Giddy up Houston, cause Rodeo season is BACK.  To kick off this years festivities, last Sunday was the Rodeo Best Bites Food and Wine Competition, otherwise known as “Rodeo Uncorked”. (Pictured: Valentino Vin Bar at Hotel Derek)

This event brings 60 of Houston's best restaurants, and 1761 wines from 16 countries for tasting and competing, under one great big Reliant Center roof.  Most of the wine competition took place before the Sunday event…so guests got to sample only the winners.
In terms of food.  We were there for the live competition, of which there were two going on.   There was a judges vote, that took place with a blind taste test with foods sorted into categories.  And a popular vote, not sorted in categories (non-blind), in which guests of the event went around to the restaurant booths with beads, and chose their favorites.  The judges in the blind taste test included Houston Chronicle's Greg Morago, Houston Chowhounds founder Jenny Wang, My Table editor-publisher Teresa Byrne-Dodge, KTRH's John Demers, and Rodeo Chairman of the Board Butch Robinson.

In The Judge’s Vote: 1st place in the Entrée Category went to Sage 400 for their tuna tartare and miso Chilean sea bass with edamame hummus.  2nd place went to Del Frisco’s sliced beef tenderloin with mac and cheese and bread pudding.  3rd place went to Valentino Vin Bar for baby back ribs with pork ravioli with BBQ Tuscan sauce.  In the Judges Bread/Cheese Category, 1st place went to Killen’s Steakhouse for Crème blrulee bread; and 2nd place went to Velduizen Cheese for their handcrafted cheeses.

In the Popular Choice category--the first place winner, was Hasta la Pasta, with a Southwest chicken cannelloni and chocolate bread pudding with Cabernet ice cream.  Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse came in second place, with favorite sliced tenderloin of beef, a jalapeno-infused mac and cheese and bread pudding.  Both were quite delicious.  The evening ended with two stepping to country tunes in the middle of the Reliant Center ballroom as the winners of the restaurant competition were announced.  Hungry Folk in the crowd: Anna Dean, Judge Ken Wise, Del Frisco’s Arthur Mooridan and Steve Haug, 17’s Chip Hight, Carol Sawyer & Cat Chapman. (See pics below)

(Pictured Above: Anna Dean & Friend)

(Pictured Above: Carol Sawyer & Husband)

(Pictured Above: Chip Hight of +17 at The Alden Hotel)

(Pictured Above: Steve Haug of Del Frisco's)

(Pictured Above: Cat Chapman & Jennifer Roosth)