Young Houston chefs put their own unique spins on Mexican food and it’s delicious

From critically acclaimed to up-and-coming, we’re introducing you to the young chefs who are reshaping Mexican food in Houston.

In this episode of “Eat Like a Local”, host Chris Shepherd headed to the Heights to reconnect with chef Nicolas Vera. The two met years ago when Chris helped kickstart Nicolas’ career when he picked him from a group of culinary students to join his restaurant team at Underbelly.

Ema

5307 N. Main St. | Houston

Today, Nicolas is co-owner of Mexican café Ema which is making waves of its own in the culinary world with recognition from both the Michelin guide and James Beard Awards.

Born in Mexico, Nicolas is bringing his authentic, heavily vegetarian, perspective on Mexican cuisine to Ema’s savory menu. Chris checked out dishes like taco de zanahoria, a grilled carrot taco with an heirloom blue corn tortilla, and the crowd favorite mushroom tetela, which includes Ema’s house made masa stuffed with a mushroom-carrot tinga. 

But, that’s only half the story. Ema is equally known for its pastries and coffees. Co-owner and pastry chef Stephanie Velasquez has set herself and her menu apart by combining French culinary techniques with classic Mexican pastries. The results are a combination of nostalgia and surprises, like the almond paste stuffed concha and horchata berlinesa.

Maximo

6119 Edloe | West University Place

While Ema was a chance for Chris to reunite with two chefs he’s been following from the start, his next stop was a complete unknown. When iconic Houston chef Seth Siegel-Gardner told Chris he had to check out the new chef at Maximo, Chris headed to West University. There he met 26-year-old chef Adrian Torres who has revamped Maximo into a progressive Mexican restaurant.

Staying true to his Mexican upbringing, Adrian is grinding his own corn into masa and making his own tortillas, but it’s his ability to turn classic dishes on their head that keeps Chris on his toes. 

After trying the sourdough tortillas, queso fundido with shrimp chorizo and masa cornbread, Chris declared himself a fan of anything Adrian is doing, but it’s an innocent looking dessert that has Chris calling Adrian’s approach some of the smartest cooking in the city. Watch “Eat Like a Local” today at 10 a.m. to check it out!

“Eat Like a Local with Chris Shepherd” is your guide to the best food in Houston. Watch new episodes Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KPRC 2.

Season 2 of “Eat Like a Local”