Aaron Franklin’s Hot Luck Festival Lineup Is Here With Austin Chefs and More

Hot Luck Festival, Austin’s newest food festival from barbecue mastermind Aaron Franklin, announced its chef and event lineup today. This means big names like Roy Choi, Alex Stupak, Nong Poonsukwattana, as well as local ones such as Bryce Gilmore, Tyson Cole, Callie Speer, and others. Read on for the full list below.

Tickets for every event, which are on sale now, will be sold a la carte, along with an encompassing package. Prices will range from $20 to $550, and a portion of the proceeds from the festival will go towards SAFE Alliance.

Announced events so far include Al Fuego out on Wild Onion Ranch, which focuses on live-fire cooking and beer, on Saturday, May 20 for $155. Then there’s The Hi Lo, where participating chefs will whip up dishes that motivated their culinary start. This takes place at Fair Market on Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. for $145.

For access to the overall festival, guests can opt for the Whole Enchilada ticket package, for $550. It comes with special perks, including the welcoming party starring Franklin and Choi, a tiki party, early access into evening events on Friday and Saturday, and entry into all of the yet-to-be-announced music performances.

Additional events include a special brunch series, where visiting chefs will team up with Austin restaurants for brunch service on Sunday, May 21. Details will be announced in April, along with the music lineup. Perhaps it will include Franklin on the drums at some point?

Rounding out the Hot Luck team are James Moody, owner of Mohawk, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland. The festival takes place from Thursday, May 18, through Sunday, May 21, scattered throughout various venues in the city, including Franklin Barbecue, Mohawk, Alamo Drafthouse, and White Horse.

Hot Luck Festival’s Chef Lineup:

Afar:
Adam Perry Lang, APL Restaurant (New York)
Adam Sappington, The Country Cat (Portland)
Alex Stupak, Empellón (New York)
Andy Ricker, Pok Pok (Portland)
Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ Truck (Los Angeles)
Joshua McFadden, Ava Gene’s (Portland)
Joshua Pinsky, Momofuku (New York)
Matthew Rudofker, Momofuku (New York)
Nong Poonsukwattana, Nong's Khao Man Gai (Portland)

Austin:
Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue
Andrew Wiseheart, Contigo
Bryce Gilmore, Odd Duck
Callie Speer, Bombshell
Chad Dolezal, The Hightower
David Bull, Second Bar + Kitchen
David Norman, Easy Tiger
Fiore Tedesco, L’Oca d’Oro
Jason Stude, Boiler Nine Bar + Grill
Jesse Griffiths, Dai Due
Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye
Laura Sawicki, Launderette
Michael Fojtasek, Olamaie
Michael Paley, Central Standard
Miguel Vidal, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
Philip Speer, Bonhomie
Rene Ortiz, Launderette
Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie Café & Grocery
Tatsu Aikawa, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
Todd Duplechan, Lenoir
Tyson Cole, Hai Hospitality
Yoshi Okai, Otoko

Texas:
Chris Shepherd, Underbelly (Houston)
Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurants (San Antonio)
John Tesar, Knife at The Highland Dallas (Dallas)
Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar (Houston)
Steve McHugh, Cured (San Antonio)

Hot Luck Festival’s Events

The Hi Lo
Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
$145
Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue)
Adam Sappington (The Country Cat)
Alex Stupak (Empellón)
Callie Speer (Bombshell)
David Bull (Second Bar + Kitchen)
David Norman (Easy Tiger)
Fiore Tedesco (L’Oca d’Oro)
Jason Dady (Jason Dady Restaurants)
Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene’s)
Michael Fojtasek (Olamaie)
Rene Ortiz (Launderette)
Tyson Cole (Hai Hospitality)

Al Fuego
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
$155
Adam Perry Lang (APL Restaurant)
Andy Ricker (Pok Pok)
Andrew Wiseheart (Contigo)
Bryce Gilmore (Odd Duck)
Chad Dolezal (The Hightower)
Chris Shepherd (Underbelly)
Joshua Pinsky (Momofuku)
Jason Stude (Boiler Nine Bar + Grill)
Jesse Griffiths (Dai Due)
John Tesar (Knife at The Highland Dallas)
Kevin Fink (Emmer & Rye)
Laura Sawicki (Launderette)
Matthew Rudofker (Momofuku)
Michael Paley (Central Standard)
Miguel Vidal (Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ)
Nong Poonsukwattana (Nong's Khao Man Gai)
Philip Speer (Bonhomie)
Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar)
Sarah McIntosh (Épicerie Café & Grocery)
Steve McHugh (Cured)
Todd Duplechan (Lenoir)
Tatsu Aikawa (Kemuri Tatsu-Ya)

• New Austin Food Festival Hot Luck Announces Lineup [E]
• Aaron Franklin’s Food Festival Hot Luck Is Coming to Austin in May [EATX]
• Hot Luck Festival [Official]
• Hot Luck Festival [Facebook]