StarChefs.com is coming to Austin for the first-time, and on Thursday the online magazine announced the Rising Star Award winners from Austin and San Antonio. Austin is well-represented — very well, in fact. Of the eight Rising Star Chefs chosen (see the full list below), seven are cooking in Austin, and we are all invited to taste their work at the Starchefs.com Rising Stars Revue coming Feb. 21 at the Driskill Hotel.

The online magazine began the Rising Stars Awards in 2003 and visits four cities each year (last year they recognized Houston). Judging began last fall as the StarChefs.com judges visited 60 restaurants and bars, tasting food and drinks and interviewing chefs. The judges chose their winners based upon the food and the philosophy.

According to the StarChefs.com website, "Rising Stars are up-and-coming chefs and culinary professionals who represent the vanguard of the contemporary American dining scene. They have strong, compelling culinary philosophies, are able to see beyond the four walls of their restaurant, and are committed to fostering a culinary community by sharing their knowledge with fellow professionals. Ultimately, creativity, ambition, exquisite presentation and, most important, delicious food wins a chef the designation of StarChefs Rising Star. They are the future of American cuisine."

This is the first time StarChefs.com has visited Austin and San Antonio, a region rapidly being recognized as an up and coming international culinary destination.

“Austin's exciting emerging food scene is what we like to describe as alternative.” said StarChefs.com CEO and Editor in Chief, Antoinette Bruno. “The city is an incubator for ideas in the music and tech world, and chefs are following suit.”

David Bull (Congress) is, of course, included after Bon Appetit recently named Congress as one of the best new restaurants in the U.S., as is Paul Qui (Uchiko), currently starring in Top Chef: Texas, and his boss Tyson Cole. They are joined by up and comers who have just recently hit local star status — chefs like Andrew Wiseheart of Contigo, Rene Ortiz of La Condesa, Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbeque and Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, among others.

"Other cities like Portland or San Francisco tend to trend together, the Austin–San Antonio food scene is full of individualists,” said StarChefs.com Managing Editor Will Blunt. “Whether they’re doggedly preserving traditions or innovating new cuisine types, everyone is doing his or her own thing—idiosyncratically, stubbornly, wonderfully.”

Perhaps the best part of this is our opportunity to celebrate and, most importantly, taste! The StarChefs Rising Stars Revue will happen Feb. 21 at the Driskill Hotel. Hosted by the Driskill Grill's Chef Jonathan Gelman, guests can walk-around tasting the offerings of the award-winning chefs, sommelier and mixologist. Tickets are $85 or $125 for VIP.

The Austin-San Antonio StarChefs.com Rising Star winners are:

Chefs
David Bull, Congress Austin
Ned Elliott, Foreign & Domestic
Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue
Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine
Rene Ortiz, La Condesa
Paul Qui, Uchiko
Quealy Watson, The Monterey
Andrew Wiseheart, Contigo

Pastry Chefs
Plinio Sandalio, Carillon
Philip Speer, Uchiko

Sustainability Chef
Michael Sohocki, Restaurant Gwendolyn

Hotel Chef
Josh Watkins, Carillon

Artisans
John Bates and Brandon Martinez, Noble Pig

Restaurateurs
Tyson Cole, Uchi, Uchi Houston, and Uchiko
Jason Dady, Bin 555, Tre Trattoria, and Two Bros. BBQ Market

Sommelier
June Rodil, Congress Austin

Mixologist
Jeret Peña, The Esquire

Host Chef
Jonathan Gelman, Driskill Grill

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Tickets for the StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue can be purchased at www.starchefs.com/tickets or by calling 212.966.7575.