Brownsville chef named semi-finalist in 2025 James Beard Awards

Less than a year ago, Ramblas Hospitality Group opened up Le Rêve, a French-American restaurant, in downtown Brownsville.

Now, the new restaurant’s executive chef, Eugenio Uribe, has been named a semi-finalist in the prestigious 2025 James Beards Awards in the category for Best Chef in Texas.

Uribe is the only Valley resident to make the list this year.

As the Valley grows, local chefs and restaurants are gaining ground in the contest that has historically overlooked this region.

Last year, Ana Liz Pulido of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission took home the award for Best Chef in Texas. She was nominated in 2023 for that same award.

She opened her restaurant in 2021.

Las Ramblas at Market Square in Brownsville was also nominated in the Outstanding Bar category in 2023 and 2024.

Las Ramblas at Market Square and Le Rêve are owned by brothers Michael and Fabian Limas, who have seen much success in downtown Brownsville with their ventures.

Le Rêve, which is French for “The Dream,” opened on May 29, 2024 at 1105 E. Washington St.

The idea for the restaurant was to give customers an experience that wasn’t previously available with new kinds of food alongside familiar offerings coupled with a high-level of service.

Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a news release announcing the semi-finalists that the awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries.

“For 35 years, the James Beard Awards have stood as a testament to American food culture and its exceptional talent. What began as a celebration of culinary achievement has evolved into a platform leading chefs and the broader culinary industry towards a new standard of excellence,” Reichenbach said in the release. “As we mark this milestone, we are committed to our vision of a vibrant independent restaurant industry that stands as a cornerstone of American culture, community and economy; and drives towards a better food system.”

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