The Southern Smoke Foundation hosted Houston’s premier food festival at Discovery Green in Downtown Houston this past weekend. Together with close to 100 of the countries best chefs, Chris Shepherd and his team raised $1.8 million for the Southern Smoke Foundation, benefiting the MS Society and providing need-based grants to workers in the food and beverage industry. (Photos by Marco Torres.)

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    Chris Shepherd, along with his Southern Smoke Foundation team and all the participating chefs stand onstage at Discovery Green with the $1.8 million dollar check.
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    The weather was perfect at Discovery Green for this year’s Southern Smoke Festival.
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    The line for Trill Burgers was long all afternoon and evening.
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    Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó was all smiles.
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    We were also all smiles after eating Tatemó’s fried blue corn masa quesadilla with guacamole salsa topped with caviar.
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    Aaron Franklin of Frankin’s BBQ and Loro served up his world famous brisket.
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    Franklin BBQ’s brisket is a thing of beauty.
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    Franklin BBQ’s brisket is a thing of beauty.
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    The line for Franklin’s BBQ was also one of the longest at the festival.
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    Blood Bros. BBQ served up a delicious bulgogi wrapped in roti.
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    Blood Bros. BBQ served up a delicious bulgogi wrapped in roti.
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    Felipe Riccio of Rosie Cannonball and MARCH serves up grilled meatballs.
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    Ryan Lachaine of Riel serves up chargrilled oysters.
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    Chargrilled oysters from Riel.
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    Philip Speer of Comedor hard at work.
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    The Nashville Yacht Club Band kept the music lively all night.
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    Fernando Valladares and Mike Pham of Trill Burgers.
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    Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street To Kitchen.
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    Street To Kitchen with Spicy flank steak.
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    Greg Gatlin of Gatlin’s BBQ having a blast at Southern Smoke.
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    The Trill Burgers team serves hundreds of burgers throughout the afternoon and evening.
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    The crowd goes wild for the Nashville Yacht Club Band.
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    Welcome to the Southern Smoke Festival 2023.
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    Chris Shepherd and his team raised $1.8 million for the Southern Smoke Foundation.
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    Chris Shepherd gets emotional as he thanks everyone at the end of the event.
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    That’s a wrap! Already excited for next year!

When he's not roaming around the city in search of tacos and graffiti, Houston Press contributor Marco Torres both writes and points his camera lens toward the vibrant Houston music scene and beyond.