Houston’s rodeo season hit the ground running Sunday night as the sold-out Roundup & Best Bites tasting turned NRG Center into a roaming buffet of small plates, wine samples, and serious bragging rights for local chefs.
According to the Houston Chronicle, more than 6,000 guests made their way through offerings from over 100 restaurants and culinary vendors while nearly 500 wines, all medalists from the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, flowed across the halls. The Chronicle also reported that celebrity chefs and food personalities helped judge the competition, and attendees got in on the action too by voting for the People’s Choice awards.
How the Night Unfolded
Per RodeoHouston, the Roundup & Best Bites Competition took over Halls D and E at NRG Center and was officially sold out. The organization bills the tasting as one of the world’s largest gourmet food-and-wine gatherings and notes that proceeds help fuel the rodeo’s wine auction and other programming.
Winners and Standouts
Both the crowd and the judges had their say. Cotton Culinary’s The Huntsmans Harvest walked away with the People’s Choice Award, while House of Blues’ Short Rib Rojo snagged the Lone Star entrée top prize. Judges also handed out buckles to Coppa Osteri for the Tasty Tradition award, Robinette Company Caterers for the Trailblazer Appetizer, Lemond Kitchen for the Two-Steppin’ dessert buckle, and Tejas Brewery for the Rookie Award. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, showmanship and regional flavors were big themes on the floor, with plenty of flair to match the food.
Top Wines and What They Mean
The wine side of the house delivered its own headliners. Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon (Tomahawk Vineyard, Stags Leap District) was named Grand Champion Best of Show, and Sequoia Grove Chardonnay took Reserve Grand Champion, according to RodeoHouston. The international competition drew more than 3,100 entries from around the globe, and many of those medalists were poured at Best Bites ahead of the Champion Wine Auction & Dinner next Sunday and the Rodeo’s Champion Wine Garden, which opens next week and runs through March 22.
For Houston’s restaurants and caterers, a Best Bites belt buckle or a People’s Choice nod can turn into weeks of buzz and fresh bookings. With the main Rodeo season rolling into March, the newly crowned winners will be hoping those hungry and thirsty crowds circle back for another round of signature dishes and award-winning pours.
