2025 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Uncorked!® Roundup and Best Bites Competition

Welcome to Development with Danielle©, my “Women in Construction” Blog

Hi, I’m Danielle Wright, President and CEO of Right Choice Construction. It’s a pleasure to share our latest team adventure, which was held this past Sunday, February 23, 2025. We saddled up and had a fantastic time at the Rodeo Uncorked!® & Best Bites Competition at NRG Center.

And this isn’t our first rodeo! Last year, we bonded over food and wine from winning wineries and participating restaurants! We met some of the most talented chefs, pitmasters, and sommeliers in our region! Read all about it in the article below:

Development with Danielle© — Houston Rodeo Uncorked!® Roundup & Best Bites Competition

 

And the Best Bites Competition Winners Are…

From the HoustonRodeo.com website:

The event combines award-winning wines with delectable dishes from Houston-area culinary institutions

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo hosted the 22nd annual Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, presented by Nan and Company Properties, and is thrilled to announce the winning foods and restaurants. This annual competition brought together signature dishes from renowned Houston-area culinary establishments, skillfully paired with an impressive selection of nearly 500 award-winning wines from the 2025 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. More than 100 of the region’s premier restaurants competed, creating a vibrant and flavorful celebration of culinary excellence.

2025 BEST BITES WINNERS:

People’s Choice Award

• 1^st Place: Cotton Culinary

A Forager’s Feast

• 2^nd Place: Davis Street at Hermann Park

Crispy Thai Shrimp

Outstanding Showmanship Award

• 1^st Place: Brothers Produce
• 2^nd Place: SheShe Treats

Tasty Tradition Award

• 1^st Place: Cultivated F&B – Citrus bliss

Pistachio tart with citrus & elderflower cremeux & strawberry macaron

• 2^nd Place: Raising Cane’s

Chicken fingers, toast and cane sauce

Trailblazer Appetizer Award

• 1^st Place: Robinette & Company Caterers

Sundried tomato spread on cayenne pepper toast topped with candied bacon

• 2^nd Place: State Fare Kitchen & Bar – Bayou Melt Slider

Texas sized bite featuring a smoked brisket patty, melted pepper jack cheese, zesty pico slaw & sweet and spicy jalapeno bacon jam

• 3^rd Place: Jamaica Paradise Kitchen – Paradise Bites

Lone Star Entrée Award

• 1^st Place: North Italia

Braised short rib marsala

• 2^nd Place: Merlion Restaurant

Shrimp Raad Prick – Shrimp in a delicate Thai basil red curry sauce with cilantro & shallots. Served over jasmine rice

• 3^rd Place: Grace Italian Kitchen

Boneless short rib with Pancetta Risotto with molasses bourbon glaze

Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award

• 1^st Place: Guzel Cakes

Love you more (Banana pudding cake)

Perfect love (strawberry cheesecake)

Love on top (vanilla pudding w/ cookie butter)  

• 2^nd Place: Hudson House

Zesty, Key lime pie

• 3^rd Place: Mostly Chocolate

House-made Turkish pistachio and sesame seed paste folded with crispy phyllo shreds cooked in brown butter

Rookie Award

• The Cheesecake Queen

Key lime mini cheesecakes