Announcing the 2012 Eater Awards for Houston

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, etc.—to announce the winners of the 2012 Eater Awards. In over a dozen categories in 19 cities, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the country. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado—actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts....

To recap, Eater's local editors in 19 cities nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, and Stone Cold Stunner. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Our Eater National brain trust then got together to decide the national winners for those categories. In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in Houston.

Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

Eater Awards 2012

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Mala Sichuan Bistro, Oxheart, Tony's, Uchi, Underbelly
Finalists: Oxheart, Uchi, Underbelly
Winner: Uchi

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Grant Gordon, Manabu Horiuchi, Kaiser Lashkari, Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu
Finalists: Manabu Horiuchi, Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu
Winner: Justin Yu

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Alma Cebiche + bar, Oxheart, The Pass & Provisions, Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, Underbelly
Finalists: Alma Cebiche + bar, The Pass & Provisions, Underbelly
Winner: The Pass & Provisions

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: Billy Boyd, Alexander Gregg, Lindsay Heffron, Jeremy Olivier, Yael Vengroff
Finalists: Billy Boyd, Alexander Gregg, Lindsay Heffron
Winner: Billy Boyd

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: Down House, Oxheart, The Pass & Provisions, Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, Triniti
Finalists: The Pass & Provisions, Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, Triniti
Winner: Sparrow Bar + Cookshop

Food Truck of the Year
Winner: Tandoori Nite