While September may not feel like fall to Houstonians, it is the month that leads up to many of our fall celebrations. While there are many ways to enjoy different cuisines around the city, the next few months are not only about eating, drinking, and being merry, but also raising money for nonprofits that help our fellow Houstonians and Americans in need. The list of food events below helps those suffering from food insecurity, natural and financial disasters, and lack of access to mental, reproductive, and medical health care.

When the cooler weather tempts us to get outside, we can take advantage of festivals and opportunities to eat food that not only feeds our stomachs, but also our souls.

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The Blood Bros. team BBQ returns to the I’ll Have What She’s Having Rock & Roll Picnic.

Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

I’ll have what she has Third Annual Rock and Roll Picnic

The last concert in the amphitheater
1403 Nance
September 15, 1:00-6:00 p.m.
General Admission $45, GA plus picnic upgrade $95, children 12 and under $15
illhavewhatsheshaving.org

This is the third family-friendly event for I’ll Have What She’s Having, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps people in the restaurant and bar community, regardless of gender, access free preventive health and mental health services. Because Texas lags behind in providing residents with affordable, high-quality health insurance and services, IHWSH helps people in the hospitality industry who often lack health insurance, forcing them to go without health care or visit hospital emergency rooms, resulting in expensive medical bills.

Founded in 2017, the organization provides access to free services including breast and cervical cancer screenings, IUDs, vasectomies, doula services and mental health counseling.

The event will feature a wide range of dishes from award-winning chefs and volunteers including Dawn Burrell, Evelyn Garcia, Nick Wong, Dominick Lee, Beatriz Martinez, Mary Cuclis and Suu Khin. Grill masters from Blood Bros. BBQ will also be in attendance, as well as Josh Deleon from Underground Creamery.

Cocktails will be prepared by mixology professionals Liz Becerra (Anvil), Natrese Rudison (Toasted Coconut), Jennifer Pilling (Rosewater), Adriana Medina (Cantina Barb), Alexandra Bourgoin (’93 Til), Miles Conde (Josephine’s) and Olivia Vargas (Lei Low). Equal Parts Brewing, a longtime partner of IHWSH mental health programs, will be the official beer sponsor, and Cut Above Spirits will serve N/A beverages at its Zero Proof Bar.

There will be a silent auction, musical performances from India Tigers of Texas, Jump Rope, and Shame on Me. An art poetry activation will be hosted by T. Lavois Thiebaud, and a DJ set from GRRRL Parts.

Tickets can be purchased here.

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Late August is one of the restaurants participating in HRW until the end of September.

Photo by Rebecca Flores

Houston Restaurant Week 2024 Extended

Restaurants in Houston
From September 3rd to 30th
houstonrestaurantweeks.com

This annual charity event usually takes place from August 1st through Labor Day. However, due to the economic damage caused by the derecho storm in May and Hurricane Beryl in July, the Cleverley Stone Foundation, the nonprofit behind HRW, decided to extend the citywide event through September to help promote business for participating restaurants. While the event is an annual major fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank and has raised more than $21 million for the countywide food bank since its inception in 2003, the extended days will allow restaurants to reduce their donations from $3, $5, and $7 to just $1 for brunch, lunch, or dinner sold from HRW’s menu. This will allow participating restaurants to keep a larger portion of HRW’s profits while still raising money for the foundation’s operations.

While more than 400 restaurants participated this year, not all are continuing the expansion. Guests can check the HRW website for a list of businesses participating in the expanded month, along with HRW menus.

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Sunny September days are perfect for celebrating the successes of farmers and restaurants.

Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Cooks for farmers

Autry Park
3711 Autry Park
September 28 and September 29, VIP from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. General admission from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
General Admission $145, VIP Admission $195
cookslarolników.com

Originally founded in Dallas, this two-day event is held annually in Houston. Its mission is to support and showcase local farmers and suppliers, as well as raise funds for nonprofits such as The Seed Project Foundation in Dallas and Urban Harvest and Houston Food Bank in Houston.

Its culinary offerings feature more than 30 of Houston’s top chefs and their teams, using fresh produce and high-quality proteins to create delicious dishes that draw long lines. But there’s plenty to enjoy, as the festival spans the entire park, and many locations offer a cold beer, a glass of wine or a refreshing cocktail, all included in the admission fee.

