turn the neighborhood restaurant into a celebrated spot for wine and spirits. Now days he runs the competition, which benefits Periwinkle Foundation a Houston Charity working with children. Part of his title is Beverage Director for Backstreet Café as well as sister restaurants Hugo’s, Hugo’s Cocina, Caracol and the soon to be opening Xochi.
Website: www.BackstreetCafe.net
Website: www.HugosRestaurant.net
Website: www.Caracol.net
Website: www.XochiHouston.com
FOOD ARTISAN
Eat My Pralines is a small, Houston-based business born from a family recipe for pecan pralines. EMP Owner Becca Reyenga started the business in 2015 after seeing the mass appeal for her mom's pralines. Becca's mom, Ruth Ann, is a native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and has been making these delicacies for years.
Becca loves to satisfy traditional praline lovers, but she really loves trying new flavors – Walnut Ginger and Almond Coconut are among her most popular praline creations.
Website: www.EatMyPralines.com
Business Facebook page: EatMyPralines
Instagram account: @eatmypralines EatMyPralines
Twitter account: @eatmypralines EatMyPralines
Snapchat: Eat My Pralines
FOOD TRUCK
Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream Co. is a handcrafted artisan small batch creamery located in Houston’s Historic East End Founded in 2014. Owner/ Glaciere Susan Sahwani-Garcia. Inspired by and dedicated to seasonal and sustainable approach, my product is local to Texas, local to my area, all natural/organic, no preservatves, no additives, no artificial colorings, custard free and gluten free. My flavors are also influenced by my unique heritage of Mexican, Greek and Mediterranean cultures. Real People, Real Ingredients, REAL ICE CREAM.
Facebook: ChocolateWastedIceCream
Twitter: ChocolaWasted
Instagram: ChocolateWastedIceCream
BEVERAGE ARTISAN
Texas Fresh Juice's mission is to nourish and empower people to optimize their health by providing delicious, nutritious, cold-pressed juices using 100% organic vegetables and fruits. The only all organic, cold-pressed juicery in the area, they don't believe that you should have to compromise taste for nutrition. Each raw artisan juice contains 2-4 pounds of produce with no other fillers, and is pressed in small batches, creating delicious flavor combinations to satisfy all taste buds.
Website: TexasFreshJuice.com
Facebook: TexasFreshJuice
Twitter: TexasFreshJuice
Instagram: TexasFreshJuice
SPECIALTY MARKET
Katerra Exotics Farm's new storefront located in the heart of historic downtown Katy. A market where you can purchase a variety of local grass-fed meats; fresh local produce; local raw honey; local food products. They have an amazing loyal customer base and strive to give you the best quality products around.
Website: www.KaterraExotics.com
Facebook: KaterraBison
