The eyes of Texas may soon be on locations within the City of Katy, as local businesses receive exposure on the syndicated TV series, “Goodtaste with Tanji.”

Filming is underway at selected locations for a 30-minute episode of the Emmy-winning show, focusing on the City of Katy as a premier weekend destination in Texas. Segments are being filmed at each location, woven together with interviews, food demos, and local storytelling. When completed, the episode will be broadcast in 16 Texas markets and Nashville, plus streaming via YouTube and Goodtaste.tv.

“The partnership with ‘Goodtaste with Tanji’ originated through the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce's subsidiary the Katy Foundation (a 501 c3) as part of our effort to highlight Katy’s culinary and cultural landscape,” said Adrienne Davitz, VP, Membership & Community Relations for the chamber. “The project also aligns with the City of Katy’s Convention & Tourism Bureau goals, so it’s truly a collaborative effort between the Chamber and the City.”

Davitz said that the goals of the project are to drive tourism by attracting visitors from outside Katy who are planning trips around food and cultural experiences. The project will boost economic development by bringing traffic to locally owned businesses while celebrating Katy’s unique mix of restaurants, retail, and historic venues.

The project came about after feedback from a chamber member, Davitz said. “Southern Dough contacted us after having a positive experience with their three-minute program highlight a few months ago,” she said. “They have had a lot of traffic after ‘Goodtaste with Tanji’ covered their restaurant which sits in Historic Town Square of Old Katy. Tanji had expressed interest in having a full feature similar to her Marfa, Texas, episode [to] focus on the incredible charm of Katy.”

Producers were drawn by Katy’s range of family-owned, multi-generational restaurants like Midway BBQ and Texas Tradition and the mix of culinary and retail establishments, all within the city limits, Davitz said. They saw strong community identity and storytelling opportunities as well as the ability to showcase multiple diverse venues in a single market, she said.

Discussions with the show began earlier this year, and after several months of planning, a Convention & Tourism Bureau grant proposal for $28,000.00 was approved by the City of Katy in May, using hotel occupancy tax funds. Filming commenced in late September and early October.

“Midway BBQ was chosen as a longtime, iconic Katy establishment with strong community ties and multi-generational history — emblematic of the story the episode seeks to tell,” said Davitz.

The filming on October 1 at the restaurant at 6191 Highway Blvd. in Katy drew strong attendance from community members, school board members, chamber business owners, chamber real estate agents, former mayors, Chamber representatives, and local media. Several Katy ISD school namesakes were also present. The interview questions asked of local residents focused on Midway’s history, signature dishes, and its role in Katy’s culture.

Filming continues at the remaining locations through early October and could include other businesses located on the city’s historic square, The Dryer, Typhoon Texas, Katy Mills Mall and Katy Heritage Park, and others. Post-production and editing will follow.

The Katy episode will air in the next broadcast cycle of “Goodtaste with Tanji” (exact air date to be determined), Davitz said. “It will likely run on KPRC Houston and other partner stations statewide, plus online on Goodtaste.tv and YouTube to the best of our knowledge.”

The production company has also agreed to allow the City of Katy to use snippets of the episode to use on their social media and Travel Katy website, Davitz said.

About “Goodtaste with Tanji”

Tanji Patton has worked as an investigative reporter, news anchor, producer and host and is now an Emmy award winning journalist pursuing her passion for wine and food, exploring the worlds of chefs, wine makers and culinary newsmakers. Patton is the Executive Producer and host of “Goodtaste with Tanji,” a television series that showcases chefs and restaurants from all over the state. The show airs in 17 Texas markets and in Oklahoma and Nashville. According to her website, millions view her Goodtaste.tv content via a wide range of media.


Photo by Susan Rovegno