From Farm to Feast: Cotton Culinary Wins Big at 2025 Best Bites Competition

We all know and love the excitement leading up to the legendary Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). From the sizzling competition at the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest to the indulgent tastings at Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, there’s never a dull moment during rodeo season!

Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, or Best Bites for short, is one of the premier gourmet food events that features hundreds of chefs, restaurants and caterers from all over the country, making it a top destination for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike. With more than 450 award-winning wines and 100 signature dishes from renowned culinary institutions, it was an epic feast for the senses. Held on February 23, 2025, this year’s event attracted over 6,000 people at NRG Center.

For the fourth year, Cotton Culinary took home the People’s Choice Award for “A Forager’s Feast”, a bold and indulgent bite of cocoa- and chile-rubbed elk loin with pinot noir jam and a deviled quail egg garnished with hackleback caviar and a duck fat crisp. A true celebration of farm-to-table innovation, the unique dish paid homage to the natural diet of the elk itself. As Chef Wade Schindler explains, “What does an elk eat? It eats berries and currants, so we did a juniper and peppercorn port wine reduction, sprinkled with a little rosemary to brighten it up.” Chef Schindler’s flair for storytelling and crafting flavors won the hearts — and taste buds — of many!

At the heart of Cotton Culinary lies our unwavering commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients and developing new concepts, while taking pride in our Southern cuisine roots and Texan hospitality. On behalf of Chef Schindler and the Cotton Culinary team, we are endlessly grateful for the incredible community that supports and celebrates this culinary journey with us. 

Thank you to everyone who came out and voted! We can’t wait to see you again next year!