Chef Throwdown and Asian Day Market

Celebrate Food, Culture, and Community

Join us for a unique, immersive experience at Texas Farmers Market at Mueller, where culinary creativity meets cultural celebration. In partnership with NightMarket.fun, Texas Farmers Market brings you the second annual Chef Throwdown, an exciting competition where top chefs transform locally sourced ingredients into extraordinary dishes. 

Your competitors are two of Austin’s most celebrated culinary talents, each bringing their unique perspective and passion for fresh, locally sourced ingredients to the table:

Chef Jam Sanitchat, Thai Fresh

Chef Jam grew up in Thailand, learning to cook alongside her grandmother and mother from the time she was five years old. In 2001, she moved to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. After completing her studies, she decided to follow a new path—teaching cooking classes from her own kitchen and at clients’ homes. Her love for food continued to deepen, eventually inspiring her to open a stand at the local farmers' market, where she began incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients into her dishes.

In 2008, Chef Jam took the next step and opened Thai Fresh, a Thai restaurant in South Austin focused on using the best local ingredients. The restaurant quickly became a community favorite, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Inside Thai Fresh, you'll find a coffee shop, a gluten-free bakery, and a vegan ice cream shop, all serving as extensions of Chef Jam’s commitment to quality, locally sourced food. Additionally, Chef Jam continues to share her culinary expertise by offering cooking classes out of a rented kitchen.

Chef Sarah Heard, Foreign & Domestic

Sarah Heard grew up just outside of Houston in Conroe, Tx. Her family lived in Jamaica for a little over a year when she was a child, and they ultimately moved to Lockhart, just outside of Austin, in 2000. Sarah began her hospitality career in San Marcos at Red Lobster in 2005, where she pushed to learn every position in the restaurant, finally landing on the line where she felt at home. Sarah moved to Austin in 2007, where she began a 5 year tenure at the Mansion at Judges Hill. Her final 3 years at the esteemed hotel & restaurant were spent as in her first management position, Executive Sous Chef. She spent the subsequent years learning from other chefs in Austin at lauded restaurants such as La Condesa and Parkside, where she met her partner in life and business, co-chef Nathan Lemley. The two purchased Foreign & Domestic in 2017 and opened Commerce Cafe in Lockhart in 2020. They have since received numerous awards, and are focused on maintaining sustainable sourcing, cuisine that is inventive, yet restrained, and stellar hospitality.  

Alongside the Chef Throwdown, experience a vibrant mini Asian Day Market, with a curated selection of AAPI-owned businesses from Texas Farmers Market, featuring a variety of foods and products.

Enjoy lively AAPI performances, including a mini lion dance by the Texas Dragon Dance Team plus live music sets performed by singer Aly Rosa and The Ruan Sisters.

Don’t miss this exciting chance to explore local foods, arts, and community spirit!

Event Schedule

10:00 AM: Market Opens

10:00 AM - Noon: Chef Throwdown (Cooking & Judging)

11:30 AM: Live Mini Lion Dance Performance

12:00 PM: Judging & Audience Voting

12:15 PM: Winner Announcement

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Musical Performances

2:00 PM: Market Closes

Map

Texas Farmers Market at Mueller - Branch Park Pavilion

2201 Aldrich Street, Austin, TX

Vendors

🥟 @sherpasnacks - Nepali style grilled meats & dumplings.

🥒 @pickleenvyatx - Kosher-style dill pickles, probiotic pickle juice, vegan kimchi, sauerkraut, and seasonal ferments.

🍜 @simplithai - Thai food meal kits.

🥟 @steamies_dumplings - Handmade Chinese dumplings.

🈴 @manhattan_mandarin_austin - In-person / remote Mandarin tutoring & group classes.

🐈 @beibeibear_designs - Cute drawings stickers, and accessories.

💮 @abstractwren - Ornate abstract paintings by Lauren Hua.

🧧 @jasminechock - Quirky Chinese-inspired art prints and ceramics.

🍨 @rollierollsllc - Thailand-inspired style rolled ice cream.

Ema Wish

For your donations to NightMarket.fun, add your wish to our Ema Wish Board at the market! For every $2 online donation, you’ll receive a rectangular ema wish, or for $4, a cowboy hat-shaped ema wish to decorate and hang on the board. Donations made in-person at the event will be $3 for rectangular ema wishes and $5 for cowboy hat ema wishes. Pick up your ema wish(es) at Texas Farmers Market at Mueller on the day of the event and join in this beautiful tradition inspired by Japanese culture. Learn more and donate for your ema wish here!

Photo Consent

We’ll be taking photos and videos during the event. By attending, you consent to being photographed and filmed, and you authorize nightmarket.fun to use these photos and videos on social media and other channels.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a foodie, a fan of local businesses, or simply want to enjoy a day of cultural celebration, the Chef Throwdown and Mini Day Market offer something for everyone. Come ready to enjoy delicious food, make new memories, and celebrate Austin’s diverse community.

Interested in volunteering? Contact rowie@thelunarfoundation.org.