Central Texas' top chefs will go whole hog for the Austin Food & Wine Alliance's 2nd Annual Wine & Swine on Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 - 5 pm, with a dozen chefs preparing whole pigs for an authentic pig roast raising funds for culinary grants. Tickets go on sale today with an early purchase discount through Oct. 8 at
AustinFoodWineAlliance.org.
Chefs will prepare whole Berkshire pigs in their own unique culinary styles for the outdoor event that includes live music by Warren Hood and The Goods; premium wine tastings, spirited cocktails, craft brews and plenty o' pork tastings. Early purchase discount tickets are available to the first 100 ticket purchasers for $60 and then pre-purchase tickets are $75. Tickets will be sold at the door for $95.
Pioneer Farms, just 15 minutes north of downtown Austin, provides the pristine historical backdrop as chefs, winemakers, spirit makers and craft brewers showcase their cuisine and pairings in the 1880s town square replica. The farm is situated on 90 pristine wooded acres and showcases the life and community of early Texas settlers.
Readying to roast pigs both in-ground and above-ground and provide other pork-centric delicacies are Central Texas' celebrated chefs including: Alma Alcocer-Thomas, El Alma; John Bates, Noble Pig; John Bullington, Alamo Drafthouse; Jason Dady, Bin 555 (San Antonio); Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine; Jack Gilmore, Jack Allen's Kitchen; James Holmes, Olivia's & Lucy's Fried Chicken; Eric Lucas, Whole Foods Market®; Charles Mayes, Café Josie; Zack Northcutt, Swift's Attic; Rebecca Rather, The Pink Pig; Josh Watkins, The Carillon; and Andrew Wiseheart, Contigo.
And to really get the competition squealing, the Texas Pork Producers Association will award a $1,000 prize to the chef named Greenling Fan Favorite. Attendees will vote via Twitter and text vote on their favorite dishes to determine the winning chef.
Wine & Swine is a fundraiser for the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, Central Texas' newest culinary non-profit, which is dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food and beverage community. Through a vibrant grant program, the Alliance will award $20,000 in grants in 2012 for chefs, farmers, artisan producers and culinary nonprofits for projects focused on culinary innovation and community giveback. Grant applications are being accepted now through Oct. 19 with additional info at
AustinFoodWineAlliance.org.
As the key beneficiary of the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, 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.
The pig roast attracted a near sold-out audience in its first edition and is expected to sell out this year with estimated attendance of 500 enjoying an afternoon on the farm with innovative pork dishes, an amazing sampling of extraordinary wines and spirits, a hearty selection of local craft brews and foot-loose live music for a full-blown party o'pork. Tickets are available for online purchase now.
Wine and Swine also will feature a selection of finalists from the inaugural 2012 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, a competition recognizing and celebrating the best of Austin's culinary and cocktail scene. A percentage of proceeds from the annual Tastemaker Awards benefit the Alliance's mission and grants.
The Alliance has gained tremendous community support with Whole Foods Market® as presenting sponsor and other key supporters including Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Texas Pork Producers Association, FreshPoint, Twin Liquors, Texas Monthly, Glazers Distributing, Republic National Distributing Company, AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, Greenling and Field Branding & Design.
For more information about the AFWA, visit
AustinFoodWineAlliance.org, call (512) 348-6847 or email
Info@AustinFoodWineAlliance.org. The AFWA mailing address is PO Box 685306, Austin, TX, 78768. Stay up to date with Austin Food & Wine Alliance happenings on Facebook and Twitter.
