Here's the Full Austin Food and Wine Festival Schedule

The Austin Food and Wine Festival has unleashed their full schedule for their third-annual blowout in Butler Park and Republic Square Park. Events include chef Tim Love's hands-on grilling demo, molecular tacos at "TrailBlais" with, yes, Richard Blais, and laV's sommelier Vilma Mazaite talking female winemakers in "Tour de Femme."

Tickets to the April 25-27 event run either $250 for a "Taste" pass or $850 for VIP access to the whole shebang, plus extra tastings and perks. Those who purchase the Taste pass can also add upgrades for special events like the "Rock Your Taco" competition. The extensive press release is below.

Austin FOOD & WINE Festival Announces Schedule
of Over 40 Interactive Panel Discussions, Hands-on Grilling Classes, Cooking Demos, Wine & Spirits Tastings, and More

Third Annual Festival Features All-Star Roster of Chefs, Wine & Spirits Professionals April 25-27, 2014

Austin, TX (February 25, 2014) – The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival is pleased to announce the 2014 Festival's full schedule of events: http://www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/schedule/. With over 40 interactive elements, the third annual Austin FOOD & WINE Festival will include cooking demonstrations from acclaimed chefs like Richard Blais, Rick Bayless, Ming Tsai, John Currence, Graham Elliot, Georgia Pellegrini and Andrew Zimmern; the world's largest hands-on grilling demos with Tim Love; wine, cocktail and craft brew tastings from Austin's own Vilma Mazaite, Josh Hare, Ron Extract, and Master Sommeliers Craig Collins and Devon Broglie; expanded grand tasting tents, book signings, live musical performances, and much more.

Tickets are available at www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets. Featuring world-class chefs, sommeliers & cocktail experts, and rising stars from the Lone Star State, Austin FOOD & WINE Festival attracts a national and international audience of food, wine and music lovers, while showcasing the talent, innovation and unique flavors of Texas. The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival is presented in partnership with founders Charlie Jones (founding partner of C3 Presents, whose musical festival production credentials include Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza); chefs Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie's Steakhouse, Love Shack, White Elephant Saloon); Tyson Cole (Uchi & Uchiko); and restaurateur Jesse Herman (La Condesa & Sway); along with Christina Grdovic (publisher, FOOD & WINE).

Festival programming starts at Butler Park on Saturday morning, April 26, with the world's largest Hands-on Grilling demo, led by Tim Love. His Surf, Turf & Earth interactive sessions will give attendees the opportunity to man a live charcoal grill and learn tips for cooking meat, fish and veggies while enjoying refreshing white wine and perhaps even a tequila shot – or two – during Love's famed Shot Roulette. Modern Pioneering author Georgia Pellegrini will show how to get hands-on, From The Ground Up, with her utilitarian and farm-sourced roots. Learn her DIY aesthetic, from watermelon kegs to red wine aromatherapy.

Expect the unexpected when Richard Blais, author and winner of Bravo's Top Chef: All-Stars, gets behind the stove. In TrailBlais, he'll offer his riff on tacos and tequila in classic Blais fashion – molecular cuisine paired with a modern, Southern California twist as he previews his brand-new restaurant, Juniper & Ivy. Kent Rathbun, Texas' five-star restaurateur, will offer Smoking For Non-Smokers. Learn how to make cedar-smoked fish on your stovetop at home – without a smoker! There's no limit to the influences of Ming Tsai, award-winning chef and restaurateur. At Simply Ming In Your Kitchen, learn how to replicate his signature East Meets West culinary style.

Run for cover as TV personality, chef and food writer Andrew Zimmern crafts a savory serving of Big Balls, including Duck Tsukune (aka Japanese chicken meatballs) and Pearl Rice Balls. Walk away with recipe ideas that will turn any party into a ball. In Classic & Modern Make A Pair, join award-winning chef Rick Bayless as he previews three dishes from his latest cookbook, while Jill Gubesch discusses classic versus modern wine pairings with each dish.

There is a renaissance afoot in the West. Join Master Sommeliers Craig Collins and Devon Broglie as they explore the hills and valleys of California Enlightenment in search of the next wave of delicious domestic wines. In Tour De Femme, listen in as La V's Vilma Mazaite discusses the most creative and innovate women winemakers today.
Hops Aboard! with local brewmasters Josh Hare from Hops & Grain and Jester King Brewery's Ron Extract as they chat about Austin's growing and dynamic beer community, while In True Texas Spirit, David Alan, aka the Tipsy Texan, shares the best of the Lone Star State's burgeoning spirits industry.

