This show was recorded on location at the Southern Smoke Festival in Houston, October 2025

Angie Rito & Scott Tacinelli met working in NYC at Park Avenue Seasons.

In 2018, they opened their special neighborhood spot Don Angie. Angie and Scott garnered a nomination for Best Chef: New York City and New York State by the James Beard Foundation in both 2019 and 2020, respectively, and Outstanding Chef 2022. Don Angie was also awarded a Michelin star in 2021 and 2022.

In 2024, they opened their second restaurant San Sabino.

Lucas McKinney moved to Houston in 2018 to work under James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd with Underbelly Hospitality.

A proud steward of Gulf Coast ingredients and an ardent supporter of agriculture and aquaculture, working with local purveyors, farmers and conservationists.

He is the Executive Chef at Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition in Midtown Houston.

Felipe Riccio & Austin Waiter

Felipe With a mother of Spanish heritage and father from Naples, Italy, Mexico native Felipe Riccio moved to Houston as a teenager and began working in kitchens as a high schooler. He has staged in Italy and New York.

Riccio moved back to America to join Goodnight Hospitality as chef/partner, for restaurants Rosie Cannonball and March, which was named a 2021 Best New Restaurant by Esquire. In 2022, Riccio was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best: Chef Texas.

Austin After attending CIA he started as a line cook at Houston’s Tony’s and rose until he attained Executive Chef in 2017.

He joined Goodnight Hospitality in January 2022 as Executive Chef and Partner for their highly anticipated restaurant, The Marigold Club.

Chris Shepherd

After nearly a decade working in the city’s high-end culinary scene, Chris Shepherd launched Underbelly, a restaurant concept designed to celebrate Houston’s uncelebrated cultures.

Chris has been honored with a James Beard Award for B

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Southern Smoke Festival II 2025

The Restaurant Guys