Oxtail Mash Up, Houston’s coveted culinary mash is back and this year there will be a boozy twist and big national names. On Sunday, November 14 Houston chefs and prized bartenders will come together for a ‘mash up’ of food, drink, art, and music in celebration of the culinary diversity of oxtail and the playfulness of punch. This spirited competition of both food and drink will take place in the lush garden of Project Row Houses, where resident artists will exhibit in the venerable open studios aimed at “encouraging artists to extend their practice outside of the studio into the social context.” Not only are event attendees invited to drink, dine, and dance, but also to step into each exhibit being fully encapsulated by the power of both culinary and resident art. (Oxtail Mashup, 2021)

A percentage of proceeds raised throughout the evening will benefit Project Row Houses and Texas’ Children’s Sickle Cell Anemia programs throughout Houston. Under the glow of Project Row Houses, chefs and bartenders will go head-to-head in two inventive competitions where both judges and attendees crown the evening’s winners.

The Oxtail Mash Up is a culinary competition that brings together some of the industries’ favorite chefs, bartenders, and DJs for an evening of food and drink all for charity. Founded in 2017, this spirited competition is the brainchild of Shakti Baum and partner Warren Luckett, and held in the lush garden of Project Row Houses. The event brings awareness to Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Anemia program and its effects on the African American Community.

Oxtail Mashup welcomes the local-supporting community to gather at Project Row Houses from 6p.m. – 10p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2021 for an evening tasting event filled with luscious chef-prepared oxtail, custom-crafted punches, black-owned/black-crafted wines, Houston craft beer, and more. Project Row Houses installations will be open and DJ Melodic will be spinning for the season’ premiere evening experience.

EAT: Fourteen chefs will pull from their diverse roots as well as gastronomic inspirations in a challenge to create stellar oxtail creations. Each chef will battle it out for smack-talking rights (people’s choice wins $500) as well as a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico (judges choice).

DRINK: Five bartenders will set the mode onto ‘Island Time’ as they work with previously selected spirits and locally sourced ingredients to craft Tiki-inspired punches. Attendees will crown the best barkeep of the night while our panel of experts selects their own winner for a grand prize of $500 cash. To bring the heat, Oxtail Mashup cofounders – chef, instructor, and event creator Shakti Baum and Black Restaurant Week Founder Warren Luckett – have invited Houston food and drink stars to battle against nationally recognized names. With each chef and bar star a master of their craft and leaders within the industry.

2021 OXTAIL MASHUP CHEFS
● Andre Burns – Burns BBQ (Houston, TX)
● Andremica Braggs – One Feisty Chef (Houston, TX)
● Curtis Evans – EMI Dinner Series / Everybody Eats Philly (Philadelphia, PA)
● Don Bowie – Taste Bar / Rare HTX (Houston, TX)
● Javani King – JKO Kitchen (Houston, TX and Oxtail Mashup 2018 winner)
● Jonny Rhodes – Broham Soul Food and Grocery / Restaurant Indigo (Houston, TX)
● Mark Clayton – Squable (Houston, TX)
● Nicola Blaque – The Jerk Shack / Mi Roti (San Antonio, TX)
● Ossume Collins – KISS (Houston, TX)
● Rishi Singh – Hotel Derek (Houston, TX)
● Robert Butts – Twisted Soul Cookhouse + Pours (Atlanta, GA) (additional chefs to be announced in the coming weeks)

2021 OXTAIL MASH UP BARTENDERS
● Ryan Perry – Rabbit Got the Gun (Houston, TX)
● Jamal Rashad – Slush (Atlanta, GA) (additional bartenders to be announced in the coming weeks)

VIP Event tickets cost $135 and include admission and early entry into the Third Annual Oxtail Mashup event, unlimited sampling of all chef-prepared bites, complimentary cocktails + Hot Toddy Bar (must be 21 or over to consume alcoholic beverages), entry into all Project Row Houses installations, and one parking pass.

General Admission event tickets cost $75 and include admission into the Third Annual Oxtail Mashup event, one sample of each chef-prepared bite, five cocktail tickets + Hot Toddy Bar (must be 21 or over to consume alcoholic beverages, and entry into all Project Row Houses installations).

Project Row Houses is a community platform that enriches lives through art with an emphasis on cultural identity and its impact on the urban landscape. We engage neighbors, artists, and enterprises in collective creative action to help materialize sustainable opportunities in marginalized communities.