2025 Texas Restaurant Awards winners announced during 88th annual Texas Restaurant Show

2025 Texas Restaurant Awards winners announced during 88th annual Texas Restaurant Show
Annual Texas Restaurant Association event draws over 6,400 attendees, up 20% from last year

HOUSTON, TEXAS-The Texas Restaurant Association hosted its 88th annual 'Texas Restaurant Show presented by Eat Local. Eat Often.'at the George R. Brown Convention Center on July 20 and 21. The annual event is the second-largest restaurant show in the country, with over 6,400 attendees and 450 exhibitor booths. The show provides foodservice professionals with insights on topics like AI, mergers and acquisitions, brand innovation, cultural storytelling, and digital strategy through seminars and panels led by industry experts. Alongside the educational programming, exhibitors from the United States plus Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy and Japan showcased new products, technology and services.

"The Texas Restaurant Show brings together the people, products and ideas that move our industry forward," Tony Abruscato, chief marketing officer at the Texas Restaurant Association, said. "From emerging brands to global suppliers, everyone comes here to connect, learn and do business. It's a unique space where independent operators, national chains, investors and innovators all meet under one roof. If you want to compete and grow in Texas, this is where you need to be. The energy, scale and opportunity at this show reflect the size and influence of Texas as a national leader in food and hospitality."

On Sunday evening, the Texas Restaurant Show hosted its annual Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash, celebrating restaurants and culinary leaders from across the state. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock, now acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, received the Restaurant Industry Champion Award for his work supporting alcohol to-go, third-party delivery protections, credit card swipe fee transparency and other policies that strengthen the state's foodservice industry. Introduced in 2023, the award recognizes policymakers, organizations and individuals who make a significant impact on laws and regulations affecting Texas restaurants. Past recipients include Speaker Dustin Burrows and Sen. Brandon Creighton. The evening also featured bites from Texas restaurants, signature dishes from award-winning chefs, specialty cocktails and appearances by culinary leaders.

"The Texas Restaurant Awards honor the visionaries who bring communities together to celebrate life's most meaningful moments and work together to rebuild after disaster strikes," Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, said. "From birthdays and anniversaries to providing a hot meal to first responders, restaurants are at the center of our lives, and these honorees represent the best of what Texas has to offer. Their creativity, grit and leadership push our industry forward and strengthen our state's growing economy."

The 2025 award winners are:

Hall of Honor Inductees, bestowed on industry leaders selected by their peers with at least 15 years of TRA service who exemplify superior business ethics

George Christie, Christie's Seafood & Steaks, Houston, TX
Cathy Painter Cace, Cace's Kitchen/Johnny Cace's, Longview, TX

Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year
Allison & Jeff Balfour, Southerleigh Hospitality Group, San Antonio, TX

Community Impact Award
Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs, Portsmouth, VA

Excellence in Journalism Award
Alicia Kelso, Nation's Restaurant News

Rising Star Award
Deborah Williamson, James Provisions, Hurst, TX

Deep in the Heart Award
Scott Moore, Greg Moore and Michelle Holland, Tejas Chocolate & Barbeque, Tomball, TX

Chef Tim Kelly Award for Educator Excellence
Chef Carlos Ramos, Milby High School, Houston Independent School District

Outstanding Partner of the Year
Ben E. Keith Foods, Fort Worth, TX

Restaurant Industry Champion Award
Kelly Hancock, former Texas state senator and acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Carmelo Mauro Spirit of Generosity Award
Andy Merrett, Raising Cane's, Director of Restaurant Recruiting

Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award
Blanca Aldaco, Aldaco's Mexican Cuisine, San Antonio, TX

In addition to honoring industry changemakers, the Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash raised money to support the initiatives of the Texas Restaurant Foundation-a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry. A portion of the event's proceeds will support the rebuilding efforts across the Central and West Texas communities that were hit by devastating floods over Independence Day weekend.

The Texas Restaurant Association represents the state's $138 billion foodservice industry, which encompasses more than 58,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of more than 1.4 million employees. To learn more, visit txrestaurant.org.