No. 125
Southern Smoke Foundation:
Caring for the Industry that Feeds Us
The Banter
The Guys discuss changes in how vintage port is aging and then (somehow) pivot to mezcal. Like wine, agave spirits are tied to the land and the magicians who create it.
The Conversation
The Restaurant Guys host the founders of Southern Smoke Foundation Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown to share the origins of the foundation and how it operates today. Southern Smoke supports hospitality workers and beyond by facilitating services for those in need. They host a festival with dozens of talented chefs, great music and even fly fishing.
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THIS EPISODE IS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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ESCAPE TO THE HELDRICH HOTEL, A LUXURIOUS HOTEL IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN NEW BRUNSWICK. A PLACE WITH INDEPENDENT SPIRIT THAT GIVES YOU A GREAT STORY TO TELL WHEN YOU RETURN HOME.
Lindsey Brown
Lindsey Brown spent a decade as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In 2015, she co-founded the Southern Smoke Foundation. The following year, she launched her own firm, Lindsey Brown Public Relations, which she led until she became Executive Director of the foundation in 2023.
Chris Shepherd
After nearly a decade working in the city’s high-end culinary scene, Chris Shepherd launched Underbelly, a restaurant concept designed to celebrate Houston’s uncelebrated cultures. He published his first cookbook Cook Like a Local in 2019, to highlight Houston’s food scene and the people behind it.
Through his work, Chris has been honored with a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, two James Beard nominations for Underbelly, and several “Best Of” list appearances in national publications.
THE INSIDE TRACK
The Guys get the inside track on the Southern Smoke Festival.
“It’s five hours of Heck, Yes!”
Chris Shepherd on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025
Natalie McLean on Quaffing Summer Wines
A Vintage Selection from 2007
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