Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF), the national nonprofit that supports food and beverage workers in crisis, has announced the return of its flagship event. The 2025 edition of Southern Smoke Festival will take place on Saturday, October 4 at Discovery Green in downtown Houston—and this year promises to be the biggest and boldest yet.
Tickets are now on sale, offering access to an impressive lineup of more than 85 chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists from around the U.S. Guests can expect an all-inclusive experience of bites, drinks, live music, cookbook signings, and cooking demos—all to raise funds for mental health services and emergency relief grants for hospitality workers nationwide.
Ticket Tiers and Access
- General Admission ($225): Includes entry at 4 p.m., unlimited food and drinks, live music, and access to the YETI Culinary Stage and cookbook signings.
- Lexus VIP ($550): Includes early entry at 3 p.m., curated bites and cocktails inside the air-conditioned Lexus VIP Lounge at The Grove, premium wine selections, and exclusive gifts.
- Talent Supporter (starting at $5,000): Covers the cost of food, travel, and equipment for one participating chef, with VIP entry at 2:30 p.m., skip-the-line privileges for your selected chef, and an invite to the Chef Welcome Party on October 2.
A National Roster of Talent
This year’s festival features a mix of Southern Smoke veterans and first-time participants, including some of the industry’s most respected names.
Among the newcomers: Wylie Dufresne (Stretch Pizza, New York), Calvin Eng (Bonnie’s, New York), Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp (Her Place Supper Club and My Loup, Philadelphia), Damarr Brown (Virtue, Chicago), Paul Carmichael (Kabawa, New York), Shuai and Corrie Wang (King BBQ, Charleston), and Rob Rubba (Oyster Oyster, Washington D.C.).
Returning favorites include: Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue, Austin), Ashley Christensen (Poole’s Diner, Raleigh), Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde, Chicago), Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje, Austin), Cassidee Dabney (The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland), and Rodney Scott (Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Charleston).
Representing Houston
Unsurprisingly, Houston will be out in full force. Local chefs include: Greg Gatlin (Gatlin’s BBQ), Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu (Jūn), Patrick Feges and Erin Smith (Feges BBQ), Ryan Lachaine (Riel), Trong and Cory Nguyen (Crawfish & Noodles), and Robin and Terry Wong with Quy Hoang (Blood Bros. BBQ), among others.
The city’s bar scene will also be well represented with participants including Julep, Johnny’s Gold Brick, Winnie’s, Montrose Cheese & Wine, and The Library.
New Additions for 2025
This year brings new features and expanded programming:
- Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs (Class of 2025) will cook together for the first time in a dedicated activation presented by Skadden.
- The Resort at Paws Up debuts a new immersive experience at The Lake House, a climate-controlled tent in the heart of Discovery Green.
- The Lexus VIP Lounge will feature curated dishes by eight standout chefs, with cocktails by Alba Huerta (Julep) and wines from Stella’s Wine Bar.
- YETI Culinary Stage returns with demos and appearances from notable chefs. Chef, YouTuber and Yeti Ambassador, Brad Leone, has officially been confirmed as the Emcee.
Giving Back to the Industry
Founded by chef Chris Shepherd and executive director Lindsey Brown, Southern Smoke Foundation provides direct relief to food and beverage workers through its Behind You mental health program and Emergency Relief Fund. Since 2017, the foundation has granted over $14.5 million in aid and provided more than 7,400 free counseling sessions across 12 states and Washington, D.C.
As SSF continues to grow, so does its commitment. “We at Sysco have a unique view into the challenges and opportunities facing food and beverage workers,” said Victoria Gutierrez, chief merchandising officer and SVP at Sysco. “We’re proud to partner with Southern Smoke Foundation to further help the industry thrive.”
Tickets Available Now
Tickets for Southern Smoke Festival 2025 are now on sale at southernsmoke.org. Proceeds directly benefit Southern Smoke Foundation’s ongoing mission to support hospitality workers in need.
Official Water Supporter: Acqua Panna and S.Pellegrino
