Hot Luck Fest, Aaron Franklin’s Summer Camp For Chefs, Returns To Austin

Summer camp for chefs comes to Austin, Texas, on Memorial Day weekend with the much-anticipated return of the Hot Luck Fest. This laid-back food and music festival last took place in 2019 and has been in hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, organizers promise an all-around epic comeback of the local favorite event.

Founded by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal and Mohawk owner James Moody, and Mike Thelin, co-founder of Feast Portland, Hot Luck feels more like a backyard cookout than just another big music and food festival.

Curated entirely by Franklin, Hot Luck brings together some of his favorite chefs, cooks, and musicians from all over the country in a celebration of food without pretense and music without borders.

The Hot Luck formula is simple: fun food events by day, Austin nightlife with shows at some of Austin’s most iconic clubs, including Mohawk and Antone’s. This is where some of the most celebrated chefs in the U.S. can cook like they would for their friends and family. Thanks to a relaxed vibe, they can share tips and stories with attendees, jump in each other’s stations to lend a hand, and close out the evening seeing live bands at night.

Joining Franklin are local favorites like Yoshi Okai from Otoko, Fiore Tedesco from L’Oca d’Oro, and visiting chefs like Alon Shaya from Saba in New Orleans, Christina Tossi from Milk Bar, and many more.

Music performers include indie rock superstars Superchunk, garage punk savants Shannon and The Clams, hip-hop icon DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mel, Cam Cole (perhaps best known as the blues busker who saves the day on Ted Lasso) and the Joe Marcinek Band featuring George Porter Jr. (of The Meters), among others.

Hot Luck and the Southern Smoke Foundation joined forces in 2019 in a forward-looking partnership focused on helping folks in our industry when they need it most; the foundation is this year’s festival charity beneficiary.

“I am super stoked that we’re able to bring Hot Luck back this year,” says Franklin. “I’ve invited a whole lot of my homies to come down to Austin to cook. We’ve all been through a lot in the last year and a half, and it’s going to be fun to all get together and catch up, and help our friends at Southern Smoke, who continue to serve our industry unfailingly.”

Founded by James Beard-award winning chef and Houstonian Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke is a crisis relief organization for people in the food and beverage industry, providing funds directly to people in need who are battling health crises, winter storm damage, natural disasters, mental health needs and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are a crucial safety net for an industry that often doesn’t have one.

Events taking place the weekend of May 26 to the 29 include the Giddy Up, the Thursday night industry welcome pizza party, the Hi, How Are You? Friday event at Franklin Barbecue and the Al Fuego at Wild Onion Ranch Saturday main event.

The Whole Enchilada Pass, which offers a chance to enjoy Hot Luck nose to tail, is the only way into the industry kickoff Giddy Up at Mohawk, and offers access to every music show.