
FLAVOR 2025 RETURNS THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025
Tastier than ever, San Antonio Flavor returns to the San Antonio Museum of Art on Thursday, May 15th, 2025.
Sample bites from 30+ local restaurants in various cuisines, enjoy craft beer and wine, signature cocktails and a live Culinary Showdown, starring four top San Antonio chefs and celebs. Live music, Contemporary Art Month art installations, and more. San Antonio Flavor is a charitable event benefiting Culinaria 501c3.
Tickets
Culinary Showdown
Thank you to our 2024 participating Chefs, Celebs, Judges, & Emcee! Do you have what it takes to compete at San Antonio Flavor 2025? Email mgamez@sacurrent.com

Emceed by Maggie Laughlin, KENS-5
Born and raised in California, Roma Villavicencio joined the KENS 5 news team in January 2016 and moved to the Great Day SA team in 2017, where she was a co-host for the morning lifestyle program before becoming host in 2020. When she's not working, you can catch Roma at local spots, eating and exploring. On her down time, Roma enjoys cooking, listening to music, snuggling with her rescue doggy, Felix, and working out at her boxing gym.
Top Chefs

Chef Christopher Cullum
Cullum's Attaboy
Christopher Cullum, a San Antonio native, James Beard Semi-Finalist and self-taught chef, brings his passion for French cuisine to life at Cullum's Attaboy, a cozy neighborhood gem nestled just two miles north of the Alamo. With a menu that highlights the star ingredient - eggs - alongside delectable sweet treats like Spudnuts and Mom’s Cheesecake, Cullum creates a dining experience that's both comforting and indulgent, all while celebrating his city's heritage and culinary traditions. Guests can expect warm hospitality, a curated selection of classic cocktails and wines, and a proudly contrarian concept that demystifies gourmet ingredients, making them accessible to all.

Chef Jose Gonzalez
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Chef José Gonzalez developed a passion for grilling at the age of 6. Self-taught and inspired by his Mexican heritage, he mastered the art of cooking with finesse.
Together with his sisters, Chef José owns a renowned Mexican steakhouse in Castle Hills. Their journey began during the pandemic when they launched a successful carne asada delivery service from a ghost kitchen. This experience fueled their dream of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Today, their steakhouse is a beacon of hospitality, offering guests an unforgettable taste of Mexican cuisine. Chef José's dishes blend tradition with innovation, inviting diners to savor the rich flavors of his heritage with each mouthwatering bite.

Chef Missael Garcia
El Taco Cafe
Proudly born in Jalisco, Mexico, Chef Missael always had a passion for cooking since he was a kid, requesting his parents to let him make his own meals at the age of 7. Missael started working in commercial kitchens at the age of 14, very hungry of knowledge and determined to achieve his dreams he managed to learn and develop skills on his own. Missael always believed that the true universal love language is through food, also the purest way to say “I love you” without words.
After almost 13 years in the industry and performing in every restaurant position including Executive Chef in 2022, he decided to launch a ghost kitchen in 2023, successfully bringing his unique flavors and Mexican heritage to San Antonio’s community.
In the present, Chef Missael together with his business partner, is opening his restaurant in April, located in the Stone Oak area. Fulfilling in this way his passion of offering Mexican cuisine with his distinctive touch to everyone. Chef Missael combines gastronomy and tradition from Jalisco with innovation providing a very pleasant and unique experience to his guests.
Esteemed Judges

Suzanne Taranto
Culinaria
Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge believes in empowering good people and change. Her career began with national nonprofits and expertise in public relations, marketing, and fundraising. Suzanne loves being a part of things greater than herself, and her skills have carried over into her current role as President and CEO of Culinaria- an internationally recognized non-profit organization with a focus on connecting people through food and wine culture with an innovative approach to building community.

