LIVE FIRE! BRINGS ON THE SIZZLE WITH TOP CHEFS & FIRE MASTERY
Menu Announced, Tickets on Sale Now
17 Chefs Battle the Flames at Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion Joined by
30 Wine & Spirit Selections & 4 Austin Craft Brews;
Legendary Musician & Grammy-Award Winner Redd Volkaert Serves Fired-Up Tunes
The Austin Food and Wine Alliance announced today the full chef lineup and menu for the return of Austin's most anticipated celebration of all things meat, Live Fire! In its third year, the event will be held at the famed Salt Lick Bar-B-Que Pavilion in the Texas Hill Country on Thursday, April 25, 6:30 - 9 pm, and will raise funds for culinary grants. Tickets are $75 each and are on sale now at
austinfoodwinealliance.org.
One of the country's foremost celebrations of beef, Live Fire! showcases a chef congress second to none that highlights the talent, skill and commitment to Texas' favorite protein cooked over live fire by award-winning chefs including four James Beard nominees, the country's highest culinary honor, and a lineup of some of the most celebrated chefs in the state.
"Live Fire! is truly one of the country's foremost celebrations of beef," said Cathy Cochran-Lewis, president of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance. "In addition to having a supreme lineup of chef mastery and amazing wine, artisan spirits and craft brews, we're excited that the funds raised will directly benefit our community with culinary grants for chefs, farmers, artisan producers and non-profits."
With a backdrop of the pristine Texas Hill Country and set along the banks of Onion Creek, Live Fire!, which has sold out each year, is an evening filled with curated chef specialties, premium wine, spirits and craft brews, live music and, this year, will again feature fire dancers and the debut of a giant marshmallow roast so attendees can have their hand in the flame-packed action. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy cold brewed coffee on tap from Austin's own Cuvee Coffee around the fire. Tickets are expected to sell out again and are available for online purchase.
Legendary Grammy-Award Winner Redd Volkaert will provide sizzling tunes for the Live Fire! audience. Volkaert played with Merle Haggard and is celebrated as one of the country's top Telecaster guitar slingers. He won a 2009 Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
The menu for Live Fire! promises the best in beef skillfulness from beef-focused ramen and curry to off-the-charts brisket and short ribs. Chef specialties include:
Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Named the best barbecue in the U.S. by Bon Appétit Magazine, Franklin will make his third appearance at Live Fire! and attendees will be treated to his award-winning brisket.
Rene Ortiz of Sway (Austin)
Finalist for 2013 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, Ortiz will serve Jungle Curry made with Texas Beef, Red Chili & Coconut Cream.
Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due Supper Club & Butcher Shop (Austin)
Winner of Edible Communities 2012 Local Hero/Food Artisan Award and 2013 James Beard book award nominee for single-subject with Afield: A Chef's Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish, Griffiths will prepare Flatiron Tacos with Carrot Top Salsa.
Jason Dady of Jason Dady Restaurants (San Antonio)
Finalist for 2012 James Beard Award for Best Restaurateur: Southwest, Dady makes his third appearance at Live Fire! and will prepare Tongue and Cheek utilizing beef tongue, cheek and ribs.
Laura Sawicki of Sway (Austin)
Finalist for 2013 James Beard nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef and 2013 CultureMap's Tastemaker Award winner for Best Pastry Chef, Sawicki will offer a sweet take on fire-kissed dessert with Smoked Hazelnut and Chocolate S'Mores.
Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic (Austin)
Finalist of Food & Wine magazine's The People's Best New Chef: 2012 Southwest, Elliott will prepare a Roasted Culotte of Beef with Pickled Strawberries and Ramp Consomme.
Josh Watkins of The Carillon (Austin)
2012 Star Chef Austin-San Antonio Rising Star Winner, Watkins will create Beef Chuck Ribs from Richardson Farms.
Randy Rucker of Briar and Bramble (Houston)
2011 Houston Rising Star Chef, Rucker will make his debut appearance at Live Fire! and will serve Corned & Smoked Beef Rib with Fermented Wild Onions.
Kristine Kittrell of Mulberry (Austin)
Formerly of Jeffrey's Restaurant, Kittrell will prepare Coconut Beef with Blistered Beans.
Sonya Cote & Tink Pinkard of Homegrown Revival (Austin)
Winner of Edible Austin's Local Hero Award and named among the Top 10 Badass Women Chefs by Daily Meal, Cote's Live Fire! dish will be Flank Steak Roulade with Sweet Onion & Arugula.
Jesse Perez of Arcade Midtown Kitchen (San Antonio)
One of San Antonio's most acclaimed chefs, Perez will serve Matambre with Rice & Chorizo.
Eric Lucas of Whole Foods Market (Austin)
Lucas will create three beef dishes - Argentinian style.
