Texas Monthly‘s esteemed restaurant critic, Patricia Sharpe, announces her retirement after a remarkable fifty-year tenure. Having influenced countless gastronomy enthusiasts with her insightful explorations of Texas’ varied culinary scene, Sharpe plans to retire at year’s end.
Starting her journey with Texas Monthly as an editorial assistant in December 1974, Sharpe quickly became an integral part of the magazine’s operations, initially handling the Dining Guide and event schedules. It was her involvement in restaurant critiques, however, that sparked her interest in the evolving dining landscape of Texas.
Rising to manage and edit the Dining Guide during a pivotal era of recognition for Texas chefs, Sharpe played a significant role in the guide’s expansion across about fifteen cities, establishing it as the go-to resource for dining across the state. Her efforts culminated in the creation of a monthly column known as Pat’s Pick and a yearly roundup Where to Eat Now, celebrating the finest new eateries for over two decades.
Sharpe’s notable contributions—highlighting everything from the finest Mexican eateries and barbecue spots, to charming small-town cafes—have made her columns highly anticipated and trusted sources. Her poignant feature “Confessions of a ‘Skinny Bitch’” earned her a James Beard Foundation Award in 2006. In 2023, she was the first journalist honored by the Texas Restaurant Association with its Excellence in Journalism Award, a prestigious acknowledgment emphasized by association president Emily Knight’s commendation of Sharpe’s impactful career.
“Pat has covered the fine-dining scene in Texas for so long, and in such a discerning and engaging manner, that she has become a vital part of the scene herself. There is no replacing Pat Sharpe,” said Dan Goodgame, the magazine’s editor in chief.
Sharpe will continue to contribute to the Dining Guide and write Pat’s Pick through the rest of the year as she brings her legendary Texas Monthly chapter to a close.