Ty Chumbley
Ty Chumbley was born and raised in San Antonio and has been part of Agriculture and Meat Science most of his life. He is an Animal And Meat Science grad from Texas A&M University and has been a Professor of Animal and Meat Sciences since 2007. He is currently the Heartbrand Beef Central Texas Director of Meat Sales and Client Relations. Heartbrand Beef is the exclusive owner of the famous Texas Akaushi Cattle who are descendants from Japan and are now exclusively raised in Texas now. This Texas Wagyu product is of the highest prime marbling, rich in Texas Beef flavor, and actually heart healthy hence the name Heartbrand Beef. Ty has worked with Chefs all over the United States in developing their menus, marketing, and sales techniques. He is so proud of San Antonio’s Culinary Efforts and Emergence of great quality Chefs and Restaurants. He always loves to be involved with Flavor and the San Antonio Current and looks forward to working with them for years to come in developing San Antonio as a Foodie Capital of the World.

Greg Burke
Shiner
Raised in the Hudson Valley of New York, where the kitchen was the heart of the home, I learned to enjoy the flavors of life from my Italian Grandmother. At 14, I started working on the line a bar that specialized in Buffalo Wings and Burgers, as well as the coldest beer in town. For the last 20+ years, my goal has been to create the best beer and food pairing, which has led me to my hobby as an amateur pit master. Ben Franklin once said that “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” – there is nothing truer in life, especially when that beer is accompanied by a great dish.

Nina Rangel
SA Current
Nina uses nearly 20 years of experience in the food service industry to tell the stories of movers and shakers in the food scene in San Antonio. She enjoys writing about industry-specific challenges, victories and everything in between.
SA Celebs

Jennifer Monserrat Hinojosa
Jennifer Monserrat Hinojosa, esteemed for her contributions to the community, is a wife and loving mother of three. An accomplished entrepreneur and avid supporter of local restaurants and business, she holds the title of Queen of the River Walk 2024, having resided in San Antonio for twenty years after being born in Monterrey, Mexico.

Chris Flores
Eatmigos
Chris Flores is the creator behind the social media brand Eatmigos. He travels around Texas showcasing the states best foods as the Chief Tasting Officer for HEB owned Favor Delivery and is an Ambassador for Yuengling the oldest brewery in America. He loves his hometown of San Antonio, TX where he has been covering the diverse food scene since 2018. Chris has been creating content locally, nationally and internationally for over 10 years for Social Media and Broadcast.

Maddy Skye
Axios San Antonio
Madalyn Mendoza, a seasoned reporter and lifelong San Antonian, brings a flavorful flair to both her writing and her kitchen.
When not penning stories for Axios San Antonio, you'll find her exploring new restaurants, championing her local favorites, and cooking up her own culinary masterpieces.
With a "no recipe, just vibes" approach and generous sprinkles of garlic and love, her kitchen is where the magic (and messiness) happens.
SA Flavor Emcee, Denise Cabello

Meet our SA Flavor Emcee, Denise Cabello! Denise is puro San Antonio, born and raised. She graduated from UTSA #BirdsUp and has worked in TV for over 10 years! From News 4 San Antonio Living, to YOLO Texas and currently as a news anchor on KCWX. Since that’s all broadcast television, you’ve probably never seen her before. But your grandma loves watching her.
She also hosts for Missions Baseball, and recently for the Spurs. She loves getting involved in the community and eating, so SA Flavor is the perfect event for her!
Fun fact: She has 2 rescue dogs, a husband, 1 daughter, and another on the way! See you at Flavor!
Vendors
Thank you to our 2024 Vendors! Want to align your brand with SA Flavor in 2025? Email cdelapena@sacurrent.com

David Elder
KSAT
David Elder is the host and executive producer of the food and travel show Texas Eats on ABC KSAT 12 and NBC KPRC 2.

Ty Chumbley
Heartbrand Beef
Ty Chumbley is the Central Texas VP of Heartbrand Beef, not to mention an Animal Science Professor and Livestock Judging Coach at Palo Alto College.
Tre Trattoria
Tre Trattoria at the San Antonio Museum of Art will remain open for lunch and dinner (before and during) San Antonio Flavor, until 10 PM. SA Flavor guests will enjoy a complimentary Chef's Course for those who dine in (with proof of ticket).

Benefitting
San Antonio Flavor benefits Culinaria, a 501c3 that was originally established as a way of celebrating local, exceptional chefs and restaurants. Through our sponsored culinary events, we serve as one of the leading food-focused nonprofits in the San Antonio area, providing funds for scholarship programs aimed at students pursuing a career in the hospitality or culinary industry.
Photos & Videos
Check out all the fun from previous Flavor events.







