Two Austin Chefs Emerge Victorious in the James Beard Awards 2022

by Erin Russell

De la Vega won in the first-ever Best Chef, Texas category (Texas was previously folded into the Southwest category). This was her second nomination, edging out Tiffany Derry of Roots Southern Table (who also has Roots Chicken Roots Chicken Shak in Austin); Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen of Xin Chào in Houston; Quy Hoang of Blood Bros. BBQ in Bellaire; and Steven McHugh of Cured in San Antonio (who lost out on his fifth nomination). De la Vega opened El Naranjo on Rainey Street in 2012, but relocated to South Lamar in 2019, and is known for her expertise in moles.

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