2 Rio Grande Valley businesses nominated for James Beard awards

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two Rio Grande Valley spots are being recognized as nominees again for this years James Beard Foundation Awards.

Las Ramblas, a bar in downtown Brownsville, is once again nominated for the category of Outstanding Bar. Las Ramblas made the final five in 2023 where they came home empty handed after traveling to Chicago for the ceremony.

This year, Las Ramblas faces Bar Hill Cocktail Bar, from Montpelier, VT; Clavel Mezcaleria, from Baltimore, MD; Jewel of the South, from New Orleans, LA; and Pacific Cocktail Haven, from San Francisco, CA.

^{Las Ramblas Bar located in downtown Brownsville (Photo Credit: Daniela Loera)}

Also on the list this year is Ana Liz Pulido, of Ana Liz Taqueria, in Mission. Pulido has been nominated to compete in the Best Chef of Texas category. Last year, Pulido was a semifinalist in the same category.

_{Ana Liz Pulido, Chef at Ana Liz Taqueria, in Mission. (File Photo/ValleyCentral)}

Pulido is competing against Emmanuel Chavez, of Tatemó, from Houston; Christopher Cullum, of Cullum's Attaboy, from San Antonio; Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, of Birdie's, from Austin; and Misti Norris, of Petra & the Beast, from Dallas.

Referred to as the “Oscars” of the food and drink industry, the James Beard Foundation award is a huge honor for these Rio Grande Valley businesses.