Field Guide Festival is back for its fourth consecutive year and it keeps getting better.
Unlike a traditional food festival, Field Guide takes attendees on a journey from farm to table where they have the opportunity to meet local farmers, learn about sustainable sourcing and watch chefs craft visually stunning dishes with seasonal ingredients from those very farms. Field Guide’s mission is to foster personal connections to food by allowing guests to interact with the farmers and chefs behind their meals while showcasing ingredients sourced directly from Central Texas.
Founded by Lindsey Sokol, founder of Blue Norther Live, and Trisha Bates, founder of Urban American Farmer, Field Guide Festival is a curated tribute to the Central Texas food system and the people who sustain it. The 2025 events will bring together 65 local chefs and farmers to highlight the incredible talent that defines Austin’s culinary scene – and the event benefits the Texas Central Food Bank! We had a chat with Lindsey and Trisha to learn more.
What was your goal when you started the festival? When we created Field Guide Festival our goal was to create a food event that truly celebrates chefs as artists and puts their culinary talents front and center. In addition to the chefs, it’s about the food itself. At Field Guide, every dish tells a story of Central Texas, showcasing the best seasonal ingredients from local farms. We believe the best meals start with the best ingredients, so we built the Festival around thoughtful cooking that reflects the land around us.
What makes Field Guide unique? It’s the connection it fosters between guests, chefs, and the farmers. Rather than just listing farm names on a menu, we invite farmers to be part of the experience—to share their stories, spark conversations, and help guests see food in a whole new light. There’s something powerful about meeting the people who grow what’s on your plate, and we’ve seen firsthand how this changes the way people think about their food.
How has the festival evolved? In ways we could only dream. One of the biggest evolutions has been the incredible expansion of farmer and chef participation. In our first year, we brought together 24 chefs and farmers—this year that number has grown to 65! It was challenging to get farmers on board year one because participating in food festivals was new to most of them. This year we continue to see new farmers reaching out who want to join Field Guide, which is incredible progress! It really feels like a Field Guide has grown into more than an event; it’s a gathering of friends, a celebration of the people who grow and cook our food, and a place where meaningful connections happen.We’ve also continued to elevate the experiences onsite year over year. From our taco omakase experience to closing out the festival with a high-energy pizza happy hour, every moment at Field Guide is designed to be immersive, delicious, and fun. We want guests to leave with full stomachs and a deeper appreciation for the vibrant food and beverage culture of Central Texas.
What are you most excited for this year? We’re incredibly lucky to have an amazing lineup of chefs and farmers and guests will get the opportunity to taste one-of-a-kind seasonal bites from some of Austin’s most beloved restaurants—all in one place. Beyond the food, we’re expanding the festival experience with the help of our amazing community partners. Imagine strolling through the Cassiopeia Farm flower farmstand, books handpicked by chefs and farmers at the First Light Books pop-up bookstore or even petting an adorable baby goat from Nava Farms!This yearmwe’re also elevating our wine experience with carefully curated wine pairings. Guests will have the chance to enjoy wines specially selected to complement the dishes crafted by our chefs, making for an even more dynamic and delicious tasting experience.
Anything else you'd like to add? When someone begins to question where their food comes from, the first thing they ask is ‘where do I start?’ Our response is, ‘get to know your farmers!’ Go to where the farmers and their products are - farmers markets, small grocery stores, CSA deliveries. You can't go wrong if you go towards the farmers, and they will be so grateful for your business and your interest!
SCHEDULE:
Land to Larder Dinner at Boggy Creek Farm
6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 25
An intimate dining experience celebrating community and creativity. Land to Larder serves as a storytelling platform, connecting local farms rich in fresh ingredients with the talents of Central Texas chefs. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, with each dish thoughtfully crafted by a local chef in collaboration with a local farmer using seasonal ingredients. Chef and farmer participants include: Ana Torrealba de la Vega (El Naranjo) and Tracy & Jack Geyer (Boggy Creek Farm); Ian Thurwachter (Intero) and Sean Henry (Hi-Fi Mycology); Janie Ramirez (Dai Due) and Robert & Stacy Nantz (Nantz Land and Cattle); and Daniel A. Martínez Faccio & Aurora Torrado Arroyo (Mercado Sin Nombre) and James Brown (Barton Springs Mill).
