Support Food + Beverage Workers Affected by the Texas Hill Country Floods

Our hearts are with everyone in the Texas Hill Country.

Southern Smoke provides financial relief during the recovery phase of disasters. We’ve committed $150,000 to support affected F+B workers and are prepared to do more. Sysco will match up to $15,000 in donations to amplify our impact.

The Hill Country Relief Fund application will open August 15. For urgent needs like medical or funeral expenses, F+B workers can apply now through our existing relief fund. Our Behind You program also offers no cost counseling to F+B workers.

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Chef Image
Houston, tx /
Underbelly Hospitality
WHERE WILL I BE COOKING:

Texas native Nick Fine discovered his love for cooking during a summer job at a Yellowstone National Park resort. Afterward, he spent time in the kitchens of five-star resorts in Scottsdale and Palm Springs before returning to Texas to cook at the Mansion on Turtle Creek under Chef Dean Fearing. He spent three years at Veritas in New York City and honed his technique with Chef Scott Bryan. He returned to Texas to work as a sous chef at Brennan’s of Houston. After the Brennan’s fire in 2008, Nick spent six years at Aspen’s The Little Nell as executive banquet chef before moving to Boulder to work with Steven Redzikowski at Oak and Acorn.  Nick returned to Texas to open Ford Fry’s State of Grace as sous chef and then opened One Fifth, Chris Shepherd’s five-year restaurant that changed its concept annually, as chef de cuisine in January 2017. Nick was promoted to culinary director of Underbelly Hospitality in December 2017 and opened Wild Oats as chef/partner in 2022. Nick and his wife Laura have three children: Lottie, Hazel and Wyatt.