We're Going To Austin, Texas To Interview Chefs And Comics. You Should Come!

For a complete schedule of the Food Republic Interview Lounge, click here.

Here at Food Republic we have a thing for Austin, Texas — and not only because at certain times of the year you can see Jay-Z and Kanye West play an impromptu concert at an abandoned power plant. Austin goes beyond the South By Southwest music fest and Internet geek-out. It's home to one of the most happening food scenes in the entire country. If you've been following along on this website, you would have read this, this, this and this. Next week we will relocate there for some reporting, some concert watching and lots of eating and drinking.

The impetus for the trip is the harmonic convergence of two big fests in Austin: The Austin Food & Wine Festival and the Moontower Comedy Festival. Like last year, we will be conducting interviews in front of an audience at the W Austin Front Porch, overlooking the iconic Willie Nelson statue. If you live in Austin or are going to Austin Food & Wine Fest, this audience could be you. Just show up. We'll be there hanging out with some of our friends, including:

Graham Elliot

Michael Ian Black

Christina Tosi

Marcus Samuelsson

Pichet Ong

Brian Malarkey

Paul Qui and Deana Saukam

Andrew Zimmern

Special guests!

We're post a complete schedule next week. And, again, if you live in Austin, we encourage you to stop by and say hi.