Southern Smoke Foundation Festival Returns October 3rd to Discovery Green
Serving the Servers
Foodies and food workers rejoice. It’s time again for the Southern Smoke Foundation’s annual festival. The national James Beard award-winning nonprofit created to fill the need for food and beverage workers in crisis, will host the fundraiser this Oct. 3 at downtown’s Discovery Green.
Created in 2015 by Houston chef Chris Shepherd and his wife, executive director Lindsey Brown, Southern Smoke Foundation provides access to mental health services and emergency relief funding for industry workers in crisis. Besides restaurant and bar workers it also benefits farmers and ranchers, winemakers, distillers, and brewers. Pretty much anyone in the industry facing financial hardship from a natural disaster, medical emergency, or other crisis nationwide. So far, the nonprofit has raised $16.5 million and provided free counseling to some 12,000 workers among other resources and grants.
The event this year features 88 star chefs and bartenders from across the country who will be serving bites and sips amid bands and displays. Local chefs showing up to help include Bryan Caswell, Aaron Bludorn, and Ryan Pera. Last year over 3,000 attendees helped raise $1.7 million.
It’s a great cause for an industry that often doesn’t provide health insurance or high wages to its employees. Employees that make your life better when dining out. You can purchase tickets and learn more about the celebrity line-up at southernsmoke.org
