The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce announces Taste of Town winners

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce 32nd Annual Taste of the Town presented by Planet Lincoln and Visit The Woodlands was held on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 4:00 pm – 9:00pm at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

Taste of the Town is the premier culinary event of South Montgomery County attracting thousands of people. Attendees can sample mouth-watering appetizers, entrees, desserts, pastries, and drinks from some of the area's finest restaurants, caterers, bakeries, deli's and beverage companies.

“Taste of the Town is one of our favorite events of the year,” says Meagen Korenek, director of special events at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have a blast engaging the community at large and showcasing our fabulous restaurants and businesses.”

A highlight for the Taste of the Town is the Best of Taste competition including awards for Best Appetizer, Best Entrée and Best Dessert. These awards are determined by a panel of judges including Cristina Kooker from Great Day Houston, KHOU; Chef Leanne Akers, pastry chef of Barry Callebaut Chocolate; Darby Douglas, KHOU Channel 11 news and traffic anchor and Chef Roshni Gurnani, Chopped Champion and executive chef at Hotel Derek. The final award, The Planet Lincoln People’s Choice Awards, is voted on by Taste of the Town attendees through an online survey.

The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the following restaurants for holding the title of 2018 Best of Taste. The 2018 Best of Taste, Best Appetizer winner was awarded to Broken Barrel for their teriyaki taco with habanero cream & trinity slaw. Broken Barrel is located at 1950 Hughes Landing Blvd. on Restaurant Row and open for happy hour, lunch and dinner daily with brunch on Sundays. Visit www.BrokenBarrellWoodlands.com for more information.

The 2018 Best of Taste, Best Entrée winner was awarded to Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse for their 21-day aged bottom sirloin steak with creamy parmesan au grautin potatoes. Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse is located at 1400 Research Forest Drive in Shenandoah and open for happy hour on weekdays, lunch on Fridays, brunch on Sundays and dinner daily. Private events and catering options are available for groups of all sizes. Visit www.avebrazil.com/woodlands for more information.

The 2018 Best of Taste, Best Dessert was awarded to KICPOPS for their blackberry lavender ice pop. KICPOPS is a pop-up vendor available for catering, special events, festivals, markets and more. KICPOPS was also the winner of the 2018 Planet Lincoln’s People’s Choice Award for their all natural, locally sourced hand crafted ice pops. For more information about KICPOPS including their regular scheduled market appearances, visit www.KICPOPS.com.

Participating restaurants in the 32nd Annual Taste of the Town include, Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse, Babin’s Seafood House, Bellagreen, Black Walnut Café, Berryhill Baja Grill, Bonefish Grill, Brio Tuscan Grille, Broken Barrel, Bubba T’s Cajun Kitchen, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Churrascos Steaks & Seafood, Craft Grill, Dairy Queen The Woodlands, Gringo’s Tex-Mex, Grotto Italian Restaurant, Goode Company BBQ, Goode Company Kitchen & Cantina, H-E-B, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse at the Holiday Inn & Suites – Shenandoah, Hubbell & Hudson Bistro, Huti’s 5 Free-Fire Grill, Jacqui’s Gourmet, KICPOPS, Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse, La Cantina Mexican Grill, Landry’s Seafood House, Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Masters in Dietetics, LLC., McAlister’s Deli, Natalita’s #2 Mexican Restaurant, Pacific Yard House, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen, Stadia Sports Grill, The Red Brick Tavern, The Refuge Bar & Bistro/Catering, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, Top Golf Trader Joe’s Woodlands Church.

Sponsors for the 2018 Taste of the Town include, iron chef presenting sponsors, Planet Lincoln and Visit The Woodlands; executive chef, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center; beer wristband sponsor, Waste Connection of Texas; entertainment sponsor, Johnson Development Corporation; gourmet chef, H-E-B, Woodforest National Bank, Pepsi Beverage Co., Wright’s Printing; raffle ticket sponsor, Renewal by Anderson; mobile chef, Russo’s New York Pizzeria; VIP reception sponsor, Amerigo’s Grille; VIP sponsor lounge, America’s ER, Republic Payment Systems of Texas/The Republic Grille; “Back of House” Appreciation Sponsor, Better Bookkeepers, Inc.; photobooth, Picture Me Houston; DJ services, Privileged Productions; friends of taste, Entergy Texas, Inc, Houston Serenity Place CPA & Adoption Agency, Just Cats Veterinary Services, Mid America Mortgage, Privileged Productions, The Woodlands Church; t-shirt sponsor, The Woodlands Young Learners Academy; beer band booth ambassadors, Camp Bow Wow, Blake Wilcox Properties, Nationwide Insurance Mellisa Ray Agency, Outback Western Wear; beer beverage booth ambassadors, Champions School of Real Estate, Christine Hale & Associates – RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, CORE Mechanical, LLC, Just Cats Veterinary Services, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, PR Marketing & Publishing, LLC./ Review It Magazine, RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, Richmond Realty - RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, The Abbey on Lake Wyndemere, Villa Sport Athletic Club and Spa, W3 Luxury Living, Wright’s Printing, We Clean 4 You; soda beverage booth ambassadors, Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Cool Kat Party Supplies Warehouse & Costumes, 18|8 Fine Men's Salons, Gold’s Gym, The Woodlands / Magnolia; water beverage booth ambassadors, AAA Texas, LLC, Sam’s Club, Costco Wholesale, Our Lady of the Lake University, The Bryi’s Pet Sitting and The Bryi’s Technology Services; table hosts, A Clean Nest, Bradbury Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, Lawn Ranger Co., Inc., Little Sunshine’s Playhouse & Preschool, Houston Serenity Place, Inspire Film Festival, Inspire Productions, Kevin Baker Homes & Real Estate – Keller Williams Realty, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Liberty Mutual Insurance, CareNow Urgent Care, SAFE 2 SAVELLC; cocktail table host, Jeffrey & Company Jewelers, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands Arts Council, Yoga Pod – The Woodlands; publicity partner, Taylorized PR; media Partners, Hello Woodlands, Houston Business Journal, K STAR Country Radio 99.7 FM, KHOU11, Link Magazine / Graphic Design FX, Woodlands Events, WoodlandsHits.Com, Woodlands Online.

The date for 2019 Taste of the Town will be announced on www.TasteoftheTown.org once confirmed. For more information contact the special events department at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce at (281) 367-5777, events@woodlandschamber.org, or visit www.woodlandschamber.org.