Update on Our Hurricane Response

F+B workers affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton: Applications for both storms close at 6 p.m. CST on November 25. You must apply online for assistance.

We have received over 3,500 disaster relief applications, and our small and mighty team is still working through more than 2,800. Cases are processed in the order in which they were received. We are distributing weekly updates regarding processing time; please watch for emails from our team!

If you applied for assistance unrelated to these disasters, we are working as quickly as possible to process your case. Please reach out to your case manager directly or casemanagement@southernsmoke.org for any updates. Thank you for your patience during this time of unprecedented volume.

We are so grateful for the outpouring of support, and thanks to generous donors, to date we have granted $699,500 to 487 F+B workers affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Houston, TX
$1,800,000
$1,800,000
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund and University Grants for Mental Health Services
Chefs
Aaron Bludorn
Aaron Franklin
Abbas Dhanani
Alejandro Borunda & Daniel Fox
Ana Castro
Andy Ticer & Michael Hudman
Angel Barreto
Ashley Christensen
Benchawan Jabthong Painter
Blake Aguillard & Trey Smith
Brian Jupiter
Carlo Lamagna
Caroline Schiff
Cheetie Kumar
Chris Bianco
Chris Cosentino
Chris Williams
Claudette Zepeda
David Cordúa
Emmanuel Chavez
Erick Williams
Evan LeRoy
Felipe Riccio and Austin Waiter
Fermín Núñez
Graham Laborde & Benjy Mason
Greg Gatlin
Henry Lu & Evelyn Garcia
Jason Ryczek
Jason Stanhope
Jess Pryles
Jordan Rubin
Kate McLean
Kevin Fink
Leonard Botello IV
Levi Goode
Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi
Martin Stayer
Mason Hereford
Matt Horn
Michelle Wallace
Mike Pham
Nina Compton
Ope Amosu
Paola Velez
Patrick Feges & Erin Smith
Philip Speer
Rafael Nasr
Rebecca Masson
Reem Assil
Robin Wong, Terry Wong, Quy Hoang and Arash Kharat
Ryan Lachaine
Ryan Pera
Ryan Prewitt
Sarah Grueneberg
Sophina Uong
Stephen Barber
Stephen Stryjewski
Tavel Bristol-Joseph
Terrence Gallivan
Tim Flores & Genie Kwon
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel
Trong & Cory Nguyen
Zachary Engel
Aaron Bludorn
Aaron Franklin
Abbas Dhanani
Alejandro Borunda & Daniel Fox
Ana Castro
Andy Ticer & Michael Hudman
Angel Barreto
Ashley Christensen
Benchawan Jabthong Painter
Blake Aguillard & Trey Smith
Brian Jupiter
Carlo Lamagna
Caroline Schiff
Cheetie Kumar
Chris Bianco
Chris Cosentino
Chris Williams
Claudette Zepeda
David Cordúa
Emmanuel Chavez
Erick Williams
Evan LeRoy
Felipe Riccio and Austin Waiter
Fermín Núñez
Graham Laborde & Benjy Mason
Greg Gatlin
Henry Lu & Evelyn Garcia
Jason Ryczek
Jason Stanhope
Jess Pryles
Jordan Rubin
Kate McLean
Kevin Fink
Leonard Botello IV
Levi Goode
Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi
Martin Stayer
Mason Hereford
Matt Horn
Michelle Wallace
Mike Pham
Nina Compton
Ope Amosu
Paola Velez
Patrick Feges & Erin Smith
Philip Speer
Rafael Nasr
Rebecca Masson
Reem Assil
Robin Wong, Terry Wong, Quy Hoang and Arash Kharat
Ryan Lachaine
Ryan Pera
Ryan Prewitt
Sarah Grueneberg
Sophina Uong
Stephen Barber
Stephen Stryjewski
Tavel Bristol-Joseph
Terrence Gallivan
Tim Flores & Genie Kwon
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel
Trong & Cory Nguyen
Zachary Engel
Supporters
Co-Presenting Supporters
Alaska Seafood
Yeti
Official VIP and Automobile Supporter
Lexus
Official Hotel Partner
Four Seasons Hotel Houston
Official Presenter of the Texas Food and Wine Garden
Houston Hospitality Alliance
Official VIP Wine Supporter
Robert Mondavi Winery
Official Whiskey Supporter
Crown Royal
Official Canned Cocktail Supporter
Neutral
Official Beer Supporter
Stella Artois
Official Merch Supporter
Fuckalogo
Official Water Supporter
Acqua Panna and S. Pellegrino
Official Apron Supporter
Cayson
2023 Festival Partners
Resy
Athletic Brewing
Gee Eye Care
Sysco Nourishing Neighbors
Tito's
Teremana Tequila
Aperol
Brugal
French Truck Coffee
Electrolit
Mise
El Guapo
Chubo
Vital Farms
Gozney
Tabasco
IMA
Central Market
H-E-B
Favor
Underberg
Skadden
Table 22
Anchor Construction
Ben E. Keith
In-kind Supporters
LD Systems
Gin Design Group
Zadok Jewelers
The Roots Fund
The Sorting Table
Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
Winesellers Limited
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Hirsch Vineyards
June's Rosé
Miner Family Winery
Cruse Wine Co.
Jack Edwards
Clos de Caille
Cristom Vineyards
Pax
Blackbird Vineyards
Lallier Champagne
Acquiesce
Chosen Family
McCollum Heritage
Seis Soles Wine Co.
Rumor
Lost Draw
Duchman Family Winery
Alta Marfa Winery & Vineyard
La Cruz de Comal
William Chris Vineyards
Highland Park
Haxel Landscaping
Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread
LMNT
LM Rents
Louie Louie Good Time Seltzer
Bokisch Vineyards
Modales
Tank Garage Winery
Copy.com
Marfa Spirit Co.
Prestige Oysters
Michael Lavelle
Double R Ranch
Houston Dairymaids
Eat well. Do good.

One night in 2015, Chris’s friend and former sommelier Antonio Gianola asked if Chris could host a fundraiser for the MS Society. After learning Antonio had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis earlier that week, Chris decided to throw a party with some of his chef and pit master friends and ultimately raised $181,000 for the MS Society.

The event grew each year, with more chefs from around the country traveling to Houston to raise money for a great cause. When Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and the food and beverage industry, we quickly changed our mission for both the Southern Smoke Festival and the Foundation to provide financial assistance to anyone in the food and beverage in crisis nationwide. We continue to serve up flavors from some of the country’s best chefs at our annual festival, all to benefit our fellow industry workers across the U.S.

Food & Wine magazine calls our three-day weekend “unmissable.” The Houston Chronicle calls it “an over-the-top barbecue-beer-and-wine festival.”

We call it our favorite way to get together. Every time you buy a festival ticket, piece of merch, or bid on an auction item, the profits directly support our Emergency Relief Fund and general operations, which gets industry individuals financial help just as soon as they need it. Grants have been used to pay for essentials like groceries, clothing, and medications, and have covered the cost of car repossessions, rent, natural disaster damages, lost wages, and more.

To date, we’ve distributed more than $11 million directly to people in need, and with your support—by wining and dining your way through the weekend—we’re able to help even more of those in need.

Cheers to a damn good time.