Best Of 2013 - People

April 23, 2013

7:06 PM

Sports Figures Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton, Fort Worth's favorite redhead, former TCU quarterback and now third-year veteran with the Cincinnati Bengals, will always hold a special place in Frog fans" Rose Bowl-reminiscent hearts. Gary Patterson
With 116 victories, Coach Patterson surpassed Dutch Meyer's previous record of 109 last season as TCU's new winningest head football coach. Jim Schlossnagle
Now in his 10th year as head baseball coach at TCU, Jim Schlossnagle won more games in nine years than any other coach in TCU history. Tim Buchanan
As head football coach and athletic director for the feared Aledo Bearcats, Tim Buchanan has led the school to three state football championships and playoff appearances 15 years running. Nolan Ryan
Hall-of-fame pitcher Nolan Ryan will always be adored by fans and remembered for his impact on the Rangers baseball organization, both on the field and off, regardless of titles.

Chef/Food Expert Jon Bonnell, Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine
The former science teacher kick-started the farm-to-table craze in Fort Worth by using locally sourced produce, cheeses and wild game more than a decade before it was on-trend to do so.
4259 Bryant Irvin Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76109
817.738.5489
bonnellsTexas.com Tim Love, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Love Shack, Woodshed Smokehouse
The celebrity chef has positioned himself as the spokes-chef for Fort Worth and regularly rubs elbows with fellow Food Network stars as he continues to progress the culinary scene in Fort Worth.
cheftimlove.com Molly McCook, Ellerbe Fine Foods
Charmingly beautiful and refreshingly unpretentious could describe both Chef McCook and her delicate, delicious farm-to-table cuisine.
1501 W. Magnolia Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817.926.3663
ellerbefinefoods.com Eric Hunter, Fire Oak Grill
Weatherford diners were graced with Hunter's Southern comfort dishes, like shrimp and grits, lamb T-bone, and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin when he opened Fire Oak Grill in 2007.
114 Austin Ave.
Weatherford, Texas 76086
817.598.0400
fireoakgrill.com Blaine Staniford, Grace
From rising star to respected culinarian, Blaine Staniford was trained in New York and worked across the country before returning to Texas to make his mark at Grace, where he thoughtfully builds inventive dishes that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are delightful to devour.
777 Main St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817.877.3388
gracefortworth.com

Jerrett Joslin, The Wild Mushroom
He's a recent Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence winner who creates upscale cuisine in laid-back Weatherford, providing avant-garde options for diners who"ve come to appreciate his cutting-edge techniques.
1917 Martin Drive
Weatherford, Texas 76086
817.599.4935
thewildmushroom
restaurant.com

Dance Instructor

Wendell Nelson, Billy Bob's Texas

Longtime Billy Bob's Texas dance instructor Wendell Nelson believes dancing is the most fun you can have standing up. The line-dancing, boot-scooting guru has been teaching at the world's largest honky tonk for more than 20 years and nightclub dancing in general for more than 30.

2520 Rodeo Plaza

Fort Worth, Texas 76164

817.624.7117

billybobsTexas.com

Keene Nordin, Dance Connection

5519 S. Hulen St.

Fort Worth, Texas 76132

817.292.3703

danceconnection-fw.com

Debbi Jo Utter, Dance Concept

4809 Bryant Irvin Road

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

817.738.8763

dance-concept.com

Musician Josh Weathers
He's been called the hardest working man in local music, and last year won Fort Worth Weekly's 2012 music awards for "Best Blues/Soul" and "Best Male Vocalist." Josh Weathers and his namesake four-man band provide for passionate, high-energy performances everywhere they play, from hole-in-the-wall bars to stages shared with national acts. Katy Keenie
katykeenie.com Tim Halperin
timhalperin.com Party Band Trey and the Tritones
From Michael Jackson to Mick Jagger, Trey Gunter has the party tunes covered. He and his dance-friendly band cover genres to suit anyone's tastes, from country and classic rock to swing and Sinatra. In addition to rocking any stage, Trey is a professor of music theory at Texas Christian University.
tritones.com Jurassic Rock
jurassicrockband.com Non-Cover Band The Burning Hotels
Electronic touches evoke memories of "80s electro-rock bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure while vocals remind us of Bono or a young Sting. Peppy, almost techno, club beats bring danceable energy. It's hard to pin what genre Burning Hotels falls into, which is probably exactly the way they want it.
burninghotels.net Radio Personality Hal Jay
Delivering your WBAP morning news, weather and traffic starting at 5 a.m. each weekday, Hal Jay has been a member of the longtime news talk station since 1981. A Texas Radio Hall of Famer, Hal is noted for his memorable laugh and entertaining humor.
wbap.com Jody Dean
kluv.com Randy Galloway
espn.go.com/dallas/radio

---FOO BAR