The Houston Latino Excellence Collaboration Dinner was hosted by Chef Thomas Bille on Tuesday evening at his restaurant Belly Of The Beast in Spring. Invited chefs included Chef Evelyn Garcia (JลชN), Chefs Nicolas Vera and Stephanie Velasquez (CASAEma HTX), Chef Beatriz Martines (Xalisco), and Chef Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemรณ). These chefs have received honors from the Michlin Guide, competed and won on cooking television programs Chopped and Top Chef, and have been nominated for multiple James Beard Foundation awards, including finalists for Best Chef: Texas and Best New Restaurant. ย (Photos by Marco Torres)

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    A peak of the menu for the Latino Excellence Collaboration Dinner.
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    Wine pairings from Mexican, French, Italian, and California vineyards complemented the food nicely.
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    Liz Bille was on hand to assist dinner guests all evening.
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    Chef Thomas Bille welcomes everyone to the Latino Excellence Collaboration Dinner.
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    The small restaurant experienced a full house on Tuesday evening.
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    Chef Evelyn Garcia steps out of the kitchen to present the opening course.
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    Snapper crudo with green mango, alguashte, plantain, and epazote.
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    Chef Evelyn.
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    Wine pairings made for a lovely evening.
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    Chefs Nicolas Vera and Stephanie Velasquez present the second course.
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    Smoked beets with market greens, requeson cheese, and mole negro vinaigrette.
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    ยกGracias to the team at CasaEMA HTX!
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    Admiring the food.
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    Time to dig in.
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    Chef Thomas offered a Street Corn Agnolotti, which was pasta filled with cheese topped with roasted corn, cotija cheese, and a mix of chile, limรณn, y sal.
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    A very delicious Agua De Jamaica was my drink of choice last night.
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    Chef Bille also served up buttery seared scallops accompanied with a sauce of carrot, coconut milk, burnt vanilla, and cashews.
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    Chefs Nicolas Vera and Stephanie Velasquez created an amazing Pork Belly Panucho, made with yuca, salsa roja, curtido, and duro blando cheese.
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    ยกGracias Chef Stephanie!
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    Lovin’ the meal so far!
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    Thank the Lord for these excellent Houston chefs!
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    Chef Beatriz Matines presents presents her dish for the dinner.
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    An absolutely perfect beef tenderloin served with mole encacahuatado, mushrooms, and confit potato.
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    Such a lovely dinner setting.
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    Chef Thomas converses with his guests.
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    Chef Emmanuel Chavez speaks to the room about his dessert.
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    Nieve de queso fresco, with coconut cake, hoja santa, and pistachios.
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    Thank you chefs!
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    Chef Evelyn.
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    Houston Latino Excellence Collaboration Dinner.

When he's not roaming around the city in search of tacos and graffiti, Houston Press contributor Marco Torres both writes and points his camera lens toward the vibrant Houston music scene and beyond.