entertainment

Oh boy, more NYC elites to gentrify our tacos. Can't wait for 'The Bear' bullshit at Austin Food & Wine Fest.

Oh great, two NYT-approved chef snobs and some TV dude are invading Austin's Food & Wine Fest. Because we all know New Yorkers understand Texas food so well. Can't wait to see their "hot" takes on our tacos. Yippee.

Published October 9, 2024 at 10:00am by Matthew Odam

Oh Boy, Another Austin Food & Wine Festival: Because We Don't Have Enough of These Things

Buckle up, losers. The Austin Food & Wine Festival is back, infesting the shores of Lady Bird Lake from Nov. 1-3. Oh joy, another chance for the elites to parade their fancy food and inflated egos.

The Sunday demo tent is stuffed with so-called "hot talent." The New York Times, in their infinite wisdom, named 50 "Best Restaurants" in the U.S., and two of those overhyped chefs are gracing us with their presence. Sandwiched between other "major names," because apparently, we need more reasons to feel inadequate.

First up, we have Kevin Gillespie from Nàdair in Atlanta. The Times called his place a "Scottish-Southern mash-up no one knew American dining needed." Because who needs good old-fashioned American food when you can have some pretentious fusion nonsense?

Next, we have Ashleigh Shanti from Good Hot Fish in Asheville, N.C. Her restaurant is a "Southern fish camp meets Black Appalachian foodways." Let's all fawn over fried catfish and hush puppies like it's the second coming.

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Before these two, we have Edgar Rico, Austin's culinary golden boy. His Nixta Taqueria is ranked in the Top 10, and he's a Food & Wine Best New Chef. Time even put him on their 100 list. Because who needs real heroes when you can worship a taco chef?

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Wrapping up the afternoon is Courtney Storer, culinary producer for FX's "The Bear." Let's hope her demo is as overrated as the show.

The rest of the weekend is filled with more "respectable foodie" names. Because heaven forbid we miss out on Amanda Turner, Nicola Blaque, Levi Goode, and Ali Clem.

And let's not forget the grand tasting events, with even more Austin chefs like Daniel Berg, Shawn Cirkiel, and a bunch of others you've probably never heard of.

The festival kicks off with the Made in Texas VIP event at the Long Center. More food from more chefs you don't care about.

Tickets are still available, starting at a measly $195 for Sunday, $275 for the Weekender, and a wallet-busting $750 for VIP. Throw your money away here.

Because who needs savings when you can pretend to be cultured for a weekend?