Austin’s Food Event of the Year

It’s just around the corner, and it promises to be big. I’m talking about the Austin Food + Wine Festival, and if you don’t have your tickets yet, get a move on.

Here’s a (partial) list of the people you could run into if you are in Austin beginning on April 22: Jonathan Waxman, Ray Isle, Tim Love, and Amanda Freitag. They and many other bright lights of the culinary world will be in the Texas capitol city showing off their talent, and it’s going to be three days of fun, food, and drink.

“Austin is one of the greatest cities in the country, thanks to the music, architecture, culture, and of course, food, which is out of this world,” says Love, who owns a number of restaurants in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. “We are so excited to be entering our fifth year of the Austin Food + Wine Festival, and could not be more proud of the lineup of chefs, musicians, and beverage experts.

“It’s such an honor to cook alongside such a talented group of individuals in a city I consider my second home.”

The festival begins officially on Friday, April 22, with Taste of Texas, which will take over Republic Square Park. Dishes from Matt Balke (Bolsa), Richard Blankenship (CBD Provisions), and Adam Dorris (Pax Americana), to name but a few, will be yours for the tasting. On the following two days, the activities will take place at the festival grounds at Auditorium Shores. Grilling demonstrations, book signings, and interactive stations in abundance is the message here. Expect great tastes and flavors, plus some great beer and wine, as chefs cook and talk and share their knowledge.

“At Food & Wine, we’re obsessed with creating incredible experiences for people who love wine and food, and the Austin Food + Wine Festival is no exception,” says Christina Grdovic, vice president and publisher of Food & Wine Magazine. “We’re enormously proud to be a part of what has become a well-established event on the food festival calendar in just five short years.

“It brings together an incredible mix of extraordinary local talent, star chefs from around the country, and celebrated winemakers in an casual atmosphere of camaraderie and fun with a real sense of place.”

Tickets are on sale now — click here to order — and stay tuned to PaperCity for comprehensive coverage of the festival.