BBQ Benefit
A celebration of all-things-meat: Chef lineup announced for Austin Food & Wine Alliance's Live Fire!
Serving as the unofficial start to a much anticipated food-centric weekend, Live Fire! returns to the Salt Lick Pavilion on Thursday, April 25 ahead of the Austin Food & Wine Festival.
In its third year, Live Fire! is the Austin Food & Wine Alliance’s spring fundraiser that has grown into a sold-out annual event celebrating all-things-meat. On Thursday, the Austin Food & Wine Alliance announced ticket sales, along with the 2013 chef lineup.
Of course, a Texas-sized celebration of beef wouldn’t be complete without the likes of famed pitmaster Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue) and acclaimed San Antonio chef Jason Dady. But this year, the event welcomes a host of new chefs who are making their own waves in the Texas culinary scene (and not just in the barbecue arena).
Joining the live-fire cooking event will be Ned and Jodi Elliott (Foreign & Domestic), Kristine Kittrell (Mulberry), Eric Lucas (Whole Foods Market), Jeff Martinez (El Chile), Sonya Cote and Tink Pinkard (The Homegrown Revival), and Tatsu Aikawa (Ramen Tatsu-Ya) among other guest chefs from around the state.
While menus have not yet been released, your taste buds will be tempted by these items that appeared at the sold-out 2012 event: Franklin Barbecue’s famed chopped brisket and sausage piled high on a bun with purple coleslaw and pickles; charred brisket with blue cheese spoonbread, caramelized onion puree and housemade pickles with Guinness gastrique from Jason Dady; beef cheeks and beef ribs served with corn pudding and pickled vegetables from Josh Watkins.
Live Fire! kicks off at 6:30 p.m., serving up sizzling proteins against a Hill Country backdrop until 9 p.m. Guests will also have the opportunity to sample and savor impressive wines, craft beers and premium spirits. Tickets are $75 per person and are available now.
Proceeds benefit the Austin Food & Wine Alliance’s new grant program, which gives back to chefs, farmers, artisan producers and nonprofits by funding projects that focus on culinary innovation.