Indulge in all your cravings at the Southern Smoke Food Festival for a cause in Houston this October. The one-day festival launched by Chris Shepherd is your chance to raise funds for food and beverage workers and meet the makers of the best food and drink Houston has to offer.
The Southern Smoke Foundation was started by Chris Shepherd and his wife Lindsey Brown in 2015 as a way to provide relief for workers in the food and beverage industry during times of crisis. Since then, the organization has donated over $12.7 million to industry workers through its Emergency Relief Fund.
The festival regularly feature the very best of Houston’s food and beverage scene – as well as renowned chefs both local and across the country. This year, the Southern Smoke Festival will feature over 85 professionals in the culinary industry in an incredible one-day festival.
Saturday, October 4, the festival kicks off at 4 pm at Discovery Green, The Throwdown will feature a lineup of top-notch chefs preparing everything from top-of-the-line barbecue to delectable pastries. Spirits and expertly-made cocktails will also be available including the following on-site bars:
- Reserve 101
- Johnny’s Gold Brick X Winnie’s
- Sean Umstead (Kingfisher)
- Eight Row Flint
Southern Smoke Festival will also feature a variety of wine bars on-site:
- 13 Celsius
- Bacchanal
- Central Market
- Blackbird Vineyards
- Graft
- North Valley Vineyards
- Montrose Cheese & Wine
- Sonoma
- The Library
- Vinsanto
Visitors can witness live stage demos by the following renowned chefs:
- Aaron Bludorn (Bludorn, Navy Blue, Bar Bludorn)
- Angie Rito & Scott Tacinelli (Don Angie and San Sabino)
- Caroline Schiff
- Rodney Scott (Rodney Scott’s BBQ)
- Shuai Wang (Jackrabbit Fill, King BBQ)
- Erick Williams (Virtue Hospitality Group)
Visitors can also expect to enjoy live performances as well as food and drinks in the Lexus VIP area, which also features service from the following:
- Neal Bodenheimer (Cure)
- Travel Bristol-Joseph (Canje)
- Joanne Canady-Brown (The Gingered Peach)
- Ana Castro (Acamaya)
- Ashley Christensen (Poole’s Diner)
- Cassidee Dabney (The Barn at Blackberry Farm)
- Julie Dalton, MS (Stella’s Wine Bar)
- Billy Durney (Hometown BBQ)
- Kevin Fink (Emmer & Rye Hospitality, Pullman Market)
- Mason Hereford (Turkey and the Wolf)
- Alba Huerta (Julep)
Tickets are priced at $225 (+ fees) for General Admission which includes all the food, drinks, and music you want. VIP tickets are also available for $500 (+ fees) which include early access (3 pm), access to the Lexus VIP area, and gifts courtesy of Southern Smoke Foundation.