The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards are our annual celebration of Austin's top restaurant and bar talent, as selected by their peers. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on the people making the local restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity.Join us April 11 at Distribution Hall for our signature tasting event and awards ceremony, hosted by Alamo Drafthouse legend Tim League. We’ll celebrate all of the nominees and unveil the winners, and you’ll sample bites and sip specialty drinks along the way.Get to know all of the nominees in a special editorial series leading up to the event, then join us April 11 as we toast the Tastemakers.CultureMap Tastemaker Awards
April 11, 2024
GA 7 pm | VIP 6 pm
Distribution Hall


NOMINEES

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Canje
Dai Due
Diner Bar
Eberly
Épicerie
Este
Foreign & Domestic
KG BBQ
Lenoir
L'Oca d'Oro
Olamaie
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue
Colter Peck, Elementary
Fiore Tedesco, L'Oca d'Oro
Fermín Núñez, Suerte
Grae Nonas, Bufalina, Palm Pizza
Jo Chan, Bureau de Poste
Sarah Heard & Nathan Lemley, Foreign & Domestic
Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie's
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
Abby Love, Abby Jane Bakeshop
Amanda Rockman, New Waterloo
Andy and Jonty Scriven, The Great British Bake Shop
Courtney Mullin
Hannah Smith
Jules Stoddart, Little Ola's Biscuits
Julie Myrtille, Julie Myrtille Bakery
Laura Sawicki, Oseyo
Margarita Kallas-Lee, Wolf and Wheat
Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
BAR OF THE YEAR
Equipment Room
Flo's Wine Bar and Bottle Shop
Garage
Holiday
Kitty Cohen's
The Roosevelt Room
Small Victory
Watertrade
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
Caer Maiko and Sharon Yeung, Daijoubu
Conor O'Reilly, Here Nor There
Eva Suter, L'Oca d'Oro
Josh Loving and Laura Maddox, Small Victory
Nadia Hernandez, Toshokan
Robert Bjorn Taylor
Sarah Rahl, Lutie's
RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Derrick Flynn, Este and Suerte
Domonic Candy, Otoko
Eli Rodriguez, Bufalina Due
Harvard Aninye, Canje
Heejae Galluccio, Birdie's
Javier Nuñez, Odd Duck
Peter Klein, Holiday
Taylor Chambers, Suerte
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Barley Swine
Birdie's
Chapulín Cantina
Dai Due
Launderette
Loro
L'Oca d'Oro
NG Cafe
Ramen Tatsu-ya
Uptown Sports Club
BREWERY OF THE YEAR
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB)
Austin Beerworks
Celis Brewery
Family Business Beer Company
Jester King Brewery
Oddwood Brewing
Pinthouse Brewing
St Elmo Brewing Co.
Vista Brewing
Zilker Brewing Company
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Allday Pizza
Alma By Stephan Pyles
Bacalar
Bill's Oyster
Bureau de Poste
Elementary
Ezov
Fabrik
Gràcia Mediterranean
Poeta
Ramen Del Barrio
El Raval
RedFarm
Soupleaf Hot Pot
Uchibā
Zoé Tong
BEST PATIO
El Alma Barton Springs
The Buzz Mill
Central Machine Works
Cosmic Saltillo
Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
June's All Day
Justine's Brasserie
Radio Coffee & Beer
Sour Duck Market
Uptown Sports Club



PARTICIPANTS

Bacalar
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Bill's Oyster
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Diner Bar
2024 Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Eberly
2024 Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Foreign & Domestic
2024 Chef of the Year Nominee, 2024 Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Gràcia Mediterranean
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
2024 Best Patio Nominee

Julie Myrtille Bakery
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee

Launderette
2024 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

NG Cafe
2024 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

Poeta
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Ramen Tatsu-Ya
2024 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Nominee

RedFarm
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Soupleaf Hot Pot
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Uchiba
2024 Best New Restaurant Nominee

Wolf and Wheat
2024 Pastry Chef of the Year Nominee



Brianna Caleri
Editor, CultureMap Austin/San Antonio

Amber Heckler
Network Writer, CultureMap

Denise Silverman
Executive Director, Wine and Food Foundation

Amanda Turner
Chef de Cuisine, Olamaie
2023 Chef of the Year Winner

Mariela Camacho
Comadre Panadería
2023 Pastry Chef of the Year Winner

Travis Tober
Nickel City
2023 Bar of the Year Winner

Erin Ashford
2023 Bartender of the Year Winner

Sara Mardanbig
Nixta Taqueria
2023 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year Winner

Steven Dilley
Owner, Bufalina
2023 Wine Program of the Year Winner

Marcus TenHarmsel
General Manager and Partner,
Lazarus Brewing Co.
2023 Brewery of the Year Winner

Michael Fojtasek
Executive Chef, Maie Day
2023 Best New Restaurant Winner

Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel
Chef and Co-Owner, Birdie's
2023 Restaurant of the Year Winner

JUDGES

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon

To Be Announced
More Details Soon



PARTNERS

8th Wonder Cannabis

8th Wonder Cannabis
8th Wonder has been making life wonderful since 2013, when it opened its doors as one of Houston’s first craft breweries. In 2021, 8th Wonder launched Texas’ first THC seltzer: Wonder Water. 8th Wonder currently makes Wonder Water THC Seltzer (Sparkling Lime; 8mg THC) and Lil Bit Low-Dose THC Seltzer (Cherry Limeade and Peach Mango; 2mg). Embrace the Wonder.

Flor de Caña Rum

Flor de Caña Rum
Flor de Caña Rum is an exquisitely smooth aged rum from a fifth-generation family estate that dates back to 1890. It is naturally aged without artificial ingredients for up to 30 years in bourbon barrels at the base of an active volcano. The rum is sustainably crafted from field to bottle, and is carbon neutral and Fair Trade certified. It was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021 for its quality and excellence.

Ritual

Ritual Zero Proof
Made for cocktails, Ritual Zero Proof is America’s first and highest-rated non-alcoholic spirit brand. Crafted of natural botanicals, its tequila, whiskey, gin, rum, and aperitif alternatives have the nose, taste, and bite of liquor — without the alcohol or calories.
Founded by best friends, born on a cutting board, and perfected across hundreds of iterations with the help of master distillers and award-winning mixologists, Ritual exists because there’s nothing like a good cocktail, with or without alcohol.

Tock

Tock
Tock empowers restaurants, bars, and wineries with the tools needed to build successful businesses and deliver exceptional experiences. With a robust reservation and table management platform, thousands of businesses all around the world use Tock to drive revenue, increase covers, and keep guests coming back. To learn more, visit Restaurant Reservation Management Software | Tock.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Founded by sixth-generation Texan Tito Beveridge, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is known for its high-quality product, charitable contributions, and goal to make people happy while making the world a better place. From the start, Tito got a kick out of infusing vodka for friends and quickly became known as “the vodka guy.” Inspired to do what he loved, he pursued a career in the spirits industry, risking it all until he sold his first case in 1997.

Topo Chico

Topo Chico Mineral Water
Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water has been bottled at its source in Monterrey, Mexico, since 1895. Refreshing and versatile, it satisfies your thirst or serves as a perfect mixer.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email sales@culturemap.com



BENEFICIARY

Wine & Food Foundation
The Wine & Food Foundation curates unparalleled events ranging from intimate educational classes, dinners, and salons to larger, "sip & stroll" style tastings. Our unique programming fills a need for a community of local wine & food enthusiasts looking for connections with like-minded people. We then harness the collective power of this incredible community to support our philanthropic initiatives in the hospitality industry.