October 4
Houston, TX

Tickets are on sale now! Mark your calendars for October 4, 2025, as the Southern Smoke Festival returns to Houston’s Discovery Green. This high-energy event brings together 85+ top chefs, beverage pros, and live music for one unforgettable day. More than a feast, it fuels the Southern Smoke Foundation’s mission to support food and beverage workers in crisis. Come for the flavors, stay for the cause.

Get Tickets
Chefs
2025 Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Yeti Culinary Stage Demo Chefs
Lexus VIP
Bars
Wine Bars
Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
Tyler
Akin
Philadelphia, PA
Bastia
Chef Thumbnail
Ope
Amosu
Houston, TX
ChòpnBlọk
Chef Thumbnail
Brittanny
Anderson
Richmond, VA
Metzger Bar and Butchery
Chef Thumbnail
Lee
Anne Wong
Honolulu, HI
Koko Head Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Jeremiah
Bacon
Charleston, SC
Indigo Road Hospitality Group
Chef Thumbnail
Stephen
Barber
Napa, CA
Farmstead
Chef Thumbnail
Angel
Barreto
Washington, D.C.
Anju
Chef Thumbnail
Bob
Bennett
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Zingerman's Roadhouse
Chef Thumbnail
Jamie
Bissonnette
Boston, MA
소맥 Somaek
Chef Thumbnail
Aaron
Bludorn
Houston, TX
Bludorn, Navy Blue and Bar Bludorn
Chef Thumbnail
Leonard
Botello IV
Houston, TX
Truth BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Damarr
Brown
Chicago, IL
Virtue Restaurant
Chef Thumbnail
Paul
Carmichael
New York, NY
Bar Kabawa and Kabawa
Chef Thumbnail
Jeff
Chanchaleune
Oklahoma City, OK
Ma Der Lao Kitchen
Chef Thumbnail
Trong
& Cory Nguyen
Houston, TX
Crawfish & Noodles
Chef Thumbnail
Isabel
Coss
Washington, DC
Lutèce, Pascual
Chef Thumbnail
Calvin
Eng
New York, NY
Bonnie's
Chef Thumbnail
Chelsea
Fadda
Austin, TX
Pecan Square Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Katrina
Ferraro & Freddy Diaz
Austin, TX
Las Brasas
Chef Thumbnail
Sam
Fore
Lexington, KY
Tuk Tuk Snack Shop
Chef Thumbnail
Aaron
Franklin
Austin, TX
Franklin Barbecue
Chef Thumbnail
Greg
Gatlin
Houston, TX
Gatlin’s BBQ, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers
Chef Thumbnail
Caroline
Glover
Aurora, CO
Annette & Traveling Mercies
Chef Thumbnail
Levi
Goode
Houston, TX
Credence
Chef Thumbnail
Sarah
Grueneberg & Bailey Sullivan
Chicago, IL
Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Chef Thumbnail
Anthony
Guerra
Charleston, SC
Oakwood Pizza Box + Tutti
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Hammel
Chicago, IL
Lula Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Chad
Houser
Dallas, TX
Café Momentum
Chef Thumbnail
Silver
Iocovozzi
Asheville, NC
Neng Jr.'s
Chef Thumbnail
Benchawan
Jabthong Painter
Houston, TX
Street to Kitchen
Chef Thumbnail
Joe
Kindred
Davidson, NC
Kindred
Chef Thumbnail
Kyle
Knall
Milwaukee, WI
Birch
Chef Thumbnail
Cheetie
Kumar
Raleigh, NC
Ajja
Chef Thumbnail
Lawrence
"LT" Smith
Phoenix, Az
Chilte
Chef Thumbnail
Ryan
Lachaine
Houston, TX
Riel
Chef Thumbnail
Brian
Lea & Leina Horii
Nashville, TN
Kisser
Chef Thumbnail
Lior
Lev Sercarz
New York, NY
La Boite
Chef Thumbnail
Henry
Lu & Evelyn Garcia
Houston, TX
Jūn
Chef Thumbnail
Tracy
Malechek-Ezekiel
Austin, TX
Birdie’s
Chef Thumbnail
Pat
Martin
Nashville, TN
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Chef Thumbnail
Rebecca
Masson
Houston, TX
Fluff Bake Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Lucas
McKinney
Houston, TX
Josephine’s
Chef Thumbnail
Dean
Neff
Wilmington, NC
Seabird
Chef Thumbnail
Christina
Nguyen
Minneapolis, MN
Hai Hai
Chef Thumbnail
Ryan
Pera
Houston, TX
Eight Row Flint
Chef Thumbnail
Felipe
Riccio and Austin Waiter
Houston, TX
The Marigold Club
Chef Thumbnail
Joaquin
