Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast named Best Texas Chef

• Bille beat out four finalists in the regional category and was the only Houston-area win at the award ceremony in Chicago on Monday. Houston had 13 semifinalists and four finalists this year.

Zoom in: Belly of the Beast in Spring blends traditional Mexican flavors with Texan and global influences like Texas Wagyu with kimchi, tuna tostadas with nori and street corn agnolotti.

• Thomas and his wife Elizabeth first opened the restaurant in Old Town Spring in 2020.
• After a pandemic hiatus, they reopened in a new space in Spring in late 2023. Within a year, Belly of the Beast earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its innovative meals at an approachable price point.

What they're saying: "My flabbers have been gasted," Bille told Axios after he won his award, adding that it feels like "validation."

• "So many people in this in this field have like imposter syndrome, which I had for a very long time, working under a lot of chefs that I never got recognition for ... And to be able to create my own table, my own chair, and have my own concept without any financial vacuum — my wife and I just doing it all on our own — it is gratifying to see that our hard work is paying off for my team."

What we're watching: Expect reservation demand to surge, just like it did after East End's Street to Kitchen won Best Texas Chef in 2023.