For us to help, we need help.

From Hurricane Beryl to fires in Ruidoso, and every crisis in between, Southern Smoke Foundation is there for food and beverage workers. We keep families safe in their homes. We keep the lights on for thousands. We keep the industry moving.

Application Deadlines
Ruidoso fires: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Hurricane Beryl: Friday, August 16, 2024

For us to grant emergency relief funds to our applicants, we need funding, too.

Help us help someone today.

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About
About Southern Smoke
News + Views
People + Partners
Our Impact
Programs
Overview
Emergency Relief
Behind You
How to Help
Overview
Donate
Shop
Events
All Events
Festival
Southern Smoke Decanted
Respect the Rosé: Run for the Rosés
EN
EN ES
GET HELP Emergency Relief Mental Health Services
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Aaron Franklin

Board Member

Aaron Franklin is the co-owner of Franklin Barbecue, winner of Texas Monthly’s coveted Best Barbecue Joint in Texas and Bon Appétit’s Best Barbecue Joint in America. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential pitmasters in the U.S., and received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2015. He is the host of the popular PBS series, BBQ with Franklin, and has co-authored Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-smoking Manifesto, a New York Timesbestseller.

In 2017, he partnered with James Moody (Mohawk, Guerilla Suit) and Mike Thelin (Feast Portland) to launch an annual food and music festival , Hot Luck Fest, in Austin, TX.  He then opened the Asian smokehouse and bar, LORO, with fellow James Beard Foundation Award winner, Chef Tyson Cole in spring of 2018. Aaron’s second book, Franklin Steak, showcases his deep love for steak by exploring dry aging, reverse searing, and other cooking methods.