2024 Texas Restaurant Awards winners announced during 87th annual Texas Restaurant Show

2024 Texas Restaurant Awards winners announced during 87th annual Texas Restaurant Show

Over 5,500 restaurateurs attended annual industry event by the Texas Restaurant Association

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS-The Texas Restaurant Association hosted its 87th annual 'Texas Restaurant Show presented by Eat Local. Eat Often.' at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on July 14 and 15. The annual event is the second-largest restaurant show in the country with over 5,500 attendees and 500 exhibitor booths. The show provides those in the foodservice industry with valuable insights through informative seminars and interactive panels by industry thought-leaders and access to cutting-edge products and services exhibitors from across the globe from countries like Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy and Japan.

"The foodservice industry is a cornerstone of Texas' economy, and we are incredibly proud that our restaurant show has grown to become the second-largest in the country," Tony Abruscato, chief marketing officer at the Texas Restaurant Association, said. "The Texas Restaurant Show not only highlights the innovation and talent within our state but also fosters a sense of community among restaurateurs and operators. By coming together, we strengthen our industry and ensure its continued success and growth."

On Sunday evening, the Texas Restaurant Show hosted its annual Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash that honors restaurants and culinary leaders in Texas. In addition to the awards, the event featured bites from 15 Texas-based restaurants, a mixologist competition and concluded with a dessert and cocktail after party.

"The Texas Restaurant Association is thrilled to recognize the exceptional restaurateurs of our foodservice industry at the Texas Restaurant Awards and celebrate their accomplishments," Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, said. "Their unwavering dedication and resilience, despite challenging times, embody the excellence of the Texas foodservice industry. Today and everyday, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions they make in the great state of Texas."

The 2024 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
Roy Bara, La Fiesta Grande Restaurants, Amarillo, TX
Gary Johnson, Frontier Enterprises, San Antonio, TX
Sharon Van Meter, SVM Productions, LLC, Dallas, TX

Community Impact Award
Angela Poen, Community Garden Kitchen, McKinney, TX

Excellence in Journalism Award
Peter Romeo, Restaurant Business Magazine

Rising Star Award
John & Elise Russ, Clementine, San Antonio, TX

Deep in the Heart Award
Dave & Lindsay Plante, Blue Bonnet Café, Marble Falls, TX

Restaurateur of the Year
Gloria Reyna, Matt's El Rancho, Austin, TX

Chef Tim Kelly Award for Educator Excellence
Jacquelyn Baker-Roberson "Jocqui" & David Roberson, Ben Barber Academy

Outstanding Partner of the Year
Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Austin, TX

Carmelo Mauro Spirit of Generosity Award
Nancy & Dan Garrison, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Austin, TX

Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award
Mark Davis Bailey, Original Pancake House, Dallas, TX

The Texas Restaurant Association represents the state's $106.8 billion foodservice industry, which encompasses more than 56,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. To learn more, visit txrestaurant.org.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT SHOW
The Texas Restaurant Show is the Texas Restaurant Association's annual restaurant and foodservice show. The largest of its kind in the Southwest, it is backed by TRA's 87 years of industry leadership, and is as bold, unique and packed with opportunity as the Lone Star state itself.

Part trade show and part educational conference, the Texas Restaurant Show motivates and inspires everyone - from first time restaurateurs to industry veterans. Engaging seminars and interactive panels are offered by industry thought leaders on trending topics and specialty pavilions offer an exciting, diverse and valuable glimpse into the latest products and services that the market has to offer. For more information, visit www.txrestaurantshow.com.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) serves as the advocate and indispensable resource for the foodservice industry in Texas. Now the state's largest private sector employer, Texas' $106 billion foodservice industry encompasses more than 56,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the workforce development arm of the TRA, the association proudly continues to protect, advance and educate a growing industry as the TRA celebrates its 87th anniversary year. For more information, please visit www.txrestaurant.org.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT FOUNDATION
Established in 1994 by the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to building and maintaining a strong professional foodservice workforce in Texas. Leveraging the latest skills, tools and certifications, the TRF creates pathways of opportunity for one of the state's largest and most diverse industries. The organization's flagship program is Texas ProStart, an industry-based, two-year high school culinary arts and restaurant management program that reaches more than 27,000 students across 252 high schools in Texas. The TRF also supports restaurants in times of crisis; for example, in 2020, the TRF established the TX Restaurant Relief Fund to raise and distribute more than $3.5 million to support over 800 independent restaurants and their employees through the COVID-19 pandemic.