Introduction to a James Beard Award Winner
Houston has added another name to its growing list of James Beard Award winners. Thomas Bille, the chef and owner of Belly of the Beast in Spring, has earned the prestigious title of Best Chef: Texas at the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony.
The Awards Ceremony
The ceremony was held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 16. Bille was one of five finalists for the award, competing against fellow Houstonian Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemo), Emil Oliva (Leche de Tigre in San Antonio), Regino Rojas (Purépecha in Dallas), and Michael Anthony Serva (Bordo in Marfa). Unfortunately, Houston’s other finalists, Casaema (formerly known as Ema) for Best New Restaurant and March for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, did not take home awards in their categories.
Thomas Bille’s Journey
A Los Angeles native, Bille moved to the Houston area to be closer to his wife’s family. He took a winding path to his James Beard Award, opening the first iteration of Belly of the Beast in 2020 as a chef-driven taqueria known for its ceviches and birria tacos. After spending about a year at Chivos, an ambitious but short-lived Mexican-American restaurant in the Heights, Bille and his wife Elizabeth reopened a new version of Belly of the Beast in a Spring shopping center in late 2023. The new restaurant quickly earned wide acclaim, including a Bib Gourmand in the 2024 Michelin Guide and CultureMap Tastemaker Award nominations for both Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year.
Reaction to the Award
Bille expressed his gratitude, stating, “I feel a depth of gratitude. Knowing that my wife and I were able to reopen on our own terms. Gratitude for my family, staff, and guests to give us love and support. It is much appreciated.” In an interview from the ceremony, Bille paid tribute to his wife, Elizabeth, for her role in the restaurant’s success, highlighting the risk they took to reopen Belly of the Beast and how her support allowed him to focus on the kitchen and mentor his cooks.
Other Texas Winners
Bille is the second Houstonian to win Best Chef: Texas, joining Street to Kitchen chef-owner Benchawan Jabthong Painter, who won in 2023. Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie’s in Austin also won Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, one of three beverage-oriented categories added for 2025. Additionally, Texan Chad Houser, founder of Cafe Momentum in Dallas, received the Humanitarian of the Year Award, and Houston-based author, scholar, and journalist Toni Tipton-Martin received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Conclusion
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony celebrated the outstanding culinary, beverage, and hospitality leaders who are shaping the dining landscape. As Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, stated, “These outstanding professionals are the epitome of ‘Good Food for Good,’ elevating our industry’s standards and redefining what’s possible in American cuisine.” Thomas Bille’s win is a testament to the growing recognition of Houston’s culinary scene, and his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring chefs and restaurateurs.
