A tapestry of culture, Houston’s diversity is celebrated throughout the city in the arts, culture, and gastronomy. One of the most dynamic and impressive culinary ecosystems anywhere is also found in Houston. From James Beard Award-winning chefs, to hole-in-the-wall favorites, and many delicious reasons to visit, Houston is a true Culinary Capital. Welcome to Houston. Here you are one of us.
THE CULINARY ESCENE
Some of Houston’s most iconic chefs include Chef Hugo Ortega: Owner and executive chef of four of Houston’s top restaurants, including Backstreet Café, URBE, and Caracol. He has been named Best Chef: Southwest by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. Chef Ruben Ortega: Pastry chef for the H-Town Restaurant Group. His decadent creations at Xochi in Houston earned him a spot as a 2022 semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef by the James Beard Foundation. Chef Kiran Verma: Recognized as the “godmother of Indian fine dining,” Chef Kiran’s restaurant is known for serving up Indian hospitality with French sophistication and American informality. Chef Chris Williams: Earning numerous accolades for his Southern-style cuisine, Chef Chris continues to use influences from across the globe to curate his menu at Lucille’s. Mixologist Chris Morris is a four-time national finalist of esteemed cocktail competitions and earned numerous regional awards. His creative interpretation of the classic paloma at Chef Nikki Tran’s Viet-Cajun restaurant Kau Ba is the perfect example of Houston’s blended culture.
FESTIVALS AND ATTRACTIONS
Space Center Houston Launches Moon2Mars Festival
The new Moon2Mars Festival, presented by Wellby, Powered by JSC FCU will take place at Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center from June 9 to 12, 2022. The annual festival will highlight new technologies under development to protect and transport humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond in the coming years. Moon2Mars Festival will offer a one-day business-to-business conference on Thursday, June 9, and a three-day public festival Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12 celebrating NASA’s Artemis program and the innovations that will help us establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The public is invited to experience the future of space from Moon to Mars. Part festival, part business conference, you don’t want to miss four action-packed days of indoor and outdoor exhibits, live entertainment, educational programming and more!
Houston Zoo Centennial – 2022 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Houston Zoo, the second most visited zoo in the U.S.A. Approaching this milestone, the Houston Zoo is creating a series of transformative exhibits, new public amenities, and enhanced public spaces. These projects are being completed in a six-year, multi-phase plan across the Zoo’s 55-acre site. The largest initiative in the campaign, the Galápagos Islands, is scheduled to open in early 2023. The first major exhibit of its kind to showcase the remarkable wildlife of the legendary island chain, the Houston Zoo’s Galápagos Islands will immerse guests in an environment evoking the archipelago’s unique landscapes and oceanic habitats. No place on our planet better exemplifies the wonders of unique species, the delicate balance of ecosystems, or the pressing need for conservation action than the Galápagos.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
POST Houston, the new mixed-use development is now open in the former Barbara Jordan Post Office Building, at 401 Franklin Street in Downtown. POST Houston features a large international market food hall (with 30 participating restaurants from locations such as Houston, Austin, California, Norway, and Spain), one of the country’s largest rooftop parks and farms, and 713 Music Hall, a live music venue with capacity for 5,000 people, operated by the concert giant Live Nation. With state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, 713 Music Hall will offer a unique concert experience.
The Memorial Park Master Plan is a visionary plan for the future of Houston’s largest urban wilderness and recreation park, including:
- Memorial Park Golf Course – the $13.5 Million renovations are now completed. Following its reopening in 2020, the City of Houston welcomed the Houston Open back within city limits to the newly renovated Memorial Park golf course. Houston Open is scheduled for November 10 – 13, 2022.
HOTEL NEWS
Houston has a vast variety of accommodations for all travelers, from luxury to boutique properties and extended stay options. Some of the new hotels include:
The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection: Located in the space of what was Hotel Alessandra, the 223-room The Laura Hotel provides guests with luxury and a convenient central location.
- Blossom Hotel Houston Medical Center: The 267‐room hotel is the only luxury hotel near NRG Stadium and it offers unique amenities, including transport to the Texas Medical Center and translation services.
Blossom Hotel was just named among the 10 hottest new hotels in U.S. for 2022 as part of Tripadvisor’s 2022 Traveler’s Choice awards.
- The iconic Four Seasons Hotel Houston in Downtown is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the completion of its multi-year, multi-million-dollar transformation. In addition to the renovated rooms and suites, the hotel debuted Toro Toro, the new award-winning pan-Latin steakhouse from Chef Partner Richard Sandoval, the father of modern Mexican cuisine; and Bandista bar, an intimate, modern-day speakeasy, reminiscent of a 1920s lounge that dazzles with a decadent Latin vibe, as well as the first Kigler perfume store in Texas.
- Other hotel openings include the Thompson Hotel Houston with 170 rooms along Allen Parkway, in front of Buffalo Bayou Park (2023).
AROUND HOUSTON
To increase the visitor experiences, Visit Houston is working with 15 regional partners of the program Around Houston. Visit historic sites like the San Jacinto Monument, Bishop’s Palace and Spindletop, or plan a family trip to attractions like the Kemah Boardwalk and the Pirates Bay Waterpark. Travelers looking for a Texas ranch experience have options to choose from like Cowboy Solution in Conroe, Horseback Trail Raiders in Beaumont or even Horse & Pony Rides in Galveston Island. Enjoy water fun on the coastline beaches of Galveston, the surf-friendly waves in the Brazosport area and all of the fun activities available at Lake Conroe. All of this plus golfing and unique shopping and dining experiences, means your ideal daytrip is just a short drive from Houston.
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