Rodas
New Orleans, LA
Bacchanal
Chef Thumbnail
Rob
Rubba
Washington, DC
Oyster Oyster
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Ryczek
Houston, TX
Little’s Oyster Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Rodney
Scott
Charleston, SC
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Amanda
Shulman & Alex Kemp
Philadelphia, PA
Libbie Loup Hospitality: Her Place Supper Club & My Loup
Chef Thumbnail
Erin
Smith & Patrick Feges
Houston, TX
Feges BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Stanhope
Charleston, SC
Sullivan's Fish Camp
Chef Thumbnail
Martin
Stayer
Houston, TX
Nobie’s, The Toasted Coconut, Quiote, Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern
Chef Thumbnail
Eli
Sussman
Brooklyn, NY
gertrude's
Chef Thumbnail
Ed
Szymanski
New York, NY
Dame, Lord's, & Crevette
Chef Thumbnail
Adrian
Torres
Houston, TX
Maximo
Chef Thumbnail
Nicolas
Vera & Stephanie Velazquez
Houston, TX
Ema HTX
Chef Thumbnail
Robin
Wong, Terry Wong, and Quy Hoang
Houston, TX
Blood Bros. BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Valerie
and Nando Chang
Miami, FL
Itamae AO
2025 Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
2025
Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Yeti Culinary Stage Demo Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
Wylie
Dufresne
New York, NY
Stretch Pizza
Chef Thumbnail
Brad
Leone
YETI Ambassador and YETI Culinary Stage Emcee
Chef Thumbnail
Angie
Rito & Scott Tacinelli
New York, NY
Don Angie and San Sabino
Chef Thumbnail
Caroline
Schiff
New York, NY
Chef Thumbnail
Rodney
Scott
Charleston, SC
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Shuai
Wang
Charleston, SC
Jackrabbit Filly & King BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Erick
Williams
Chicago, IL
Virtue Hospitality Group
Lexus VIP
Chef Thumbnail
Tavel
Bristol-Joseph
Austin, TX
Canje
Chef Thumbnail
Joanne
Canady-Brown
Lawrenceville, NJ
The Gingered Peach
Chef Thumbnail
Ana
Castro
New Orleans, LA
Acamaya
Chef Thumbnail
Ashley
Christensen
Raleigh, NC
Poole's Diner
Chef Thumbnail
Cassidee
Dabney
Walland, TN
The Barn at Blackberry Farm®
Chef Thumbnail
Julie
Dalton, MS
Houston, TX
Stella's Wine Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Billy
Durney
Brooklyn, NY
Hometown BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Kevin
Fink
Austin, TX
Emmer & Rye Hospitality and Pullman Market
Chef Thumbnail
Mason
Hereford
New Orleans, LA
Turkey and the Wolf
Chef Thumbnail
Alba
Huerta
Houston, TX
Julep
Bars
Chef Thumbnail
Reserve
101
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Neal
Bodenheimer
New Orleans, LA
Cure
Chef Thumbnail
Johnny's
Gold Brick x Winnie's
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Eight
Row Flint
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Sean
Umstead
Durham, NC
Kingfisher
Wine Bars
Chef Thumbnail
13
Celsius
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Bacchanal
New Orleans, LA
Chef Thumbnail
Central
Market
Texas
Chef Thumbnail
Graft
Charleston, SC
Chef Thumbnail
Montrose
Cheese & Wine
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Sonoma
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
The
Library
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
VinSanto
Houston, TX
The Throwdown
Saturday, October 04, 2025
4:00–8:00PM
Discovery Green | 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010
Purchase Tickets

General admission tickets: Your ticket includes all of the food, drinks, and live music you can handle starting at 4:00 p.m. GA ticket holders can experience the new Yeti Culinary Stage, get cookbooks signed by their favorite chefs, and meet the 2025 Food & Wine Best New Chefs.

