East Texas Chapter - Texas Restaurant Association

🎉 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐜𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐓𝐗 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝!

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬! 🌟👏

✨ Join us this weekend at the 2026 Texas Restaurant Show & Texas Restaurant Awards in San Antonio!

Celebrate the outstanding leaders who are shaping our industry while exploring the latest in food, beverage, equipment, technology, and business solutions at Texas’ largest restaurant industry event.

🎟️ Restaurant and bar operators: If you’re a TRA member, registration is complimentary.

Not a member? Email me at [email protected] for a complimentary registration code and come experience everything the Texas Restaurant Association has to offer.

📅 Texas Restaurant Show: Sunday & Monday, July 12–13
🎟️ Show Registration: https://fthr-content.txrestaurant.org/Show26social

📲 Stay connected during the show by downloading the app:
https://TRS2026.mobile.mapyourshow.com

🏆 Texas Restaurant Awards: Sunday evening
🎟️ Awards Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/wztp25ph

We hope to see you there!

🌟 Member Spotlight: Chef Lance McWhorter 🌟

East Texas is making its mark on the culinary map thanks to leaders like Chef Lance McWhorter, owner and executive chef of Heritage East at Culture ETX in downtown Tyler.

A seventh-generation East Texan, Army and Navy veteran, and award-winning chef, Lance has built a reputation for honoring the rich traditions of East Texas cuisine while elevating them through world-class culinary techniques. Through Heritage East and The Plaid Rabbit Speakeasy, he’s showcasing the flavors, history, and culture of our region to guests from across Texas and beyond. (Culture ETX)

From winning The Texas Bucket List’s “Bite of the Season” to appearing on Food Network’s Chopped, Lance continues to raise the profile of East Texas hospitality while mentoring the next generation of culinary professionals. (Culture ETX)

We’re proud to have leaders like Lance as part of the Texas Restaurant Association family and grateful for his commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of East Texas through food.

Lance McWhorter: The Chef Behind Heritage East in Tyler By Jess Boggio · ETX Uncovered · June 6, 2026Editor's note: As this article was being finalized, Lance McWhorter received word that Heritage East has been nominated for the Texas Restaurant Association's Rising Star Award, to be presented July 12 in San Antonio. Once again, Lance is bringing East ...