02-04-2025
San Antonio chef and restaurant named 2025 James Beard finalists
San Antonio's Mixtli and Emil Oliva of Leche de Tigre and are heading to the final round of the James Beard awards.
Why it matters: Despite local chefs and restaurants having been nominated in the past, none has ever won a James Beard award, which carries national prestige.
The latest: Oliva, who co-owns Leche de Tigre with his two brothers, is a finalist for Best Chef in Texas.
Mixtli, an innovative restaurant that transports diners through different regions of Mexico, was announced as a finalist for Outstanding Hospitality.
Zoom in: Mixtli became San Antonio's first Michelin-starred restaurant in November. Its sommelier, Hailey Pruitt, and bar director Lauren Beckman also won the Michelin Outstanding Service Award.
Leche de Tigre opened in February 2023 and had garnered plenty of local and national acclaim. It was one of 57 Texas restaurants " recommended" by Michelin.
In 2019, James Beard restructured the Best Chef category, giving Texas its own region. Here are the chefs representing that group with Oliva.
