Food Network stars from Laurel, Floyd counties set for CRAVE

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Lexington’s biggest culinary party, CRAVE Food + Music Festival returns to the Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masterson Station Park on August 14-15.

Featuring more than 40 local and regional restaurants, food trucks and additional vendors, the two-day family-friendly festival has announced the addition of three exciting culinary personalities – two of whom have distinct ties to the Bluegrass state.

“Lord Honey” Jason Smith will return to the festival for the second time, as emcee of the CRAVE Food Performance Stage.

A native of Laurel County, Smith learned his way around the kitchen on the knee of his grandmother, later serving as an Elliott County school cafeteria manager.

A self-taught chef, caterer, floral designer, event planner and entertainer, Smith is known not only for his expert culinary skills but also for his down-home personality and unique “country lling” fashion sense.

Smith is known as a “Triple Crown” winner in the competitive kitchens of the Food Network universe, having emerged as a winner in “Holiday Baking Championship” (season 3), “Holiday Baking Championship—Kids vs Adults” (2016), and the ultimate title of “Next Food Network Star” (season 13). He currently serves a judge on “Best Baker in America,”is regularly featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and has appeared on the “Rachel Ray Show,” “Pickler & Ben,” “Home & Family” and several other nationally and locally televised programs.

Jason Smith will emcee the CRAVE Food Performance Stage throughout the weekend.

Also appearing at this year’s CRAVE Food Performance Stage will be Kentucky native Jackie Joseph, recently crowned Food Network’s “Best Baker in America” (June 2021) and also appeared on the Food Network’s “Chopped Sweets” (2019).

A coal miner’s daughter and Prestonsburg native, Joseph was born and raised in a holler in Eastern Kentucky. Growing up in a small town, Jackie felt that a career in pastry was far from obtainable.

She began her studies at the University of Kentucky in hopes to pursue a career in dietetics, but her ever-growing passion prompted her to enroll in Sullivan University’s Baking and Pastry program.

Since completing that program, Joseph has found herself in high-profile roles such as pastry chef for Framboise Catering, the official caterer for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada and the U.S. Olympic Organizing Committee, where she baked for U.S. Olympic athletes, corporate partners and numerous visiting dignitaries.

She has also built her pastry foundation at familiar Kentucky institutions that include Martine’s Pastries, The Brown Hotel and the Omni Louisville Hotel, and has staged at the Michelin rated restaurant, Lincoln Ristorante.

Jackie Joseph will give a baking demo at the CRAVE Food Performance Stage at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 14, accompanied by “Best Baker in America” 2021 semifinalist Clarice Lam.

The CRAVE Food Performance Stage will feature a full weekend schedule of culinary and cocktail demos, a special bourbon tasting with Tom Wilmes, programming curated by Black Soil Kentucky, boxed meal-kit demos, a Cuban Sandwich cook-off and more.

Visit www.cravelexington.com/food-performances for more details and the full schedule.

The festival will also feature more than 40 food vendors, craft beer and cocktails, a classic car show, kid-friendly activities, and two days of live music from a diverse selection of the best bands in the region.