We're no stranger to beef around these parts—as evidenced by our thriving BBQ culture—but one event during the year is a full-on celebration of the meat: Live Fire!, the Austin Food & Wine Alliance's evening cooking event that, this year, will honor the flavors of Mexico. The food and chef lineup for the April 5 showdown was just released, and it looks, in a word, delicious.
Held at Camp Mabry, Live Fire! features 29 chefs this year, all of whom will be serving their own take on Mexican-inspired beef dishes. Here are a few highlights that we're looking forward to:
Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue): cajeta burnt ends
Evan LeRoy (LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue): smoked barbacoa and beef-fat refried beans
Page Pressley (Emmer & Rye): beef short rib carnitas
Rene Ortiz (Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon): Oaxacan smoked beef ribs with humita blanca, black bean mole and salsa macha
Fermín Núñez and Sam Hellman-Mass (Suerte): tetela al carbon triangle stuffed Masa, brisket refried beans with queso Oaxaca
...and plenty more (you can check out the full lineup here). Wine, spirits and craft beer is in store for attendees as well, and if you splurge on the VIP pass, you'll have access to Agave Alley, which offers a number of mescals and tequilas to try.
Need a breather from all that beef? In between eating and drinking, you'll be able to enjoy live music from Vanessa del Fierro and Mariachi Las Coronelas, South Texas’ all-female mariachi band.
And here's the best part: All this beef-eating and tequila-drinking is for a good cause. Proceeds from Live Fire! tickets ($95 for general admission, $150 for VIP) go toward the Austin Food & Wine Alliance's grant program for chefs, farmers, artisan producers and nonprofits by funding projects focused on culinary innovation. Snag your tickets here and dig out your stretchy pants.