Leon Valley

He didn't start cooking seriously until he turned 30.

In 2021, he opened Sticks and Stone, an eight-table restaurant in Leon Valley, and his food quickly earned a following.

In 2025, he was named a James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef in Texas.

But weeks later, he closed Sticks and Stone to take over the food program at the St. Anthony Hotel, the city's first luxury hotel, where he now leads Anacacho Coffee and Cantina in Ascencia, which opened earlier this year.

We were coming off of a Best Chef Texas James Beard semi-finalist recommendation or nomination.

And a lot of great things were happening, like Sticks and Sons finally were starting to really get the legs they deserved.

But again, we were over there, Leon Valley.

eight seat butcher paper on our tables, not the best chairs, not the best lighting, not the best accommodations to really serve the food that I wanted to serve.