Much like the other annual festivals that hibernated for a year or two, Hot Luck Fest is finally returning. The Austin food and live music event, spanning May 26–28, will host a swath of chefs both local and national. The lineup crams two years of up-and-coming chefs, new food, and old favorites into one long weekend.
The festival was started by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit creative agency principal James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland. Hot Luck Fest skews more tailgate party than food and wine tasting. For those who haven’t attended Feast or Hot Luck, let’s just say the energy is cranked all the way up to 10. Expect plenty of impressive food cooked outdoors—hello, live fire-roasted ribs. And the whole event benefits Texas service industry nonprofit Southern Smoke Foundation.
See below for a full rundown of the lineup with a few familiar Dallas chefs on the roster: Misti Norris, Donny Sirisavath, and John Tesar.
Thursday, May 28
The Giddy Up: Mohawk
For Thursday night’s industry kickoff, it’s a pizza party. Snatch up some of the best pies alongside Milk Bar treats and tunes from DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Full Chef Lineup: Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix, AZ); Elias Cairo, Olympia Provisions (Portland, OR); Fermín Núñez, Suerte (Austin, TX); Fiore Tedesco, L’Oca d’Oro (Austin, TX); Joe Beddia, Pizzeria Beddia (Philadelphia, PA); Mike Diaz, Oseyo (Austin, TX); Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar (Houston, TX); and Reem Assil, Reem’s (Oakland, CA).
FRIDAY, MAY 27
Hi, How Are You?: Franklin Barbecue
Head to this East Side backyard get-together where Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue gathers up chefs and culinary nerds for a good ol’ cookout—except the potato salads and sides tend to be fancier than your average. You can catch Misti Norris here, too.
Full Chef Lineup: Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue (Austin, TX); Amanda Shulman, Her Place (Philadelphia, PA); Andrew Taylor, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner (Raleigh, NC); Arlin Smith, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Chris Shepherd, Underbelly (Houston, TX); Erin Smith, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Jordan Rubin, Crispy Gai (Portland, ME); Kristine Kittrell, The Diner Bar (Austin, TX); Laura Sawicki, Mei Lin, Daybird (Los Angeles, CA); Misti Norris, Petra and the Beast (Dallas, TX); Patrick Feges, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Shota Nakajima, Taku (Seattle, WA); Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje (Austin, TX); Todd Duplechan, Lenoir (Austin, TX); Tyson Cole, Uchi (Austin, TX).
SATURDAY, MAY 28
Al Fuego: Wild Onion Ranch
Saturday is a day that will go down in a blaze of glory. Which is to say, expect plenty of flame-fueled food from the chefs who do it best. If you ever wonder what chefs cook for their friends in their backyard, this is the shindig for you. Boots optional. Koozies required. Dallas folks here include Khao Noodle’s Donny Sirisiavath and Knife’s John Tesar.
Full Chef Lineup: Alon Shaya, Saba (New Orleans, LA); Amanda Rockman, South Congress Hotel (Austin, TX); Ashleigh Shanti, Good Hot Fish (Asheville, NC); Brad Leone, rad chef on the web (New York City, NY); Bradley Nicholson, Lutie’s (Austin, TX); Carlo Lamagna, Magna Kusina (Portland, OR); Casey Wilcox, Little Trouble (Lockhart, TX); Christopher Schaefer, Geraldine’s (Austin, TX); Colin Yoshimoto, Eem (Portland, OR); Davis Turner, Huckleberry (Austin, TX); Dawn Burrell, Late August (Houston, TX); Diego Galicia + Rico Torres, Mixtli (San Antonio, TX); Donny Sirisavath, Khao Noodle Shop (Dallas, TX); Earl Ninsom, Eem (Portland, OR); Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria (Austin, TX); Evan LeRoy, Leroy and Lewis Barbecue, (Austin, TX); Jakub Czyszczon, Garrison (Austin, TX); James Wilson, East Austin Hotel (Austin, TX); Jeremy Charles, Raymonds (St. Johns, CA); John Tesar, Knife (Dallas, TX); Jori Jayne, Jose Enrique, José Enrique (San Juan, PR); Jules Stoddart, Olamaie (Austin, TX); Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ (Austin, TX); Kevin Fink, Hestia (Austin, TX); Maneet Chauhan, Chauhan Ale & Masala House (Nashville, TN); Mason Hereford, Turkey and the Wolf (New Orleans, LA); Matt Horn, Horn Barbecue (Oakland, CA); Michael Fojtasek, Olamaie (Austin, TX); Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack (San Antonio, TX); Ravi Kapur, Liholiho Yacht Club (San Francisco, CA); Rick Lopez, La Condesa (Austin, TX); Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde (Chicago, IL); Shane Stark, Mongers (Austin, TX); Shota Nakajima, Taku (Seattle, WA); Stuart Brioza, The Anchovy Bar (San Francisco, CA); Susana Querejazu, Lutie’s (Austin, TX); Todd Pulsenelli, Hotel Chloe (New Orleans, NY); Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin, TX); Yoshi Okai, Otoko (Austin, TX); and Zak Pelaccio.
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