Austin's first SEED Food & Wine Festival brought fresh energy to the city's event calendar last month, celebrating plant-based food, drink, and sustainable living in true Austin style.
Founded in Miami, SEED has built a reputation for pairing conscious eating with good vibes, and its debut in Texas felt like a natural fit for a city that loves to eat, experiment, and embrace new ideas.
With a media pass in hand, I attended two of the festival's main events: the Texas Taco Throwdown at The Domain NORTHSIDDE and the Grand Tasting Village at Moody Amphitheater downtown.
I was impressed by the turnout at the taco event, which drew a lively crowd eager to sample creative plant-based tacos.
At both venues, I overheard visitors who'd traveled from other states to experience SEED's Austin debut, a sign that this new festival already has national appeal.
Together, the two events provided a flavorful introduction to what SEED stands for: creativity, community, and the belief that plant-based dining can be as bold and satisfying as any food festival.
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About SEED Food & Wine Festival
The SEED Food & Wine Festival began in Miami in 2014, founded by Alison Burgos and Michelle Gaber, two entrepreneurs with a shared vision of creating a festival that celebrates conscious living without sacrificing flavor or fun.
What began as a small local gathering of chefs, brands, and wellness advocates has evolved into one of the country's premier plant-based food festivals, drawing culinary talent and attendees from across the nation.
At its core, SEED promotes a plant-based lifestyle through creativity, community, and education, showing that eating sustainably can also be indulgent and inspiring. Its events typically combine chef dinners, tasting villages, wellness activities, and panels featuring leaders in the food and wellness industries.
Bringing SEED to Austin felt like a natural next step. This city thrives on innovation, from tech to tacos, and its food scene has long been a hub for experimentation. As a longtime Austin resident, I wasn't surprised to see how seamlessly SEED's message of sustainability fit right in.
The 2025 SEED Austin Lineup
For its Austin debut, SEED Food & Wine had a lineup of daily events designed to engage all the senses, from chef-driven dinners to fun runs and fitness classes.
Events
- October 22 - "Rowdy Girl" screening about a Texas cattle rancher who goes vegan.
- October 23 - Texas Taco Throwdown (a friendly competition).
- October 24 - The Green Table Dinner, a plant-based feast.
- October 25 - Grand Tasting Village with dozens of vendors, speakers, a plant-based hot dog eating competition, and live music.
- October 26 - SEED Fun Run around Lady Bird Lake (2, 3, and 5-mile routes) and Sweat and Reset, a series of four fitness instructor-led workouts.
The lineup reflected what SEED does best: blending food, fun, and mindful living in approachable ways. The weekend's two most significant events were the Texas Taco Throwdown and the Grand Tasting Village.
These gatherings drew crowds of locals and visitors alike, all curious to taste how Austin's chefs and food entrepreneurs from around the country interpreted plant-based cuisine.
While I let my appetite lead the way in deciding which events to attend, it was enough to experience the spirit of the festival as a whole.
Texas Taco Throwdown
Held in The Domain NORTHSIDE's outdoor plaza by True Food Kitchen, the Texas Taco Throwdown brought together chefs offering their best plant-based taco creations. The air buzzed with music curated by a live DJ.
I was impressed by the turnout; there were more than enough people to make me feel like the event was fully attended (at least during the first hour I was there). Conversations flowed easily as people compared notes on their favorite tacos and sipped on cocktails from Desert Door Texas Sotol.
Tacos
I sampled five creative entries, each offering its own twist on what a taco can be:
Mushroom Confit Mole Taco by Martin Heartburn Eason: Layers of slow-braised mushrooms with poblano mole, salsa macha, avocado-cashew crema, and pickled onions. This was my personal favorite, and I cast my People's Choice vote for it.
Mushroom Carnitas Taco by Reyna Vazquez (Veracruz All Natural): A mix of cauliflower, red onion, and carrot escabeche, served with spicy green salsa and habanero popcorn salsa, on a nixtamal tortilla. Chef Reyna Vazquez's taco earned Critics' Choice honors.
