Southern Smoke Festival 2026 Tickets Are On Sale Now

Join us for an unforgettable experience of incredible food, drinks, and community on Saturday, October 3. This year, almost 100 celebrated chefs, beverage professionals, and hospitality visionaries will come together for an afternoon of world-class bites, libations, live music, immersive experiences, and more, all to raise critical funds for emergency relief and mental health support for food and beverage workers nationwide.

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Eli
Chef Image
Sussman
Brooklyn, NY /
gertrude's
WHERE WILL I BE COOKING:
The Throwdown

Eli Sussman is a chef, restaurateur, and digital creator. Sussman is the executive chef and partner of gertrude’s in Brooklyn which received a glowing New Yorker review and was included in the NYT Top 8 dishes of 2023. He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Award, and was awarded a Zagat 30 under 30 and has authored four cookbooks. His first hospitality industry comedy book “Me Chef, You Chef, Oui Chef” will be released by Clarkson Potter. He hosts an instagram show called Talkin In The Walk-in where he speaks to chefs inside of their restaurant’s walk-in. He makes hospitality industry memes and reels on his account @thesussmans. 

Generously supported by Jordan and Dylan Seff