Lexus VIP tickets: Lexus VIP tickets include all of the food, drinks, and live music you can handle starting at 3:00 p.m. (early admission). VIP tickets also include access to the exclusive air-conditioned Lexus VIP area inside The Grove, gifts from the Southern Smoke Foundation gift wheel, and premium wines from Stella’s Wine Bar. VIP chefs Billy Durney, Ashley Christensen, Cassidee Dabney, Kevin Fink, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Mason Hereford, Ana Castro, and Joanne Canady-Brown will be serving bites inside The Grove, and Alba Huerta will be behind the bar.  

Talent Supporters: Show your support by sponsoring a SSF25 chef or beverage talent and experience SSF25 like an industry pro–early admission before VIP, exclusive events, and more!

Chefs
2025 Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Yeti Culinary Stage Demo Chefs
Lexus VIP
Bars
Wine Bars
Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
Tyler
Akin
Philadelphia, PA
Bastia
Chef Thumbnail
Ope
Amosu
Houston, TX
ChòpnBlọk
Chef Thumbnail
Brittanny
Anderson
Richmond, VA
Metzger Bar and Butchery
Chef Thumbnail
Lee
Anne Wong
Honolulu, HI
Koko Head Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Jeremiah
Bacon
Charleston, SC
Indigo Road Hospitality Group
Chef Thumbnail
Stephen
Barber
Napa, CA
Farmstead
Chef Thumbnail
Angel
Barreto
Washington, D.C.
Anju
Chef Thumbnail
Bob
Bennett
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Zingerman's Roadhouse
Chef Thumbnail
Jamie
Bissonnette
Boston, MA
소맥 Somaek
Chef Thumbnail
Aaron
Bludorn
Houston, TX
Bludorn, Navy Blue and Bar Bludorn
Chef Thumbnail
Leonard
Botello IV
Houston, TX
Truth BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Damarr
Brown
Chicago, IL
Virtue Restaurant
Chef Thumbnail
Paul
Carmichael
New York, NY
Bar Kabawa and Kabawa
Chef Thumbnail
Jeff
Chanchaleune
Oklahoma City, OK
Ma Der Lao Kitchen
Chef Thumbnail
Trong
& Cory Nguyen
Houston, TX
Crawfish & Noodles
Chef Thumbnail
Isabel
Coss
Washington, DC
Lutèce, Pascual
Chef Thumbnail
Calvin
Eng
New York, NY
Bonnie's
Chef Thumbnail
Chelsea
Fadda
Austin, TX
Pecan Square Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Katrina
Ferraro & Freddy Diaz
Austin, TX
Las Brasas
Chef Thumbnail
Sam
Fore
Lexington, KY
Tuk Tuk Snack Shop
Chef Thumbnail
Aaron
Franklin
Austin, TX
Franklin Barbecue
Chef Thumbnail
Greg
Gatlin
Houston, TX
Gatlin’s BBQ, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers
Chef Thumbnail
Caroline
Glover
Aurora, CO
Annette & Traveling Mercies
Chef Thumbnail
Levi
Goode
Houston, TX
Credence
Chef Thumbnail
Sarah
Grueneberg & Bailey Sullivan
Chicago, IL
Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Chef Thumbnail
Anthony
Guerra
Charleston, SC
Oakwood Pizza Box + Tutti
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Hammel
Chicago, IL
Lula Cafe
Chef Thumbnail
Chad
Houser
Dallas, TX
Café Momentum
Chef Thumbnail
Silver
Iocovozzi
Asheville, NC
Neng Jr.'s
Chef Thumbnail
Benchawan
Jabthong Painter
Houston, TX
Street to Kitchen
Chef Thumbnail
Joe
Kindred
Davidson, NC
Kindred
Chef Thumbnail
Kyle
Knall
Milwaukee, WI
Birch
Chef Thumbnail
Cheetie
Kumar
Raleigh, NC
Ajja
Chef Thumbnail
Lawrence
"LT" Smith
Phoenix, Az
Chilte
Chef Thumbnail
Ryan
Lachaine
Houston, TX
Riel
Chef Thumbnail
Brian
Lea & Leina Horii
Nashville, TN
Kisser
Chef Thumbnail
Lior
Lev Sercarz
New York, NY
La Boite
Chef Thumbnail
Henry
Lu & Evelyn Garcia
Houston, TX
Jūn
Chef Thumbnail
Tracy
Malechek-Ezekiel
Austin, TX
Birdie’s
Chef Thumbnail
Pat
Martin
Nashville, TN