The Harvest Moon Taco by Dylan Grazioplene (Killer Taco): A crispy pumpkin medallion paired with fire-roasted corn and cabbage, dressed in tomatillo salsa and pumpkin spice crème, a clever balance of savory and sweet. I enjoyed the crunch of the taco shell with this one.
Vegan Al Pastor by Ezov: OffBeast plant-based beef with pineapple, onions, and cilantro on a corn tortilla. It was a vibrant take on the classic, with all the bright, tangy notes you'd expect.
The Collard Green King by Marlon Rison (Community Vegan) pulled pork stacked with smoky collard greens, grilled onions, and a creamy collard green sauce.
Beyond the tacos, Siete Foods added to the celebration with their lineup of chips, salsas, and grain-free sweets, including Mexican Wedding Cookies and Churro Strips.
My first plant-based taco tasting left me excited to explore more vegan-friendly foods. The next afternoon, I made my way downtown for SEED's signature event, the Grand Tasting Village.
Grand Tasting Village
The Grand Tasting Village took over Moody Amphitheater downtown, with the Texas Capitol Building peeking through the skyline beyond the tents.
Free garage parking nearby made it an easy venue to access, and the open lawn provided a relaxed setting for wandering from booth to booth under partly cloudy skies.
A mix of local and national vendors showcased their latest plant-based creations.
Some of my tasting highlights included:
- Credo Foods: A local Austin favorite serving creamy oat milk and cashew-based salsas that were as rich and flavorful as their dairy counterparts.
- Bitchin' Sauce: I sampled their spicy Sriracha and Habanero varieties and was surprised when the owners sent me home with three full containers, an unexpected (and generous) parting gift.
- Blue Zones Kitchen: Their hearty burrito bowl features a blend of corn, tomatoes, jalapeños, black beans, and sweet potatoes for a comforting, nutrient-packed bite.
- Best Day Brewing: A refreshing non-alcoholic Kölsch-style beer that paired perfectly with the afternoon heat.
- Oca: Zero-sugar peanut butter bites that are available at HEB grocery stores.
A handful of local Texas wineries also made an appearance, including Lost Draw Winery, Driftwood Estate, and Flat Creek Estate, as well as Frey Vineyards, which offered pours of organic and sustainably produced wines.
Impressions
Unfortunately, due to an administrative hiccup, local health officials briefly delayed the start of sampling after realizing that hand-washing stations hadn't been set up around the grounds.
The issue was eventually resolved, but it cut into tasting time for both vendors and attendees who arrived early in the afternoon (noon to 1 p.m.)
I had an early morning flight to Honolulu the next day, so I didn't stay long enough to witness the plant-based hot dog-eating contest at 2 p.m. or the guest speakers, such as Sari Vatske from the Central Texas Food Bank. Still, I had fun at Austin's first SEED Grand Tasting.
Between the friendly vendors, the variety of products, and the emphasis on sustainability, it felt like the kind of event that would only grow stronger with each passing year.
Closing Thoughts
Austin's inaugural SEED Food & Wine Festival felt like a natural addition to the city's ever-evolving culinary calendar - a celebration of flavor, creativity, and sustainability that fits with Austin's open-minded spirit.
From the inventive tacos at The Domain NORTHSIDE to the diverse tastings at Moody Amphitheater, each event showcased how far plant-based food has come, not just in terms of quality, but also in community appeal.
Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or a curious omnivore like me, SEED offered something for everyone who enjoys good food and company.
I left the festival impressed by the turnout, the talent, and the passion behind every booth and plate. And while there were a few first-year growing pains, Austin's debut proved that there's a real appetite here for events that celebrate conscious eating in a fun and approachable way.
For more information about future festivals, visit the SEED Food and Wine Austin website.
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Disclosure: I received a complimentary media pass to attend the SEED Food & Wine Festival events featured in this article. All opinions are my own.
