Field Guide Festival Finalizes Saturday Symposium Programming

Chefs Tavel Bristol-Joseph (left) and Philip Speer (right) will take part in Field Guide Festival's Saturday Symposium (courtesy of Canje / Comedor)

Whether you’re eating out or at home on your couch, there’s a lot going on with your plate of food.

There’s the journey your dinner took from farm to table, and the mental health of the many people – including farmers, chefs, and you – along that journey. What’s on the plate is an expression of someone’s identity, and you better believe there’s a whole story there. Of course, issues of sustainability and food access are all impacting what’s for dinner, too.

Those are just some of the topics getting chewed over at the Saturday Symposium of the inaugural Field Guide Festival, which aims to explore the interconnections of our local food systems. Speakers announced today for the Oct. 29 event include Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje), Philip Speer (Comedor), Joi Chevalier (The Cook's Nook), Tiffany Washington (Dobbin-Kauv Garden Farm), Angel Schatz (Central Texas Mycology Society), and Adrian Lipscombe (The 40 Acres & a Mule Project)

Held at Fiesta Gardens and hosted Trisha Bates of Urban American Farmer, the symposium is open to all Saturday ticket holders. A Saturday day pass ($125 GA) gets you access to bites from a dozen chefs paired with a dozen farms, local sips, live music, and a pop-up urban farm.

Keep reading for symposium schedule and descriptions.

All panels take place Saturday, Oct. 29 at Fiesta Gardens.

Feeding Austin: Healthy, Fresh, Local Food for All (12:30pm-1:30pm)

While the Austin area is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, many residents suffer from food insecurity every day. As our city has evolved, there continue to be barriers preventing healthy, fresh, local food availability for all members of our community. Join Joah Spearman founder & CEO of Localeur in conversation with Joi Chevalier, founder & CEO of Cook’s Nook, Tiffany Washington, owner/farmer of Dobbin-Kauv Farm and Mark Jackson, CDO of Central Texas Food Bank for this panel from those on the ground working in food access.

Moderator: Joah Spearman (Localeur)
Panelists: Joi Chevalier (The Cook's Nook), Tiffany Washington (Dobbin-Kauv Farm), Mark Jackson (Central Texas Food Bank)

Food As Medicine: Eating for Longevity and Happiness (2-3pm)

“You are what you eat,” is more than just a phrase. The food we eat weighs heavily on not only our physical health, but our mental health. Join Camille Styles, founder & creative director of Camille Styles, along with Nicole Finklestein of Herban Austin, Angel Schatz forager at Central Texas Mycological Society and Philip Speer, founder of Comedor Run Club in a discussion about healing via food and community.

Moderator: Camille Styles
Panelists: Nicole Finkelstein (Herban Austin), Angel Schatz (Central Texas Mycology Society), Philip Speer (Comedor/Comedor Run Club)

Storytelling: Finding Identity in What We Cook (3:30-4:30pm)

Food can be more than just ingredients on a plate, it can be an expression of personal + family history. Building on the concept of the postmodern food movement, moderator and food writer Addie Broyles will be discussing the idea of storytelling to express a sense of identity in the food we cook. Panelists include Adrian Lipscombe, founder of the 40 Acres and  a Mule Project, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, chef and co-owner of Canje (Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group), and Aswini Sivaswamy, founder of Sesa Pure.

Moderator: Addie Broyles
Panelists: Adrian Lipscombe (40 Acres and a Mule), Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje), Aswini Sivaswamy (Sesa Pure)

Resilient Farming: Adapting to Our Changing Planet (5-6pm)

As our planet experiences more unexpected challenges, how can we be prepared for all the ways our food system will be impacted in the future?  Not only will farmers feel the effects, the entire food supply chain may be altered. Join Gen Padalecki & Charlie Capen, co-founders of towwn, in a conversation with Tim Miller, owner/farmer of Millberg Farm, Regan Meador, and owner & winemaker of Southold Farm & Cellar, to discuss how resiliency, education, and experimentation can help prepare us for the unknown in our ever-changing world.

Moderators: Gen Padalecki & Charlie Capen
Panelists: Tim Miller (Millberg Farm), Regan Meadow (Southold Farm & Cellar)