top of page
Writer's pictureMary Ann

Austin Food + Wine Festival Announces Fire Pit & Chef Showcase Schedules

Eighth Annual Festival to Feature Top Pitmasters, Chefs & Restaurants from Across Texas



Austin Food + Wine Festival is pleased to announce the Fire Pit and Chef Showcase schedules for the eighth annual festival, April 26-28, 2019. Fire Pits and Chef Showcase offer all Festival ticket holders a unique front-row experience to meet and mingle with some of Texas’ best pitmasters and chefs throughout the weekend: www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets.


Fire Pits The festival grounds at Auditorium Shores will feature interactive areas where pitmasters and chefs will cook over live fire and offer tastes to attendees throughout the day on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 2019. Offering multiple stations daily, the Fire Pits will provide interactive experiences and dishes that have been prepared over live fire. Less structured than a demo, the Fire Pits provide a forum for culinary Q&A, and an opportunity to taste the chefs’ bold creations, including whole-roasted meats, ash-cooked vegetables, and much more.


“Austin Food + Wine is one of our favorite festivals and one of the best parties of the year,” says pitmaster Lance Kirkpatrick, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew. “This year, we’re excited to be a part of the Fire Pits on Saturday with our barbecue friends and we’ll be in the tents Sunday serving some of our signature menu items. Don’t miss it!”


On Saturday, April 27, enjoy fire-roasted dishes from chefs Evan LeRoy (LeRoy and Lewis) and Lance Kirkpatrick (Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew). On Sunday, April 28, Fire Pit chefs will include: Sonya Coté (Eden East Restaurant & Farm, Hillside Farmacy) and Wayne Mueller (Louie Mueller Barbecue).


Contigo Catering and Friends New this year, Contigo Catering and Friends will offer an expanded fire pit experience helmed by Contigo Catering chefs Freddy Diaz and Andrew Wiseheart with more special guests to be announced.


Chef Showcase The festival will feature a dynamic roster of some of Texas’ most beloved and acclaimed chefs, each serving samples of signature dishes to festival attendees, on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Auditorium Shores. Interspersed between wine, spirits & beer purveyors, artisans and lifestyle vendors, the Chef Showcase allows attendees to meet their favorite chefs while tasting inspired dishes that put each chef on the map.


“We are incredibly excited to represent Marfa and showcase some of our favorite West Texas flavors,” says Alexandra Gates, chef & owner, Cochineal Marfa. “Having called Austin home for over a decade, it’s an honor to return to the Capitol City and take part in one of the top culinary events in the state — the Austin Food + Wine Festival!


On Saturday, April 27, chefs and restaurants scheduled to participate include: Jeff Balfour (Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery); John Bates & Brandon Martinez (Noble Sandwich Co.); Stephen Bonin (Geraldine's); Jeff Brown (Old Thousand); David Bull (Second Bar + Kitchen); Ji Peng Chen (Wu Chow); Alexandra Gates; Christopher Graves (Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile); Sarah Heard & Nathan Lemley (Foreign & Domestic); Ethan Holmes (Mattie's); Clinton Kendall (East Side King); Jason McVearry & Trisha Fortuna (Poke Poke); Brian Moses (Olive & June); Josh Neises (Lonesome Dove); Daniel Olivella (Barlata); Eric Silverstein (The Peached Tortilla); Anthony Sobotik (Lick Honest Ice Creams); Lakana Sopajan-Trubiana (DEE DEE); Allen Stewart (Grizzelda's); Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616); and Ling Qi Wu (Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum); and more to be announced.


"Austin Food + Wine Festival is one of my favorite events year after year,” says Geronimo Lopez, chef & owner, Botika at Pearl in San Antonio. “The gathering of regional talent allows us to showcase our creativity and engage with amazing chefs while tasting culinary masterpieces that span our cities.”


On Sunday, April 28, chefs and restaurants scheduled to participate include: Daniel Brooks (Licha’s Cantina); Thomas Calhoun (Lenoir); Jo Chan (Eberly); Taylor Hall (Apis); Lance Kirkpatrick (Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew); Geronimo Lopez; Ashley Neave (Forthright); Steve Nelson (Wild Kitchen + Bar); David Norman (Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden); Marjorie Pettigrove (TLC Austin); Sterling Ridings (Guild); Chris Rios (The Vegan Nom); Maribel Rivero (Yuyo); James Robert (Fixe); Ryan Samson (Vespiao); Charles Schlienger (Sway); Carmen Valera (Tamale House East); and more to be announced.


Additional programming announcements will be made over the course of the spring; please visit www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com for more information and updates.


The All-In ticket is $625/per person and includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access; over 40 culinary demos; beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions; access to the expanded Fire Pits; including the Chef Showcase; a special Sunday Gospel Brunch; Grillin’ and Chillin’; and entrance to Saturday night’s Rock Your Taco.


The Weekender ticket is $250/per person and includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access; over 40 culinary demos; beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions; access to the expanded Fire Pits; including the Chef Showcase; and a special Sunday Gospel Brunch.


Feast Under the Stars tickets are $250/per person and provide access to the intimate outdoor pre-festival dinner celebration at Auditorium Shores. The dinner includes a five-course family-style meal, wine pairings and parking.


All-In and Weekender tickets can be purchased at www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older. For more information, please visit www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com, or follow us on Instagram @austinfoodwine, Twitter @austinfoodwine and Facebook.com/austinfoodwine.


The Austin Food + Wine Festival is generously sponsored by Toyota, HEB, Monogram Appliances, Republic National Distributing Company, Stella Artois and FOOD & WINE.


About Austin Food + Wine Festival:

Please print on recycled paper The Austin Food + Wine Festival marks a compelling collaboration between C3 Presents and some of Texas’ most exciting chefs and restaurateurs, including Tim Love, Iron Chef Champion and co-host of CNBC's Restaurant Startup, as well as owner/chef of TLC Catering, The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Love Shack, White Elephant Saloon, Queenie's Steakhouse, and The Woodshed Smokehouse across Texas and Tennessee, and Restaurateur Jesse Herman. C3 Presents is the Austinbased event company that produces Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin's Zilker Park.


The Austin Food + Wine Festival will take place April 26-28, 2019, bringing an array of taste, talent and culinary entertainment to the Capital City.


Please visit www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com for future details on the event.


About FOOD & WINE

FOOD & WINE is the ultimate authority on the best of what's new in food, drink, travel, design and entertaining. FOOD & WINE has an extensive social media following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and Snapchat. FOOD & WINE includes a monthly magazine in print and digital; a website, foodandwine.com; a books division; plus newsletters, clubs, events, dinnerware and cookware. FOOD & WINE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Affluent Media Group

Comments


bottom of page