The James Beard Awards 2025 were announced at a culinary gala Monday night at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House and one of Houston’s own took home the award for Best Chef: Texas.
Actually, Chef Thomas Bille’s restaurant, Belly of the Beast, for which he won the high honor, is located a little north of Houston in Spring, Texas. Originally sited in Old Town Spring, it opened in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and despite rave reviews, the first location closed in July 2021. Bille and his wife Elizabeth Bille then reopened in a larger spot in November 2023. Since reappearing on the Houston restaurant scene, Belly of the Beast has not only received nods from the James Beard Foundation, but also a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide.
Bille’s menu is described on the restaurant’s website as New American seen through the lens of a first-generation Mexican American. However, Bille’s French training also comes through in the sauces and Asian touches can be seen in dishes like Bluefin Tuna Tostadas with nori and uni emulsion.
While Houston was fairly well-represented at the evening’s festivities, Bille was the only Houstonian to take home a coveted award. Chef Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemo was also a finalist for Best Chef: Texas, a nomination he received in 2024 as well. Other Houston finalists included Stephanie Velasquez of Ema for Best New Restaurant and MARCH for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, led by June Rodil.
Award-winning food journalist and author, Toni Tipton-Martin, who now makes her home in Houston, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her activism and broad spectrum of works from cookbooks to historical accounts of American foodways. Many home cooks will recognize her as the Editor-in-Chief of Cook’s Country Magazine by America’s Test Kitchen.
Some non-Texas notables who were big winners for the evening include Jungsik Yim as Outstanding Chef for his New York City Korean restaurant, Jungsik, and Frasca Food & Wine of Boulder, Colorado for Outstanding Restaurant.
