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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About
About Southern Smoke
News + Views
People + Partners
Our Impact
Programs
Overview
Emergency Relief
Behind You
How to Help
Overview
Donate
Shop
Events
All Events
Southern Smoke Festival
Southern Smoke Decanted
Respect the Rosé 2025
EN
GET HELP Emergency Relief Mental Health Services
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Aaron Franklin

Board Member

Aaron Franklin is the co-owner of Franklin Barbecue, winner of Texas Monthly’s coveted Best Barbecue Joint in Texas and Bon Appétit’s Best Barbecue Joint in America. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential pitmasters in the U.S., and received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2015. He is the host of the popular PBS series, BBQ with Franklin, and has co-authored Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-smoking Manifesto, a New York Timesbestseller.

In 2017, he partnered with James Moody (Mohawk, Guerilla Suit) and Mike Thelin (Feast Portland) to launch an annual food and music festival , Hot Luck Fest, in Austin, TX.  He then opened the Asian smokehouse and bar, LORO, with fellow James Beard Foundation Award winner, Chef Tyson Cole in spring of 2018. Aaron’s second book, Franklin Steak, showcases his deep love for steak by exploring dry aging, reverse searing, and other cooking methods.