On Saturday and Sunday, festival attendees will have the opportunity to listen in as chefs, wine and spirits tastemakers engage in lively and dynamic Panel Discussions. Join some of Austin's best barkeeps, including David Alan, Jessica Sanders of drink.well and La Condesa's Nate Wales for a spirited discussion about the craft of the cocktail in To Mix Or To Mingle? Ever wonder what must-have ingredients a chef would take if stranded on a deserted island? Discover what chefs Jason Dady, Philip Speer and Ming Tsai would pack in their hypothetical pantry during Bare Necessities.

Barbeque in Texas is a religion, but technique is what sets the mood – and the pitmasters apart. Gather 'round and learn how to 'cue from Texas' finest meat masters, including Tim Byres, Aaron Franklin and Wayne Mueller, in Be On Que.

The 2014 Festival kicks off on Friday, April 25, with the Taste of Texas, held at Republic Square Park in the heart of downtown Austin, with a performance by Escort. With a lineup showcasing the Lone Star State's brightest chefs, the Taste of Texas will feature: Tatsu Aikawa (Ramen Tatsu-Ya); Alexis Chong (Sway); Jason Dady (Jason Dady Restaurant Group); Todd Duplechan & Jessica Maher (Lenoir); Omar Flores (Driftwood); Terrence Gallivan & Seth Siegel-Gardner (The Pass & Provisions); Diego Galicia & Rico Torres (Mixtli); James Holmes (Lucy's Fried Chicken & Olivia); Matt McCallister (FT33); Wayne Mueller (Louie Mueller Barbecue); Andre Natera (Marquee Grill & Toko V);Hugo Ortega (Hugo's Restaurant & Backstreet Café); Jesse Perez (Arcade Kitchen); Blaine Staniford (Grace); Philip Speer (Uchi & Uchiko); and Justin Yu (Oxheart).

Saturday evening's Rock Your Taco competition brings out the competitive side of all participants. With live music from JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, chefs will square off against one another to create the ultimate taco, with winners chosen by an esteemed panel of judges, including Christina Grdovic, Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro) and Andrew Zimmern (television personality). Two-time Rock Your Taco champion Tyson Cole will defend his crown against the likes of Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO, Tortas Frontera, Frontera Fresco); David Bull (Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen & Bar Congress); Richard Blais (author; Juniper & Ivy, FLIP Burger & The Spence); John Currence (author; City Grocery Restaurant Group); Bryce Gilmore (Barley Swine & Odd Duck); Mike Lata (FIG & The Ordinary); Tim Love; Georgia Pellegrini (chef/author); Monica Pope (Sparrow & Beaver's); Kent Rathbun; Chris Shepherd; Ming Tsai (Blue Ginger & Blue Dragon); and Tandy Wilson (City House).

The festival grounds at Butler Park will once again be activated with interactive live fire stations, where Texas chefs will be cooking over Fire Pits and offering tastes to attendees throughout the weekend. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from last year, the 2014 program will feature two Fire Pit stations, showcasing four chefs each day, each offering a front-row experience cooking with live fire. Chefs include Tim Byres; Jason Dady; Ned Elliott; Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue); Bryce Gilmore; John Russ (Lüke San Antonio); Paul Qui (Qui & East Side King); and Andrew Wiseheart (Contigo).

The Chefs' Showcase, featuring a dynamic roster of chefs serving tastes of their signature dishes to attendees. On Saturday and Sunday, mix and mingle in the tents while enjoying bites from Chefs' Showcase participants: John Bates & Brandon Martinez (Noble Sandwiches); Stefan Bowers (Feast Restaurant); Shawn Cirkiel (Parkside, Olive & June, Chavez & Backspace); Mat Clouser (Swift's Attic); Kassie Harris (Whip In); Chris Hurley & Jennifer Costello (Bonneville); Allison Jenkins & Janina O'Leary (La V); Josh Jones (Salt & Time); Lawrence Kocurek (Trace); Rick Lopez (La Condesa); Jeff Martinez (El Chile); Sarah McIntosh (Epicerie Café & Grocery); Scott Mechura (Goodall's Kitchen); Sandi Reinlie (Vespaio); Josh Watkins (The Carillon); and Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616).
See the full list of demonstrations, seminars and Festival programming at: http://www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/schedule/

Tickets for the 2014 Austin FOOD & WINE Festival are available in two options: Taste ($250) and Savor ($850), and are available at www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets. The Taste pass includes access to over 40 demos, hands-on experiences, seminars and tastings, and daily Grand Tasting events. Attendees who purchase the Taste pass also have the option to add on tickets for Friday night's Taste of Texas event ($150) and/or Saturday night's Rock Your Taco competition ($150). The Savor experience includes priority access to all demos, tastings and hands-on experiences, private Grand Tastings on Saturday & Sunday, access to a VIP lounge with a bar and additional tastings, and access to both the Taste of Texas and Rock Your Taco evening events.