Get psyched for steak with top Houston chef and Southern Smoke Spring

April's most anticipated foodie event is coming up fast: Southern Smoke Spring happens April 14-18, with special events scheduled all throughout the week.

The fundraising festival founded by chef Chris Shepherd has brought in more than a million dollars for charity in its original fall form, but the new spring component is attracting even more top culinary talent to H-Town.

First up is a dinner prepared by Aaron Franklin of Austin's Franklin Barbecue, and if any carnivores miss that then they have another, even bigger chance right after.

 Southern Smoke Spring Citywide Steak Nights are April 16-17, with more than 20 of the city's best restaurants doing their takes on a "steak night." Participants include Beaver's, Brennan's, Cafe Annie, Quattro at the Four Seasons, Goodnight Charlie's, Coltivare, Hugo's, Xochi, The Pass & Provisions, Kata Robata, The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, Huynh, Indianola, Refuge Bourbon and Steak, Sonoma in The Heights, The Kitchen, Uchi, Tris, and all four of Shepherd's restaurants.

Shepherd recently drove out to Cameron, Texas, in a special edition Lexus LX Inspiration — only 500 of these vehicles were made — to visit Steak Nights sponsor 44 Farms. Director of sales Jason Schimmels gave Shepherd a tour of the farm, which has been in the family for more than 100 years, and explained how their commitment to a good quality of life for the animals is top priority.

You can learn even more about the event by watching Shepherd and Schimmels in this video, and make your plans to attend Citywide Steak Nights here.