Fermín Núñez Instagram A 2021 F&W Best New Chef, Fermín Núñez is the chef of groundbreaking Suerte restaurant in Austin as well as Este and Bar Toti. He's known for sourcing fresh, local masa for his housemade tortillas and was Eater Austin's 2019 Chef of the Year. Experience Fermín Núñez grew up in the northern Mexican town of Torreón, attended culinary school in Houston, traveled Europe, and then returned to Texas. He worked at celebrated Austin restaurant La Condesa and staged at Barley Swine, before becoming the chef de cuisine at Launderette and ultimately opening his dream restaurant. "Mexican food, to me, was always something that I was very passionate about because it meant something to me, and a tortilla — it's the canvas of Mexican cooking," Education Núñez studied culinary arts at the Art Institute of Houston. About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.