Houston native Martin Stayer trained at the former Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon, before starting his cooking career back in H-Town, under chef Scott Tycer at Aries. He then headed to Chicago, where he worked with the late chef Homaro Cantu at the Michelin Star-awarded Moto. Upon returning to Houston, he and wife Sara opened Nobie’s, a neighborhood restaurant inspired by his grandmother and featuring locally grown and raised fare. His newest restaurant, Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern, was named the Pizza Joint of the Year by Esquire.