I came. I ate (SO MUCH!). I judged.

That’s my Chefs For Farmers 2016 experience in a nutshell. But it’s so much more than that!! I don’t need to retell the story of CFF; you can read that over on their site. But I will show you the main event in pictures, and make sure you know who all the lovely local chefs, out-of-town chefs, food artisans and farmers are who came and gave their all over the fabulous weekend.

In the end, an oyster from Jesse Houston and his team at Saltine Oyster Bar in Jackson, MS won best dish, and Emma and Travis Heim of the famous Heim Barbecue & Catering from Fort Worth, TX stole everyone’s hearts with their bacon burnt ends-topped salad.

But the real winner? My stomach. Take a look at most of what went down.

Chefs for Farmers, foodbitch view:

Local Chefs:

Jon Alexis | TJ’s Fresh Seafood Market & Grill

Damian Avila | Lockhart Smokehouse

Brian Bell | The blind butcher

Richard Blankenship | CBD Provisions

Junior Borges | The Joule

Kirstyn Brewer | Victor Tangos

Graham Dodds | Wayward Sons

Brandon Drew | Pyramid

Eric Dreyer | Fearing’s Restaurant

Matt Dallman | 18th & Vine Barbeque

David Fingerman | Madrina

Chef Gorgi | Canary by Gorji

Scott Gottlich | The Second Floor by Scott Gottlich

Emma and Travis Heim | Heim Barbecue & Catering

Jeffrey Hobbs | The Slow Bone

Chad Houser | Cafe Momentum

Tim Hutchins | Hutchins BBQ

Dan Landsberg | Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa

Brian Luscher | Luscher’s Red Hots

Robert Lyford | Patina Green Home and Market

Chef Matt McCallister | FT33 and Filament

Brad Phillips | Asador Restaurant

Janice Provost | Parigi Restaurant

Jeramie Issac Robison | Uchi Dallas

Abraham Salum | Salum Restaurant

Stefano Secchi | Ferrari’s Italian Villa

Andrea Schackelford | Harvest Seasonal Kitchen

Kevin Spencer | SĒR Steak + Spirits

Nathan Tate | Boulevardier and Rapscallion

Chef John Tesar | Knife Dallas

Chef Jon Thompson

Nick Walker | Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Mark Wootton | Garden Cafe

Sharon Van Meter | 3015 at Trinity Groves

Out-of-Town Chefs include:

Greg Baker | The Refinery and Fodder and Shine in Tampa, FL

David Bancroft | Acre in Auburn, AL

Justin Carlisle | Ardent in Milwaukee, WI

Alex Eaton | The Manship in Jackson, MS

Jodi Elliott | Bribery Bakery in Austin, TX

Jesse Houston | Saltine Oyster Bar in Jackson, MS

Kevin Johnson | The Grocery in Charleston, SC

Jeremiah Langhorne | The Dabney in Washington, DC

Rebecca Masson | Fluff Bake Bar in Houston, TX

Steve McHugh of Cured at Pearl | San Antonio, TX

Sarah Simmons & Aaron Hoskins | Birds & Bubbles and City Grit in New York, NY

Stephen Stryjewski | Cochon in New Orleans, LA

William Wright | Helen Greek Food and Wine in Houston, TX

Food Artisans:

Bisous Bisous Pâtisserie

Empire Baking Company

Jammit Jam

Local Press + Brew

Pachi Pachi Cheese

Pop Star Handcrafted Popsicles

The Mozzarella Company

Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters

Scardello Artisan Cheese

Spice Madam

Wheat & Sour

2016 Participating Farmers:

A Bar N Ranch

Amelia’s Farm

Bonton Farms

Cartermere Farms

Comeback Creek Farm

Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill and Farm

Dallas Urban Farms

Eden’s Organic Garden Center/CSA Farm

Farmers Assisting Returning Military – FARM

Fruge Seafood

Garden Harvests Farm

Juha Ranch

Rae Lili Farm

South Texas Heritage Pork

Sun E Farm

Texas Honeybee Guild

Texas Olive Ranch

The Good Egg

Disclaimer: I was selected as a judge for this year’s Chefs for Farmers main event, and thus I was gifted VIP access from the CFF team.