SXSW Partners With James Beard Foundation for SouthBites Dinners Featuring All-Star Chefs

South by Southwest revealed its lineup for the choice SouthBites Dinners this year, which feature collaborations with world-renowned chefs (hint: celebrities in town for the festival can usually be found here, too). The four dinners take place during the interactive portion of the festival. The main three dinners will take place at farm and restaurant space Eden East with Austin chef Sonya Cote. The other dinner (which happens twice) is further away, an hour southeast of Austin at Ardor Wood Farm in Red Rock.

The James Beard Foundation is involved for the first time, sponsoring three of the dinners. There’s also a big focus on Texas chefs, which makes sense as the award nominee announcement ceremony will be held in Houston this year. Tickets are open to the public.

Last year, there was only one SouthBites dinner, which featured all-star female chefs, though in past years there have been multiple.

Here’s a rundown of the 2019 SXSW SouthBites Dinners:

Barebones Open-Fire Dining Experience
When: Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9; 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (includes travel time)
Who: Chefs Jaret Foster and Mona Johnson of Portland’s Tournant and master mixologist Ryan Manning, most recently of Under Current Bar in Salt Lake City.
What: This intimate dinner focuses on live-fire cooking and cocktails with foraged ingredients.
Where: Ardor Wood Farm, 300 Lockwood Road, Red Rock, Texas (there is a shuttle available from downtown)
Cost: $175

A Dinner in Celebration of International Women’s Day
When: Saturday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.
Who: Chefs Asha Gomez of Atlanta, Antonia Lofaso of Dama in Los Angeles, and Sonya Coté of Eden East in Austin.
What: This dinner aims to highlight women farmers around the world, as well as the foundation’s Women’s leadership programs.
Where: Eden East, 755 Springdale Road, Govalle
Cost: $150

Sustainable Dairy Dinner
When: Monday, March 11, 6:30 p.m.
Who: Chefs Tiffany Derry of Roots Chicken Shak in Dallas, Eater Austin chef of the year Fermín Núñez of Suerte, Sonya Coté of Eden East in Austin, and Amy’s Ice Cream.
What: The focus of the dinner is dairy.
Where: Eden East, 755 Springdale Road
Cost: $150

Social Gastronomy/Waste Not Dinner
When: Tuesday, March 12, 6:30 p.m.
Who: James Beard Award Winning chef Justin Yu of Theodore Rex in Houston, chef Carlos Garcia of Obra Kitchen Table in Miami, and Austin chefs Michael Fojtasek of Olamaie and Sonya Coté of Eden East.
What: The dinner will showcase different ways to reduce food waste and the Social Gastronomy Movement.
Where: Eden East, 755 Springdale Road
Cost: $150

• Reserve Your Seat: SouthBites Dinners with James Beard Foundation, Barebones, and More [SXSW]
• All Coverage of SXSW [EATX]