Southern Smoke Festival | East Downtown Throwdown

Presented By Alaska Seafood + YETI

We’re smoking and firing up any and everything we can. Plus, we’ve invited several of the brightest stars in the culinary world on hand, including Tom Colicchio, Andrew Zimmern, Brooke Williamson, Aaron Franklin, Sarah Grueneberg, and Dawn Burrell. Live music? We’ve got it, including sweet New Orleans singer Maggie Belle and DJ Disko Cowboy spinning tunes throughout. As always, we’ll also have beer, wine, and spirits, and a silent auction with proceeds benefiting Southern Smoke’s Emergency Relief Fund.

*Lexus VIP ticket holders receive early entry at 3 p.m.*

• Karen Akunowicz of Fox & the Knife; 2020 James Beard Best Chef Northeast - Boston, MA
• Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco; 2003 James Beard Best Chef Southwest - Phoenix, AZ
• Jamie Bissonnette of Little Donkey; 2014 James Beard Best Chef Northeast; 2011 Food & Wine People's Best New Chef - Boston, MA
• Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn - Houston, TX
• Leonard Botello of Truth BBQ - Houston, TX
• Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Emmer & Rye; 2020 Food & Wine Best New Chef - Austin, TX
• Dawn Burrell of Late August - Houston, TX
• Katie Button of Curate; 2022 James Beard Outstanding Hospitality, 2015 Food & Wine Best New Chefs - Asheville, NC
• Alex Cabrera of Mixtli - San Antonio, TX
• Tom Colicchio; 2010 James Beard Outstanding Chef; 2002 James Beard Best New Restaurant; 2001 James Beard Outstanding Service; 2000 James Beard Best Chef New York City - NYC
• Stephen Conklin of Uchi - Houston, TX
• Chris Cosentino of Rosalie's Italian Soul; 2012 Top Chef Masters - Houston, TX
• Chris Davies of Pastore - Houston, TX
• Abbas Dhanani of Burger Bodega - Houston, TX
• Billy Durney of Hometown BBQ - Brooklyn, NY
• Kevin Fink of Emmer & Rye; 2020 Robb Report Best New Restaurant; 2015 Food & Wine Best New Chef - Austin, TX
• Greg Gatlin of Gatlin's BBQ - Houston, TX
• Sarah Grueneburg of Monteverde; 2017 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes; 2013, 2012, 2011 Michelin Star - Chicago, IL
• Erin and Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ - Houston, TX
• Jeremy Fox of Birdie G's; 2021, 2019, 2010 Michelin Star; 2008 Food & Wine Best New Chef - Los Angeles, CA
• Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ; 2020 American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame; 2015 James Beard Best Chef Southwest - Austin, TX
• Stephanie Izard of Girl & The Goat; 2017 Iron Chef Winner; 2013 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes; 2011 Food & Wine Best New Chef; 2008 Top Chef Winner - Chicago, IL
• Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney of Marjie's Grill and Seafood Sally's - New Orleans, LA
• Sam Jones of Sam Jones BBQ - Ayden, NC
• Shaun King of Uchiko - Houston, TX
• Graham Laborde of Winnie's - Houston, TX
• Pat Martin of Martin's BBQ Joint - Nashville, TN
• Fermin Nunez of Suerte; 2021 Food & Wine Best Chef - Austin, TX
• Ryan Pera of Coltivare; 2015 Food & Wine Best New Chef Southwest - Houston, TX
• Greg Peters of Georgia James - Houston, TX
• Tim Redding of GJ Tavern Downtown - Houston, TX
• Steven Redzikowski of Acorn; 2015 & 2014 Food & Wine People's Best New Chef Southwest - Denver, CO
• Felipe Riccio of March - Houston, TX
• Martin Stayer of Nobie's - Houston, TX
• Rico Torres of Mixtli; 2017 Food & Wine Best New Chef - San Antonio, TX
• Melissa Valenzuela of Mixtli - San Antonio, TX
• Erick Williams of Virtue Restaurant; 2022 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes; 2020 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes Nominee; 2019 Esquire Best New Restaurant - Chicago, IL
• Chris Williams of Lucille's - Houston, TX
• Brooke Williamson of Playa Provisions; 2020 Food Network of Champions; 2017 Top Chef Winner - Los Angeles, CA
• Robbie Wong of Blood Brother's BBQ - Houston, TX
• Claudette Zepeda of VAGA; 2019 Michelin Bib Gourmand - San Diego, CA
• Andrew Zimmern; 2017, 2013, 2012, 2010 James Beard Best TV Personality - Minneapolis, MN

• Maggie Belle
• Disko Cowboy
• Shakey Graves

Proceeds benefit s Emergency Relief Fund supporting food & beverage workers nationwide.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas Street, Houston, United States