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Chef Thumbnail
Rebecca
Masson
Houston, TX
Fluff Bake Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Lucas
McKinney
Houston, TX
Josephine’s
Chef Thumbnail
Dean
Neff
Wilmington, NC
Seabird
Chef Thumbnail
Christina
Nguyen
Minneapolis, MN
Hai Hai
Chef Thumbnail
Ryan
Pera
Houston, TX
Eight Row Flint
Chef Thumbnail
Felipe
Riccio and Austin Waiter
Houston, TX
The Marigold Club
Chef Thumbnail
Joaquin
Rodas
New Orleans, LA
Bacchanal
Chef Thumbnail
Rob
Rubba
Washington, DC
Oyster Oyster
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Ryczek
Houston, TX
Little’s Oyster Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Rodney
Scott
Charleston, SC
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Amanda
Shulman & Alex Kemp
Philadelphia, PA
Libbie Loup Hospitality: Her Place Supper Club & My Loup
Chef Thumbnail
Erin
Smith & Patrick Feges
Houston, TX
Feges BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Jason
Stanhope
Charleston, SC
Sullivan's Fish Camp
Chef Thumbnail
Martin
Stayer
Houston, TX
Nobie’s, The Toasted Coconut, Quiote, Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern
Chef Thumbnail
Eli
Sussman
Brooklyn, NY
gertrude's
Chef Thumbnail
Ed
Szymanski
New York, NY
Dame, Lord's, & Crevette
Chef Thumbnail
Adrian
Torres
Houston, TX
Maximo
Chef Thumbnail
Nicolas
Vera & Stephanie Velazquez
Houston, TX
Ema HTX
Chef Thumbnail
Robin
Wong, Terry Wong, and Quy Hoang
Houston, TX
Blood Bros. BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Valerie
and Nando Chang
Miami, FL
Itamae AO
2025 Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
2025
Class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Yeti Culinary Stage Demo Chefs
Chef Thumbnail
Wylie
Dufresne
New York, NY
Stretch Pizza
Chef Thumbnail
Brad
Leone
YETI Ambassador and YETI Culinary Stage Emcee
Chef Thumbnail
Angie
Rito & Scott Tacinelli
New York, NY
Don Angie and San Sabino
Chef Thumbnail
Caroline
Schiff
New York, NY
Chef Thumbnail
Rodney
Scott
Charleston, SC
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Shuai
Wang
Charleston, SC
Jackrabbit Filly & King BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Erick
Williams
Chicago, IL
Virtue Hospitality Group
Lexus VIP
Chef Thumbnail
Tavel
Bristol-Joseph
Austin, TX
Canje
Chef Thumbnail
Joanne
Canady-Brown
Lawrenceville, NJ
The Gingered Peach
Chef Thumbnail
Ana
Castro
New Orleans, LA
Acamaya
Chef Thumbnail
Ashley
Christensen
Raleigh, NC
Poole's Diner
Chef Thumbnail
Cassidee
Dabney
Walland, TN
The Barn at Blackberry Farm®
Chef Thumbnail
Julie
Dalton, MS
Houston, TX
Stella's Wine Bar
Chef Thumbnail
Billy
Durney
Brooklyn, NY
Hometown BBQ
Chef Thumbnail
Kevin
Fink
Austin, TX
Emmer & Rye Hospitality and Pullman Market
Chef Thumbnail
Mason
Hereford
New Orleans, LA
Turkey and the Wolf
Chef Thumbnail
Alba
Huerta
Houston, TX
Julep
Bars
Chef Thumbnail
Reserve
101
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Neal
Bodenheimer
New Orleans, LA
Cure
Chef Thumbnail
Johnny's
Gold Brick x Winnie's
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Eight
Row Flint
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Sean
Umstead
Durham, NC
Kingfisher
Wine Bars
Chef Thumbnail
13
Celsius
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Bacchanal
New Orleans, LA
Chef Thumbnail
Central
Market
Texas
Chef Thumbnail
Graft
Charleston, SC
Chef Thumbnail
Montrose
Cheese & Wine
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
Sonoma
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
The
Library
Houston, TX
Chef Thumbnail
VinSanto
Houston, TX