Hot Luck

Aaron Franklin's Hot Luck Fest returns with smokin' chef lineup from Texas and beyond

Hot Luck is back.

Photo by Alison Narro

We know, we know: SXSW hasn't even started yet, but another festival announcement just dropped, and Austin food lovers will want to pay attention. Aaron Franklin's Hot Luck Fest is back and returning to Austin Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, and tickets go on sale today, March 7, at 10 am CST.

Founded by the James Beard awarded chef — along with Guerilla Suit principal and Mohawk owner James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland — Hot Luck is more casual family get-together than loud, showy music and food fest. Franklin invites some of his favorite chefs, cooks, and musicians from across the country and beyond.

“We are excited to welcome our friends to Austin, and kick off summer with Hot Luck,” say the Hot Luck founders via release.

According to a release, the Hot Luck weekend means fun food events by day, and music by night at some of Austin's most iconic clubs, including Mohawk and Hotel Vegas. This year, Hot Luck is excited to welcome The King Khan and BBQ Show, The Gories, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Shinyribs, Robert Ellis. and more.

The fest is again partnering this year with Southern Smoke Foundation, renewing their partnership focused on helping folks in our industry when they need it most. Southern Smoke has been the Hot Luck Fest charity beneficiary since 2022.

Guests can choose to attend every event over the full weekend with the Whole Enchilada Pass or sample one or two food or music events individually. Ticket prices for music shows start at only $12, and the 2023 events and chef lineup is as follows:

Thursday, March 25 - Hi, How Are You?: Franklin Barbecue

Join Hot Luck for this East Side backyard industry get-together featuring some of Aaron’s favorites, including: Franklin Barbecue (Austin, TX); Jeremy Sewall, Row 34 (Boston, MA); Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner (Raleigh, NC), Dana Cree, Pretty Cool Ice Cream (Chicago, IL); Sophina Uong, Mister Mao (New Orleans, LA); Misti Norris, Petra and the Beast (Dallas, TX); Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s and Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin, TX), Evan Leroy, Leroy and Lewis (Austin, TX); Todd Duplechan, Lenoir (Austin, TX); Mashama Bailey & Kristine Kittrell The Diner Bar (Austin, TX); Patrick Feges, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Erin Smith, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 6 pm to 9 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package who can get in early at 5:30 pm. Individual tickets are also available for $180.

Friday, May 26 - Big Top: Fair Market

A brand new event, this is an ode to carnivals and fairs. Join Hot Luck under the Big Top at Fair Market, a beautiful and iconic venue in East Austin, for a night of fun and games and delicious food. The full chef lineup includes:Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix, AZ); Stuart Brioza, The Anchovy Bar (San Francisco, CA); Mason Hereford, The Turkey and the Wolf (New Orleans, LA); Gabe Rucker, Le Pigeon (Portland, OR); Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina (Philadelphia, PA); Amanda Shulman, Her Place (Philadelphia, PA); Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde (Chicago, IL); Paola Velez (Washington D.C.); Marc-Olivier Frappier, Mon Lapin (Montreal, CAN); Becky Masson, Fluff (Houston, TX); Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group/Canje (Austin, TX); Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie (Austin, TX); Yoshi Okai, Otoko (Austin, TX); Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, Nixta (Austin, TX); Fiore Tedesco, L’Oco d’Oro (Austin, TX); Luis ‘Beto’ Robledo, Cuantos Tacos (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 7 pm–10 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package; Whole Enchilada passholders can get in early at 6:30 pm. Individual tickets are also available for $180.

Saturday, May 27 - Al Fuego: Wild Onion Ranch

This is Hot Luck’s main event and live-action celebration of flame-fueled and open-air cooking styles that run the gamut. Boots optional. Koozies required. Participating chefs include: Crystal Wahpepah, Wahpepah’s Kitchen (Oakland, CA); Alon Shaya, Safta (Denver, CO); Erick Williams, Virtue (Chicago, IL); Arlin Smith, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Andrew Taylor, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Jordan Rubin, Mr. Tuna (Portland, ME); Ashleigh Shanti, Good Hot Fish (Asheville, NC); Matt Lightner, Okta (Portland, OR); Diane Moua (Minneapolis, MN); Michael Cimarusti, Providence (Los Angeles, CA); Reem Assil, Reem’s California (Oakland, CA); Eric Wareheim; Joe Beddia, Pizzeria Beddia (Philadelphia, PA); Chuy Villarreal, Orinoco (Monterey, MEX); Chava Orozco, Mi Compa Orozco (Mexico City, MEX); Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group/Ezov(Austin, TX); Davis Turner, Huckleberry Hospitality (Austin, TX); Michael Fojtasek, Albert Hotel (Austin, TX); Amanda Turner, Olamaie (Austin, TX); Shane Stark, Mongers (Austin, TX); Andy Knudson, Tillie’s (Wimberly, TX); Fermín Núñez, Este (Austin, TX); Ariana Quant, Uchi, Uchiko (Austin, TX); Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ (Austin, TX); Jakub Czyszczon, Garrison (Austin, TX); Blake Ransom, Revue (Austin, TX); Brad McDonald, Nido (Austin, TX); Thomas Malz, Carpenters Hall at Carpenter Hotel (Austin, TX); Jeffrey Hundelt, Summer House on Music Lane (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 7 pm–10 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package; Whole Enchilada passholders can get in early at 6:30 pm Individual tickets are also available for $250.

More details on various ticketing options, including the Whole Enchilada Package are available at Hotluckfest.com.

Genuine Surprise

Austin coffee shop announces return immediately after sudden closure

Genuine Joe Coffeehouse/Instagram

Genuine Joe Coffeehouse is now under and optimistic spell.

An Austin coffee shop has experienced a roller coaster over the past week. On October 31, Genuine Joe Coffeehouse announced it would close, but after some community help, it's back on track to stay open with some changes to make the business more stable going forward. One of those seems to be a new location that hasn't been announced yet, according to a social media post.

The original message announcing the closure was posted on Instagram: "Genuine Joe is closed for the foreseeable future," it said. "Yesterday was our last day of business. We are sorry to the community for the short notice- it surprised all of us too."

As Genuine Joe owner Josh Brown explained to KVUE, the property he rented had been sold to build condos in 2021. After that, the coffee shop only had a lease for up to six months at a time. Finally, KVUE reported, a hard demolition date has been set for February.

In the shop's next Instagram post, management thanked fans for their comments and established a GoFundMe page, which they explicitly said would not go toward reopening. "Donations will not go towards reopening, relocating, or any debt incurred by Genuine Joe Coffeehouse. Everything will go to the staff," wrote Leann Tipton, who is listed as the organizer of the fundraiser.

Just days later, another post went up announcing that Genuine Joe would reopen and continue business at the original location — meaning 2001 W. Anderson Ln. According to the post, what was raised from the now-disabled GoFundMe ($7,762) went entirely to staff in limbo.

The most explanation the post offers is that "a few special members of the GJ family" stepped up to help. It does not mention whether the help was financial or otherwise. It also announced some changes: an increase in prices, reduced hours, and fewer non-core offerings — namely, breakfast tacos.

This is, of course, not the whole story. The post promises to share more news later, specifically detailing the demolition and a new location.

Genuine Joe's current hours according to the post at 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and 8 am to 7 pm on weekends. Customers had strong reactions, and it looks like none bemoaned the reasonable changes.

"Crying tears of joy….. my family and friends are going to be so relieved they don’t have to hear me mourn genuine joe on the daily anymore," wrote one commenter. They weren't the only one in tears, if the rest of the comments were any indication.

coffee openings closings