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    Foodie News

    Major barbecue festival brings an Australian flair to Houston — and chef competition

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 23, 2014 | 9:56 am

    Things are heating up for Celebrate Australia, the VIP party at this year's Houston International Festival that takes place Thursday May 1 at Hermann Square Park in front of City Hall. As CultureMap first reported back in March, organizers have enlisted some of Houston's highest profile chefs for a friendly competition of barbecue vs. barbie.

    Fittingly for iFest, the chefs are bringing a variety of international flavors to the competition. People hoping for smoked brisket and pulled pork should look elsewhere.

    Ten chefs are set to compete at the event. In addition to previously announced participants like Eleven XI's Kevin Bryant and Cyclone Anaya's Jason Gould (an actual Australian), a couple of new Houstonians have joined the party in the form of Trenza's Susie Jimenez and Bob Iacovone of Fish & The Knife. Here's the full list of chefs and dishes:

    Kevin Bryant, Eleven XI: Jalapeno-stuffed, bacon-wrapped pork shank with heirloom tomato creamed corn

    Donald Chang, Nara: Spicy Korean pork ribs stew

    Jason Gould, Cyclone Anaya's: Mountain pepper-rubbed grilled lamb loin with raisin chutney

    Susie Jimenez, Trenza: Spiced pork ribs with papaya chipotle barbecue sauce

    Soren Pedersen, Upcoming Danish restaurant: Gulf prawns with achiote and avocado

    Bob Iacovone, Fish & The Knife: Sake-marinated pork rib with sweet heat sauce and Creole coleslaw

    Joe Gerardi, Fleming's: Thai marinated filet skewers served with an Asian vegetable and soy nut slaw

    Staci Davis, Radical Eats: Barbecue brisket on sweet potato waffle

    Patricia Alvarez-Burdette, Mr. Peeples: Bourbon baby back ribs with apple slaw

    Dwayne Carrington, Fiesta Mart: Aussie Outback barbecued lamb breast

    A panel of media judges that includes Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, 790 AM morning show host Lance Zierlein, Houston magazine publisher Peter Remington, Houston Press food critic Kaitlin Steinberg and me will evaluate the entrants and declare who wins the bragging rights.

    The event will benefit the Houston Festival Foundation’s year-round arts and education programs that reach up to 900,000 students in the Greater Houston area and beyond.

    iFest sponsor Fiesta is providing Lone Star Legacy Beef, seafood and other animal proteins for the competition. CultureMap is a media partner of the event.

    The $75 tickets include food, drinks and live entertainment from the Down Under Band and FrenetiCore Dance Company. Only 250 tickets will be sold — you might want to act fast.

    Susie Jimenez of Trenza.

    Susie Jimenez Food Network Trenza restaurant Houston
    FoodNetwork.com
    Susie Jimenez of Trenza.
    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

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    bites and beyond

    New Houston food festival reveals stacked lineup of restaurants and music

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 17, 2025 | 4:26 pm
    Discovery Green Houston aerial
    Photo by Katya Horner
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    Houston’s newest food festival is beginning to take shape. Coming to Discovery Green on Saturday, November 8, the Bites & Beyond Festival will give attendees a full day of food and music at a manageable price.

    Unlike all-in events such as Southern Smoke or Chefs for Farmers, Bites & Beyond will use an a la carte model that’s similar to LA’s Family Style Festival or the beloved Houston International Festival. Attendees pay $30 for a general admission ticket that comes with access to the festival’s musical acts, vendor market, and photo-worthy installations.

    Those looking for something to eat or drink will be able to choose items from more than 20 vendors (with more to be announced), all of which will be available a la carte and priced per item. Here’s the initial list that includes a mix of Houston classics and up-and-comers:

    • HA K Bann Thai
    • Jamaica Pondi Road
    • Best Street Tacos
    • Bonfire Wings
    • Cheaters Creamery
    • Cosmic Ice Cream
    • Frost and Fantasy
    • JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ / Now Tacos Los Authenticos
    • Lemond Kitchen
    • May’s Crepes
    • Pino 3 Boy Hot Sauce
    • Planet Churro
    • Southern Jerks
    • Stick Talk Cajun Hibachi
    • Sweetie Fruit
    • Tina’s MexCocina
    • YoYo Drinks

    In addition, a separate VIP area devoted to barbecue and bourbon will feature bites from Gatlin’s BBQ and Goode Co. Barbeque, as well as the following:

    • Bonfire Wings
    • Crawfish Café
    • Conrad Hilton College at the University of Houston
    • Houston Community College Culinary
    • JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria
    • Lemond Kitchen
    • Pho Saigon
    • Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Culinary
    • The Laura Hotel
    • The Lymbar

    Organizers have also arranged for special collaborations, including one that unites buzzy ice cream concept Cosmic with Karbach and another that teams up students from the University of Houston’s Conrad Hilton College and HCC Culinary with two luxury hotels — The Laura and the J.W. Marriott by the Galleria — as well as Hood River Distillery and Trails End Bourbon.

    With a roster of beverage sponsors that includes Saint Arnold, Karbach, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, and BeatBox Beverages, attendees will have plenty of ways of stay hydrated. Other sponsors include the Houston Hospitality Alliance, Metro by T-Mobile, Black/Latin Restaurant Weeks, and KHOU-11.

    Performers include Demola the Violinist, Big Freedia, and local DJs spinning everything from house and disco to Latin and Afro beats.

    As noted above, tickets start at $30 for General Admission. VIP tickets that come with a separate entrance, VIP restrooms, a dedicated seating area, and access to the bourbon and barbecue tasting are priced at $135. Get more details here.

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