Southern Smoke Festival 2026 Tickets Are On Sale Now

Join us for an unforgettable experience of incredible food, drinks, and community on Saturday, October 3. This year, almost 100 celebrated chefs, beverage professionals, and hospitality visionaries will come together for an afternoon of world-class bites, libations, live music, immersive experiences, and more, all to raise critical funds for emergency relief and mental health support for food and beverage workers nationwide.

Small Icon Times Hover Small Icon Times
Chef Image
Austin, TX /
Comedor
WHERE WILL I BE COOKING:
The Throwdown

With her bright and bubbly personality, and her astonishingly delicious interpretations of Southeast Asian cooking through a Latin-American lens, Evelyn Garcia is one of America’s most beloved young chefs. The Houston native received her education at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, then cut her teeth in New York City with stints at Jean George Spice Market, Masak, and Kin Shop. Upon returning to Houston, Garcia showcased her unique style of cooking as the featured chef at Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory and at her Kin vendor space at Politan Row Food Hall. In 2022 she competed on and reached the finals of Top Chef Houston. Her first restaurant with partner Henry Lu, Jun, opened in Houston in 2023 and showcases what the chefs call “New Asian American” food.