Field Guide Symposium at Fiesta Gardens
1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26
New this year, the symposium will be a stand-alone event spotlighting Austin’s local leaders in food, beverage and agriculture. There will be conversations with farmers, chefs and community organizers on the real cost of food, the impact of farming on our communities and how we can all get involved.
Field Guide Festival at Fiesta Gardens aka the main event
Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 a
Over 55 chefs and farmers from Central Texas to create thoughtfully crafted dishes using seasonal ingredients. Programming highlights include live fire cooking, a pizza happy hour, a taco omakase experience, a pop-up farmers market by Sustainable Food Center, kid-friendly activities, live music and more.
CHEF + FARMER LINEUP:
- Amanda Turner (Olamaie) + Samuel & Carolynn Moffett (Shirttail Creek Farm)
- Chelsea Fadda (Pecan Square Cafe) + Erin Gomez (Solana Farms)
- Edgar Rico (Nixta Taqueria) + Prisilla Benitez & Hayley Wood (Hot Spell Farm)
- Fiore Tedesco (L'Oca d'Oro) + Cody Brown (Growtopia)
- Alexa Mejia (Emmer & Rye) + William Nikkel (Trosi Farm)
- Jo Chan (Chef Jo Chan) + Germaine Swenson & Ivan Matula (Munkebo Farm)
- Kevin Cannon (Barley Swine) + Phil Green (River Field Farm)
- Junior Borges (Juniper) + Benjamin McBride (Heritage Seafood)
- Rick Lopez (La Condesa) + Joe & Kasey Diffie (Joe’s Microgreens)
- Sarah Heard & Nathan Lemley (Foreign & Domestic) + Ryan Gould (Geosmin Regenerative)
- Sonya Cote (Store House Market & Eatery) + David Barrow (Eden East Farm)
- Daniela & Rosa de Lima Hernández (La Santa Barbacha) + Robert Hooper & Suzette Kelly (Central Texas Lamb)
- Nick Belloni (Comedor) + Bruce Evans (2x4 Farm)
- Susana Querejazu (Lutie's) + Jenny Atmar & George Rojano (Urban Roots Farm)
- Sarah McIntosh (épicerie) + Cody & Natalie Scott (Green Bexar Farm)
- Evan LeRoy (LeRoy and Lewis) + Ty & Sara Burk (True Bird)
- James Robert & Jeff Brown (Hissy Fit) + Amalia Staggs & Casey Frank (Farmshare Austin)
- Je Wallerstein (Fabrik) + Alison Stone & Nia Howze (Hope Full Farm)
- Ling Qi Wu (Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at The Grove) + Perrine & Aubrey Noelke (Belle Vie Farm and Kitchen)
- Derek Zampacorta (Bar Toti) + Anamaria Gutierrez (Este Garden)
- Gregory Maze (Merry Monarch Creamery) + Sean Henry (Hi-Fi Mycology)
- Abby Love (Abby Jane Bakeshop) + Tracy & Jack Geyer (Boggy Creek Farm)
- Amanda Rockman (Rockman Coffee and Bakeshop) + Cyn Danielson (Two Hives Honey)
- Ariana Quant (Uchibā) + Terence Tagoe & Carissa Eckle (The Refugee Collective Far)
VIP Access:
- Dylan Salisbury (Teddy’s) + Cameron Molberg & Von Miller (Greener Pastures Chicken)
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Nicosi)
Taco Omakase:
- Joseph Gomez (Sana Sana Taqueria) + Hannah Beall (Central Texas Food Bank Garden)
Pizza Happy Hour:
- Nick Ford (Favorite Pizza)
- Tony Curet (Side Eye Pie)
- Daniel Sorg (Allday Pizza)
- Kelsey Small (Smalls Pizza)
Tickets for all three events are sold separately and are now available for purchase at fieldguidefest.com/tickets. Kids 12 and younger receive free admission.
For more event information visit fieldguidefest.com or follow along on social media @fieldguidefest.