Houston, TX
$1,620,000
$1,620,000
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund
Chefs
Aaron Bludorn
Aaron Franklin
Abbas Dhanani
Alexana Cabrera
Ashley Christensen
Benchawan Jabthong Painter
Billy Durney
Brian Jupiter
Brooke Williamson
Bun B
Chad Houser
Cheetie Kumar
Chris Bianco
Chris Cosentino
Chris Davies
Chris Shepherd
Chris Williams
Claudette Zepeda
Dawn Burrell
Easton Sadler
Erick Williams
Felipe Riccio
Fermín Núñez
Gabriel Medina
Gail Simmons
Graham Laborde
Greg Gatlin
Greg Peters
Jack Yoss
Jacklyn Pham
Jamie Bissonnette
Jason Stanhope
John Avila
Jordan Rubin
Joshua Weissman
Karen Akunowicz
Katie Button
Kevin Fink
Leonard Botello IV
Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi
Marcus Jacobs & Caitlin Carney
Martin Stayer
Mason Hereford
Melissa Valenzuela
Mike Lata
Nicole Mills
Paola Velez
Pat Martin
Patrick Feges & Erin Smith
Rebecca Masson
Rico Torres
Robin Wong, Terry Wong, Quy Hoang and Arash Kharat
Ryan Pera
Sarah Grueneberg
Shaun King
Stephanie Izard
Stephen Conklin
Stephen Stryjewski
Tavel Bristol-Joseph
Terrence Gallivan
Tim Reading
Tom Colicchio
Trong Nguyen
Aaron Bludorn
Aaron Franklin
Abbas Dhanani
Alexana Cabrera
Ashley Christensen
Benchawan Jabthong Painter
Billy Durney
Brian Jupiter
Brooke Williamson
Bun B
Chad Houser
Cheetie Kumar
Chris Bianco
Chris Cosentino
Chris Davies
Chris Shepherd
Chris Williams
Claudette Zepeda
Dawn Burrell
Easton Sadler
Erick Williams
Felipe Riccio
Fermín Núñez
Gabriel Medina
Gail Simmons
Graham Laborde
Greg Gatlin
Greg Peters
Jack Yoss
Jacklyn Pham
Jamie Bissonnette
Jason Stanhope
John Avila
Jordan Rubin
Joshua Weissman
Karen Akunowicz
Katie Button
Kevin Fink
Leonard Botello IV
Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi
Marcus Jacobs & Caitlin Carney
Martin Stayer
Mason Hereford
Melissa Valenzuela
Mike Lata
Nicole Mills
Paola Velez
Pat Martin
Patrick Feges & Erin Smith
Rebecca Masson
Rico Torres
Robin Wong, Terry Wong, Quy Hoang and Arash Kharat
Ryan Pera
Sarah Grueneberg
Shaun King
Stephanie Izard
Stephen Conklin
Stephen Stryjewski
Tavel Bristol-Joseph
Terrence Gallivan
Tim Reading
Tom Colicchio
Trong Nguyen
Sponsors
Alaska Seafood
Yeti
Lexus
C. Baldwin
Food & Wine
Crown Royal
8th Wonder Brewery & Distillery
Hornitos and Tres Generations
Titos
Design by Principle
Sysco
Seff Family & Ames Family
Gee Eye Care
Haxel Landscaping
Athletic Brewery
American Express/Resy
Agricole Hospitality
Indianola
Tabasco
Cayson
HEB
Sentinel One
Rambler
City of Houston
Hirsch Vineyards
Miner Family Winery
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Alta Marfa
C.L. Butaud
Duchman Family Winery
Southold Farm + Cellar
June's Rosé
William Chris Vineyards
Noble Vines
Quinta do Crasto
Susana Balbo Wines
Piper Sonoma
Masi
Hope Family Wines
Elouan
Echo Bay
Diora Wines
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Argyle Winery
Becker Vineyards
Aperol
Liquid Alchemist
Jon Hart
Fogo Charcoal
Indian Head Firewood
Etchman
Copydotcom
Alaska Seafood
Yeti
Lexus
C. Baldwin
Food & Wine
Crown Royal
8th Wonder Brewery & Distillery
Hornitos and Tres Generations
Titos
Design by Principle
Sysco
Seff Family & Ames Family
Gee Eye Care
Haxel Landscaping
Athletic Brewery
American Express/Resy
Agricole Hospitality
Indianola
Tabasco
Cayson
HEB
Sentinel One
Rambler
City of Houston
Hirsch Vineyards
Miner Family Winery
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Alta Marfa
C.L. Butaud
Duchman Family Winery
Southold Farm + Cellar
June's Rosé
William Chris Vineyards
Noble Vines
Quinta do Crasto
Susana Balbo Wines
Piper Sonoma
Masi
Hope Family Wines
Elouan
Echo Bay
Diora Wines
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Argyle Winery
Becker Vineyards
Aperol
Liquid Alchemist
Jon Hart
Fogo Charcoal
Indian Head Firewood
Etchman
Copydotcom
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 $10 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.