Scott Roberts of Salt Lick Bar-B-Que (Driftwood)
Cookbook author and famed owner of the Salt Lick, Roberts will share his celebrated Brisket with Stuffed Mushrooms and Sliced Brisket on a Homemade Tortilla, each paired with a local craft brew.
Tatsu Aikawa of Ramen Tatsu-Ya (Austin)
Celebrated ramen maker who brought Austin's first authentic ramen house, Aikawa will present Oxtail Ramen with Beef Tongue Chashu.
Jeff Martinez of El Chile Café y Cantina (Austin)
From Austin's favorite El Chile, Martinez will prepare Lengua de Res.
Janina O'Leary of Trace (Austin)
After having worked in some of the country's most prestigious kitchens including Michelin three-star restaurants Daniel and Per Se in New York City, celebrated pastry chef O'Leary will prepare Meyer Lemon Budino and Chocolate Bourbon Smores.
Jodi Elliott of Foreign & Domestic (Austin)
Just named winner of 2013 Food & Wine magazine's The People's Best New Pastry Chef, Elliott will prepare one of her in-house made desserts to complement the Live Fire! beef fest.
Twin Liquors will host a preview party with cocktails, wine and food tastings at Twin Liquors' Marketplace at Hancock Center, 1000 E. 41st Street, Suite 810, on Saturday, April 20, 2 - 4 pm. Chef Jeff Martinez of El Chile Café y Cantina will be the featured chef along with Corzo Tequila, Becker Wines and Ruinite Lambrusco cocktails. Live Fire! tickets can be purchased during this event.
Premium wines are a signature of Live Fire! and this year's offerings include selections from Becker Vineyards and Fall Creek Vineyards as well as De Morgenzon Chardonnay and Cabernet Rose; Kanonkop Kadette; Feudo Arancio Dalila Sicilia IGT and Feudo Arancio Cantodoro Sicilia IGT; Mezzacorona Chardonnay Vigneti delle Dolomiti DOC; Fazi Battaglia San Sisto Verdicchio dei Jesi Classico Riserva DOCG; Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore DOC; Catena Malbec; The Wolftrap Red; Mohua Sauvignon Blanc; Goats do Rome Rosé; Pacific Rim Dry Riesling; Ruinite Lambrusco (Sangria); Joseph Carr Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah Red Blend and Rosé of Syrah; Joel Gott Zinfandel; M.Chapoutier Cotes-du-Rhone "Belleruche" Blanc and Rouge; Telmo Rodriguez (Spain); Gasa, Gaba do Xil Godello and Mencia.
Spirit makers will be on hand to pour Corzo Tequila, White Hat Rum, Deep Eddy Vodka, Deep Eddy Vodka Grapefruit, TX Blended Whiskey and Paula's Texas Orange.
Live Fire! features three cutting-edge local craft breweries, Jester King Craft Brewery, winner of the 2013 CultureMap Tastemaker Award for best brewery, Hops & Grain, Twisted X Brewery and Live Oak Brewing Company. In addition, Argus Cidery, winner of an Austin Food & Wine Alliance culinary grant in 2012, will sample premium ciders.
Live Fire! is a fundraising benefit for the Austin Food & Wine Alliance (AFWA), Central Texas' newest culinary nonprofit, which is dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food and beverage community. AFWA gives back to the local culinary community through a vibrant grant program for chefs, farmers, artisan producers and nonprofits by funding projects focused on culinary innovation.
As the key beneficiary of the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, April 26 - 28, the Alliance features educational programming and culinary events showcasing Central Texas' chef talent along with artisan and local producers, world-class wine and spirit makers, and craft brewers. Live Fire! leads into the inaugural three-day fest which brings a slate of national and internationally recognized chefs to Austin.
Live Fire! features a selection of finalists from the inaugural 2013 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, a competition recognizing and celebrating the best of Austin's culinary and cocktail scene, held at The Driskill Hotel on April 11. A percentage of proceeds from the event will benefit the Alliance's mission and grants.
The Alliance is gaining tremendous community support with Whole Foods Market® becoming presenting sponsor and other key supporters including Austin Food & Wine Festival, Texas Beef Council, Republic National Distributing Company, Glazer's, Corzo Tequila, ABC Bank, Freshpoint, Becker Vineyards, Giant Noise, AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, Greenling, Texas Monthly, Twin Liquors, The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que, Butler Wood, CultureMap, Hasty Bake, Premiere Tents & Events, and Field Branding & Design.
For more information about the AFWA, visit
AustinFoodWineAlliance.org, call 512.348.6847 or email
Info@AustinFoodWineAlliance.org. Stay up to date with Austin Food & Wine Alliance happenings on
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