The Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star bash are returning to San Antonio on Sunday, July 14, at the Boeing Center. Winners and awardees will be announced for the coveted Texas Restaurant Awards, highlighting some of the state’s most exciting leaders in hospitality. Guests from across the restaurant industry will enjoy delicious bites from 20 Texas chefs, specialty cocktails from talented mixologists, a thrilling awards ceremony, and live music to "party with a purpose!" Lend your voice to the accolades, and nominate someone in select categories below.

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Hall of Honor

A long-standing Texas Restaurant Association tradition, outstanding individuals are inducted to the Hall of Honor each year to recognize their significant contribution to the Texas restaurant industry and to the association. This honor is the highest that the Association can bestow. To qualify, nominees must have a minimum of 15 years of TRA membership and exemplify superior business ethics. Criteria include significant time and energy devoted to the benefit of TRA and its members, as well as his or her local chapter. Nominees must also gain proper recognition for the restaurant industry and help to build a positive image.

2024 Hall of Honor Inductees: 

Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Award

Every year, restaurateurs around the state are honored for work in their communities, leadership success, and entrepreneurial spirit. Winners of the Outstanding Restaurateur Award are recognized during Lone Star Bash ft. the Texas Restaurant Awards event. The finalists for this award come from the pool of Outstanding Restaurateur Awards, chosen by their chapter. 

2024 Outstanding Restauratuers:

Rising Star Award

This award recognizes the hard work that goes into opening a restaurant. This person or concept is an up-and-comer with ambitious goals and the grit to achieve them. Open to restaurant owners and chefs with a restaurant business which opened no later than the award year: January 1, 2024.

• 2023: Rory Schepisi, The Drunken Oyster & Savor (Amarillo)
• 2022: Christian Dortch, Georgie by Curtis Stone (Dallas)
• 2021: Harlan Scott, Industry (San Marcos)

Deep in the Heart Award

Texas is massive and filled with amazing talent. This award is designed to highlight those successful and creative restaurant owners and chefs with concepts not located in one of the big four metro areas (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin).

• 2023: Bobby & Danny Lee, The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery (Amarillo)
• 2022: Norma Frances "Tootsie" Tomanetz, Snow's BBQ (Lexington)
• 2021: Sanif Maredia, MESS Waffles (College Station)

Community Impact Award

The TRA’s Community Impact Award is awarded to a nominee who is an active member of the TRA who has a demonstrated legacy of uniting and empowering their community. Community may be defined in many different ways to reflect the tremendous diversity within our industry, including race, religion, gender, sexuality, veteran, culture, and more.
 

• 2023: Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke Foundation (Houston)
• 2022: Ruth Thompson, Hugs Cafe (McKinney)

Chef Tim Kelly Award for Educator Excellence

Texas ProStart instructors who demonstrate leadership and excellence in culinary education are eligible to contend for the annual Educator Excellence Award. Teachers must be advocates of the Texas ProStart program and dedicated to helping students achieve success.

2023 Honoree: Cheryll Harris, Emmett J. Conrad High School

• $1000 cash prize 
• Complimentary registration to the ProStart Educators Training Conference 
• 2 tickets to the Texas Restaurant Show 
• 2 tickets to Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash 
• One-night hotel stay at the Texas Restaurant Show 

2022 Honoree: Chef Tyler Kent Osburn "Chef TKO", Waller High School

Innovation in Education Award

New for this year, the Innovation in Education Award serves to recognize individuals, groups or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of culinary and hospitality education. The Award is a celebration of those who have dedicated themselves to improving the education experience for both students and teachers and demonstrated a willingness to push boundaries in order to support the preparation of our workforce.

2023 Awardee: McAllen ISD, S.T.R.I.D.E.S. Program

The Carmelo Mauro Spirit of Generosity Award

The Carmelo Mauro Award is an annual recognition, given by the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF), for outstanding achievement by an individual philanthropist who has demonstrated the highest ethical standards, commitment, dedication and talent towards the future of the restaurant and foodservice industry.

2023 Awardees: Auto-Chlor & Ecolab

Prior Recipients of the Carmelo Award:

• 2022 - Patrick Costello, St. Philip's College (San Antonio)
• 2021 - Skeeter Miller, County Line BBQ (Austin)
• 2019 – Roger Kaplan, RK Innovations
• 2018 – Russell Woodward, Texas Beef Council 
• 2017 – Russel Ybarra 
• 2016 – Margaret McKoin, The Time Group 
• 2016 – Carmelo Mauro, Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano 

Award Criteria

• Must have a record of distinguished service to the TRF; 
• Must have made a lasting contribution to the restaurant and foodservice industry and the mission of the TRF; 
• Must have exhibited leadership and provided inspiration to others in the restaurant and foodservice industry; 
• Must have positively influenced the restaurant and foodservice industry on a state, national or international level. 

Nomination Process

The Carmelo Award will be presented to the recipient during the Texas Restaurant Awards. Nominees should be cleared to attend the event prior to submitting their name for the award.

For questions regarding the Carmelo Award or the nomination process, contact Susan Petty, Chief of Staff, at [email protected] .

Excellence in Journalism Award

Also new for this year, the Excellence in Journalism Award recognizes work in media and journalism that goes above and beyond to promote the restaurant and foodservice industry as well as provide insight into how our industry functions and the issues facing operators. We proudly recognize the hard work and dedication of journalists and/or organizations who strive to inform and educate the public while upholding the highest journalistic standards.

2023 Awardee: Pat Sharpe, Executive Editor, Texas Monthly 

Outstanding Partner of the Year Award

Restaurants depend on the service and support of their suppliers to be prepared to serve delicious meals and deliver memorable experiences. The Outstanding Partner of the Year recognizes the supplier or service provider to the foodservice industry that has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional service and support to the restaurants of Texas.

2024 Awardee:  Announced at event

Restaurant Industry Champion Award

The TRA is introducing the Restaurant Industry Champion Award this year to celebrate policymakers, organizations and individuals who go above and beyond to protect and strengthen Texas’ restaurant industry. Recipients will be selected on the basis of their service and the exceptional impact they’ve had on the laws, regulations, and business environment that empower restaurants to serve their communities. 

2023 Awardees:
Rep. Dustin Burrows, House of Representatives, District 83 
Sen. Brandon Creighton, State Senate, District 4 

Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award

The Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award was created in 2023 to celebrate a member who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to our advocacy efforts on behalf of Texas’ entire foodservice industry. The annual award is named in honor of its inaugural recipient, Skeeter Miller of The County Line Restaurants. Skeeter exemplifies the qualities that make a trusted advocate and has spent countless hours speaking up for restaurants at the local, state, and federal levels. The TRA is proud to celebrate restaurant leaders who follow Skeeter’s example by investing their time and treasure to advocate on behalf of the industry they love. 

2023 Awardee: Skeeter Miller, County Line BBQ (Austin, San Antonio)