BEST BITES 2019

Pearland favorite gets top honors at Rodeo Uncorked Best Bites competition

Pearland favorite gets top honors at Rodeo Uncorked Best Bites competition
Brothers Produce won for best display. Photo by Eric Sandler

This article originally appeared on CultureMap and was written by Eric Sandler.

Everything old is new again at this year's edition of the Rodeo Uncorked! Best Bites competition. Behind-the-scenes changes in the judging process elevated some winners from previous years back into the spotlight.

Pearland's Grazia Italian Kitchen returned to the winner's circle for the first time since 2016, taking home people's choice for its wagyu ribeye burnt ends over cheddar grits. Fellow Pearland spot Killen's Barbecue, last year's people's choice and entree category winner, took second place in the people's choice for their ultra-popular pork belly burnt ends.

Other winners included Houston classic Ouisie's Table in the entree category and Woodlands restaurant Broken Barrel in the appetizer category (see full list of winners below).

Highlights from among the non-winning entries included burrata and truffle ice cream in a chive waffle cone —a collaboration between Roost chef Kevin Naderi and Sweet Bribery chef Sharon Leonard — homemade hot dogs an everything-seasoned buns from Revival Market, venison puffs from Yauatcha, and shrimp etouffee from Eunice. Unofficial award for the longest line of the night went to Gus's Fried Chicken, who were frying chicken on-site. Special shout out to Tiny's Milk & Cookies for giving away hundreds of their ultra-popular chocolate chip cookies.

Some 40 media judges from radio, TV, print, and online media had the allegedly difficult task of evaluating the entries from the 118 participating restaurants. Instead of two rounds of judging as in previous years, this time restaurants only had one opportunity to make an impression on the panel.

The sold-out event — unofficially the kick-off of Rodeo season ahead of the trail rides and barbecue cook-off — draws 5,000-plus to NRG Center. In addition to food from some of the city's top restaurants, attendees may sample some of the 500 wines that earned medals in the annual International Wine Competition. Thankfully, those who missed the festivities have the opportunity to sample many of the vintages in the Rodeo's wine garden.

Continue reading on CultureMap to see the complete list of winners.

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Astros lose to Braves, 6-2. Composite Getty Image.

Reynaldo López struck out seven over six scoreless innings, Orlando Arcia homered and the Atlanta Braves won their third straight, 6-2 over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

López (2-0) allowed four hits and walked one in his third straight sterling outing to start the season.

“It’s like I’ve always said, for me, the important thing is to focus,” López said through an interpreter. “To have the focus during the outings and then, to be able to locate those pitches.”

He has given up one run in 18 innings for an ERA of 0.50.

“He threw the ball really well against a really good hitting club,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Another solid one.”

Arcia hit a solo home run to left in the second and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Luis Guillorme and backup catcher Chadwick Tromp each hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the Braves ahead 6-0.

“Tromp has done a good job ever since we’ve been bringing him in these situations and filling in,” Snitker said. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him back there. ... He’s an aggressive hitter. He’s knocked in some big runs for us in the limited time that he’s played.”

Kyle Tucker homered for the Astros leading off the ninth against Aaron Bummer, and Mauricio Dubón had a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to four. After Bummer walked Chas McCormick to put two on, Raisel Iglesias induced a groundout by Victor Caratini to end it and secure his fourth save.

“They pitched well, and our guys are grinding out at-bats,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Even in the ninth inning there, we’re grinding, fighting until the end.”

Hunter Brown (0-3) yielded two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings. Brown allowed nine runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous start, last Thursday against Kansas City.

Brown said he executed better Tuesday than he had in his previous two starts.

“He mixed all his pitches well,” Espada said. “The breaking ball was effective. He threw some cutters in on the hands to some of those lefties. He mixed his pitches really well. That was a really strong performance.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: 2B Ozzie Albies was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken right big toe. IF David Fletcher had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Albies’ place on the roster.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) threw a side session Tuesday, but Houston will wait until Wednesday to see how Verlander feels before deciding whether he will make his first start this weekend against the Nationals, Espada said. ... RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) threw around 20-25 pitches off the bullpen mound, and RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain) also threw off the mound, Espada said. ... LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow soreness) played catch off flat ground.

UP NEXT

Atlanta LHP Max Fried (1-0, 8.74 ERA) starts Wednesday in the series finale opposite RHP J.P. France (0-2, 8.22).

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