Gabe Erales
Winner, Top Chef: Portland — first Mexican-American champion. Noma Mexico alumnus. Chef-partner, Ometeo. Executive Director, Oído.
TITLE
Winner — Bravo Top Chef, Season 18
LINEAGE
Noma Mexico under René Redzepi · Chef-led teams to Esquire and Texas Monthly Best New Restaurant · Founder, Bacalar — Austin
PARTNER
Ometeo, Tysons VA — upscale Tex-Mex
EDUCATION
Le Cordon Bleu · MAD Academy, Copenhagen
ROOTS
El Paso native · Yucatán heritage
LEADERSHIP & PHILANTHROPY
Executive Director, Oído — culinary education for youth in Quintana Roo, Mexico · Founder, Niños de Maíz Scholarship — The Culinary Institute of America · Culinary Advisory Board, Hands Offering Hope · MAD Academy alumnus — René Redzepi's leadership program, Copenhagen
Rico Torres
Co-chef of Mixtli — Michelin one-star, progressive Mexican culinaria through rotating regional tasting menus. Self-taught. El Paso-born.
RESTAURANT
Mixtli, San Antonio — opened 2013
RATING
MICHELIN Guide · One Star (2024, 2025)
HONOR
Food & Wine Best New Chef, 2017
HONOR
James Beard Finalist — Outstanding Restaurant (2024), Outstanding Hospitality (2025)
HONOR
James Beard Semifinalist — 2018, 2022, 2025
HONOR
AAA Five Diamond Award, 2025
CONCEPT
Progressive Mexican, region-rotating menu
MEDIA
Hulu · Taste the Nation, premiere episode
NONPROFIT
Michelin Star — Mixtli (2024) · AAA Five Diamond — Mixtli (2025) · Best New Chef — Food & Wine (2017) · James Beard Semifinalist (2018, 2022, 2025) · James Beard Finalist, Outstanding Restaurant (2024)
André Natera
Twenty-seven years running the pass in luxury hotels. Two-time Dallas Morning News Best Chef. Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star at Garrison. Now: leadership, mentorship, and media — at scale.
Best Chef DFW — Dallas Morning News (2011, 2012) · Four-Star Review — Dallas Morning News · Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star — Garrison, Fairmont Austin · Epicurean World Master Chefs Society
ANDRÉ NATERA PROJECTS