One of Austin’s most recognizable restaurant groups is teaming up with local students for something that goes beyond the usual food event.
Kerbey Lane All Day Cafe and Austin Independent School District have announced a new culinary collaboration aimed at addressing student food insecurity while giving high school chefs a real shot at seeing their work on a restaurant menu.
At the center of the partnership is a live student competition taking place Friday, April 24 at the Austin ISD Central Warehouse. Teams from Austin High School and Bowie High School will go head to head from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., presenting original dishes developed over the course of the semester.
Students have been working on restaurant level concepts, with each dish required to include a protein, a composed sauce or accompaniment, and two sides, all built with presentation and menu viability in mind.
A panel of judges will evaluate each entry based on creativity, execution, and how well the dish could translate onto a Kerbey Lane menu. The winning recipe will be featured across Kerbey Lane locations throughout Austin, giving students a rare opportunity to move from classroom to a citywide audience. The panel includes Madeline Hollern, editor in chief of Austin Monthly, Kerbey Lane CEO Mason Ayer, and a student judge, keeping the evaluation grounded in both industry and community perspectives.
The competition is part of a broader partnership between Kerbey Lane and Austin ISD Food Service, tied to the restaurant group’s Kerbey Kindness initiative. The program, launched in 2023, focuses on providing ongoing support to local organizations, with Austin ISD currently serving as a key partner.
That support has already taken shape in a few ways. Earlier this year, the collaboration included a district wide Pancake Challenge for elementary students, drawing nearly 1,600 entries from 53 schools. Winning creations are now being featured as Kerbey Lane’s Pancake of the Month from April through June, with proceeds helping offset negative student meal account balances across the district.
There have also been menu adaptations, with Austin ISD incorporating school friendly versions of Kerbey Lane favorites like Texas Benedict and Migas during National School Breakfast Week.
The goal moving forward is straightforward. Create opportunities for students, support access to meals, and use the city’s food culture as a way to bring those efforts together in a tangible way.
The live competition takes place April 24 at 3701 Woodbury Drive.
For more information, visit kerbeylanecafe.com or austinisd.org/food-services.