Austin Food and Wine Festival Talent Announced

There's always a little bit of back and forth texting with my friends when the lineup for the Texas Food and Wine Festival comes out – a lot of OMGs, a couple of WTFs, the occasional ballerina twins emoji (still trying to figure that one out). It's no wonder people get pumped. The fest is like Coachella for foodies, just without all that face painting.

Without further ado, here's what to expect.

Feast Under the Stars Dinner:
Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Love Shack), Tyson Cole (St. Philip, Uchi, Uchiko), Jason Dady (Tre Trattoria, Two Bros BBQ Market, Shuck Shack), Matt McCallister (FT33), and Erica Waksmunski (Red Star Southern)

Taste of Texas Kickoff Party:
Tatsu Aikawa (Ramen Tatsu-Ya),Alexis Chong (Sway), Ned Elliott (Foreign & Domestic), Omar Flores (Casa Rubia), Diego Galicia and Rico Torres (Mixtli), Dustin Harvey (East Side King), Allison Jenkins (laV), Steven McHugh (Cured), Wayne Mueller (Louie Mueller Barbecue), Hugo Ortega (Hugo’s Restaurant, Backstreet Café), Michael Sindoni (CBD Provisions), Blaine Staniford (Grace), Quealy Watson (Hot Joy), Cori and Heng Xiong (Mala Sichuan), and Justin Yu (Oxheart)

Interactive Fire Pit Demos:
David Bull (Congress), Thai Changthong and Paul Qui (ESK Thai-Kun), Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner (The Pass and Provisions); Jack and Bryce Gilmore (Jack Allen’s Kitchen, Odd Duck, Barley Swine), Jorge Hernandez and Paul Qui (Qui); Pat Martin (Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint ), Tandy Wilson (City House), and Andrew Wiseheart (Contigo, Gardner)

Chef Showcase:
John Bates (Noble Sandwich Co.), Ji Peng Chen and Ling Qi Wu (Wu Chow), Shawn Cirkiel (Olive & June), Tyson Cole, Sonya Cote (Eden East), Andrew Curren and David Norman (Easy Tiger), Todd Duplechan (Lenoir and Métier Cook's Supply), Kevin Garrett (Bufalina), Jesse Griffiths (Dai Due), James Holmes (Olivia),  Josh Jones (Salt & Time),  Lance Kirkpatrick (Stiles Switch), Lawrence Kocurek and Eric Earthman (Counter 3. FIVE. VII), John Lewis (la Barbecue), Rick Lopez (La Condesa); Tim Love, Sarah McIntosh (Épicerie Café & Grocery), James Robert (Fixe), Eric Silverstein (The Peached Tortilla),  Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616), and Carlos Ysaguirre (Jacoby's)

Rock Your Taco Competition (judged by Food & Wine publisher Christina Grdovic, Graham Elliot, and Andrew Zimmern):
Richard Blais (FLIP Burger, Juniper & Ivy), Hugh Acheson (Empire State South, Five & Ten), Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer (Coppa & Toro), Tyson Cole, Jason Dady, Bryce Gilmore, Antonia Lofaso (Black Market), Tim Love, Jenn Louis (Lincoln Restaurant, Sunshine Tavern), Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia, Bar Toma, Terzo Piano), Chris Shepherd (Underbelly), Levon Wallace (Cochon Butcher), Jonathan Waxman (Adele’s Nashville, Barbuto), Tandy Wilson, and Paul Qui

Sips and Sweets Late Night Party:
Mary Catherine Curren (Easy Tiger, Arro), Thomas Calhoun (Lenoir), Janina O’Leary (laV), Callie Speer (Swift’s Attic), and Finney Walter (Olivia)  

Beverage Talent:
Tipsy Texan David Alan,  Master Sommelier Devon Broglie, Master Sommelier Craig Collins, Food & Wine executive wine editor Ray Isle, laV sommelier Vilma Mazaite, and author Mark Oldman

For more details and ticket prices, go here.