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
Zach
Chef Image
Frieling
New York, NY /
Claud
WHERE WILL I BE COOKING:
The Throwdown
Zach Frieling is the chef de cuisine of Claud, a downtown bistro located in New York City’s East Village. A Kansas native, Zach moved to New York City in 2017 to further his culinary education. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and a stint at Benno, Zach started at the Four Horsemen, eventually rising the ranks to become a sous chef. Following his time there, he opened a restaurant in Greenpoint before lending his talents as a consulting chef at Jupiter. In 2025, Zach joined the Claud team, working closely with chef-partner Joshua Pinsky and restaurateur Chase Sinzer to lead the restaurant.