Rio Grande Valley Chapter - Texas Restaurant Association

📈 Trend or fad? Knowing the difference can make all the difference for your business.

Join the Texas Restaurant Association and Datassential for an exclusive webinar designed to help restaurant operators better understand what today’s consumers actually want — and which trends are truly worth paying attention to.

From value-driven dining to balancing health, wellness, and indulgence, this session will break down what’s gaining momentum, what’s fading fast, and what has real staying power. Backed by real consumer and menu data, you’ll walk away with insights to help guide smarter menu, marketing, and business decisions.

🎤 Panelists:
• Kelsey Erickson Streufert, Chief Public Affairs Officer, TRA
• Renee Lee Wege, Trendologist & Senior Publications Manager, Datassential

⭐ TRA Member Exclusive Webinar
Not a member yet? Email [email protected] to join today!

🔥 Calling all Texas chefs! The Texas Restaurant Association and the Texas Restaurant Show are launching an exciting NEW culinary competition this year — the 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧! 🇨🇱🍴

Chefs from across Texas are invited to apply by June 1 for the chance to compete live at the Texas Restaurant Show on July 12 in a fast-paced, two-round tapas competition highlighting creativity, technique, and bold Texas flavor.

Up to eight chefs will be selected, and the winning chef will earn the incredible opportunity to represent Texas at the Tapas of America event in Querétaro, Mexico — with a chance to advance to the World Tapas Competition in Spain! 🌎✨

This exciting new competition shines a spotlight on the talent, innovation, and culinary excellence found throughout Texas hospitality.

📣 Applications are open now through June 1!
Apply here: https://txrestaurantshow.com/Show/Explore/Lone-Star-Tapas-Showdown-Chef.aspx

✨𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 ✨

Join us for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬—an unforgettable evening honoring the talent, creativity, and leadership that define our industry.

📍 Sunday, July 12
📍 Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | San Antonio

Enjoy an incredible night featuring:
🍽️ Chef-driven bites from across Texas
🍸 Signature cocktails
🏆 Recognition of the industry’s top talent
🎶 Live entertainment + an after party with a purpose

This is more than an awards show—it’s a celebration of the people and passion driving Texas hospitality forward.

👉 Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/4cPJ7DY

Come celebrate. Come connect. Come be inspired.

🚨 Protecting Your Margins: Surcharges, Discounts & Swipe Fees Explained 🚨

Swipe fees keep climbing—and restaurant margins are feeling the pressure. It’s time to get ahead of it.

Join our upcoming webinar and learn how to take control of your payment costs with strategies that actually work.

💡 We’ll break down:
✔️ Surcharges vs. cash & debit discounting
✔️ Legal + operational do’s and don’ts
✔️ How to choose the right approach for your business

Plus, hear real-world insights from operators and industry experts so you can make confident, informed decisions.

🎤 Featuring:
• Kelsey Erickson Streufert (Texas Restaurant Association)
• Matthew Mabel (Surrender Inc.)
• Blanca Aldaco (Aldaco’s)
• Charles Southgate (Global Payments)

👉 Spots are limited—register now and start protecting your profits.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ut6Xg0D5Qh203rVbRm4dQA

Restaurants across the Rio Grande Valley—and across Texas—are navigating real challenges right now, from economic pressures to workforce uncertainty. Recent conversations highlighted in this article show just how important it is for our industry to have a unified voice.

👉 https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/valley-restaurants-feel-impact-of-economy-immigration-fears-industry-leaders-say/

That’s why being part of the Texas Restaurant Association matters. Together, we advocate, we educate, and we work to find solutions that protect and strengthen our industry.

A big thank you to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce for hosting our recent town hall and helping bring operators together for these important conversations. Partnerships like this make a difference.

We’ll keep showing up, speaking up, and working on behalf of Texas restaurants. 🍽️🤝

If you’re a local restaurant and not yet involved, we’d love to connect. Being part of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter - Texas Restaurant Association means having a voice and a support system—reach out to learn more about how to get involved.

Valley restaurants feel impact of economy, immigration fears, industry leaders say MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Leaders in the restaurant industry gathered in McAllen as part of the Texas Restaurant Association’s biennial tour, highlighting key concerns they plan to bring to …