The stars of the kitchen include: Master Chef master Christine Ha (The Blind Goat), David Skinner (Ishtia), Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu (Jun), Man Nguyen (Hando), Kirthan and Kripa Shenoy (Auden), Sunil Srivastava (Verandah Progressive Indian), Drake Leonards (Eunice ), Shaun King (Uchiko), Yotam Dolev (Hamsa) and many others.

This event is for adults only, ages 21 and older. No pets are allowed except service animals.

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Wine and fun flow at the Southern Smoke Festival.

Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Southern Smoke Festival

The Discovery of the Green
1500 McKinney
October 5, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
General Admission $225, Lexus VIP $500
southernsmoke.orgThis festival is always one of the most popular in Houston, bringing festival goers the best and brightest chefs in Houston and culinary talent from across the country. This is an event where you can see nationally known chefs and meet many of the men and women behind Houston restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries. This event raises funds for the Southern Smoke Foundation, which helps hospitality workers and businesses during times of financial, medical and mental health crisis.

Founded in 2017 by James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd and his wife, now SSF executive director Lindsey Brown, the organization originally raised money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2017, after Hurricane Harvey flooded Houston and the surrounding area, the organization shifted its focus to helping food service workers who had been economically devastated by the disaster. Over the years, it has expanded that mission to include funds to help workers with medical issues, mental health needs and other financial crises.

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Franklin grill master extraordinaire Aaron Franklin poses with devoted fan and Houston Press music journalist Jesse Sendejas at SSF 2023.

Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Over the past seven years, SSF has donated more than $12.3 million to hospitality workers, and since 2020, its Behind You mental health program has provided more than 5,400 free counseling sessions to food service workers and their children in Texas, California, Illinois, Louisiana, and several other states.

Joining Shepherd and Brown in this mission are a diverse roster of local and national chefs, food service professionals, and restaurateurs. Participants will see familiar faces like Aaron Franklin, Ashley Christensen, Chris Cosentino, Sarah Gruenberg, Leonard Botello IV, Ryan Lachaine, Martin Stayer, Michelle Wallace, Greg Gatlin, Patrick Feges, Erin Smith, and more. Some of the more than a dozen new participants include Austin Simmons (Tris, Houston), Isabel Cross (Lutece, Washington, DC), Don Nguyen (Khoi BBQ, Houston), and Lee Anne Wong (Koko Head Cafe, Honolulu).

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Tony’s head chef Kate McClean (right) returns to the Lexus VIP area for the festival.

Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

In the Lexus VIP area, chef Billy Durney will be serving his famous Red Hood Tavern burgers, along with Paola Velez of Doeki Doeki in Washington and Kate McLean of Houston, executive chef at Tony’s. Bar owner Alba Huerte of Julep, a James Beard Award winner, will be creating cocktails behind the bar.

Southern Smoke Festival will also be hosting Food and wine magazine’s Best New Chefs 2024, making it the first time the 2024 Best New Chefs class has cooked together. There will be cooking demonstrations, book signings, and pop-up wine bars from across Texas and the country. The Lake House at Discovery Green will be taken over by The Central Market Wine Bar that day.

If you haven’t been to the Southern Smoke Festival yet, you need to go this year.

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Culinary events also take place in the suburbs.

Photo by A Taste of Cy-Fair

Cy-Fair Flavor

Bridgeland Lakeland Village Centre
10615 Fry
October 5, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., VIP early entry at 4:00 p.m.
General Admission Adults $40-50, Children 2-12 $15-20, Children under 2 free
VIP Early Bird for Adults 21 and Over – Only $80-$90
atasofcyfair.com

A Taste of Cy-Fair returns for its 6th year with dozens of local restaurants and businesses. Attendees will find something to enjoy at Texas Roadhouse, Chuy’s, Creekwood Grill, Marvino’s Italian Steakhouse, Backyard Grill, Andy’s Kitchen, Rock’n Roll Sushi and more. There will be a wide selection of wines and craft beers. Live music will be provided by Randy Hulsey on the main stage and Nate Gordon in the VIP area.

Founded in 2017, the event ultimately began as a fundraiser for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. It has since grown into a major fundraiser for Cy-Hope, a local organization that has nine programs aimed at changing the lives of underserved children in the Cy-Fair community and beyond. Some of its programs include Cy-Hope Mentoring, the Backpack Feeding Program, Cy-Hope Counseling, and Camp Lemonade.