Chef in Bloom: Mark Weaver Blossoms — and Brings His Garden to the Becker Luncheon

Chef Mark Weaver will bring the bounty of the San Antonio Botanical Garden to this week's Becker Luncheon.

The Hill Country will be in full bloom this November when Culinaria returns to Becker Vineyards for the annual Becker Luncheon — one of the most anticipated and elegant gatherings of the season. 

Picture this: tables set for the season,  glasses catching the late-autumn light, and a menu crafted by some of San Antonio’s most celebrated chefs — including the newly appointed Director of Culinary Programs at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Chef Mark Weaver.

Many local food lovers remember Chef Weaver for Periphery, his cozy Monte Vista neighborhood restaurant that earned devoted fans for dishes like his smoke-roasted chicken and chicken-liver bolognese. Today, Weaver is cultivating creativity in a new setting: the San Antonio Botanical Garden, where his garden-to-table philosophy quite literally takes root.

Chef Weaver talks San Antonio Botanical Garden guests through vegetables available in the Garden.

“I’m calling it a guest chef series,” Weaver says of his new educational initiative. “Some sessions are hands-on, some aren’t,” Weaver told us on a recent walkabout on the Garden’s 40-acres. “But each one comes with its own stories.”

Those stories, and the flavors that inspire them, are now blooming beyond the Garden’s gates, including at this year’s Becker Luncheon.

As one of four featured chefs at this intimate Hill Country affair, Chef Weaver will bring the bounty of the Garden to his dish, the second of four courses that showcase Texas seasonality and creative culinary flair. Alongside the technique of the rest of this stellar chef lineup (which also includes Tyler Anderegg of Becker Vineyards, Aaron Juvera of Southerleigh Hospitality Group, and Geronimo Lopez of Hotel Emma), attendees can expect Weaver’s thoughtful approach to fresh herbs, local produce, and refined technique.

Together, they’ll craft an afternoon that celebrates Texas terroir, culinary craftsmanship, and the signature hospitality that defines Culinaria. 

Every course will be paired with wines from award-winning Becker Vineyards and Comfort-area Bending Branch Winery, creating an experience that’s as much about connection as it is cuisine. With Hill Country views, locally inspired flavors, and a lineup of culinary talent rarely found under one tent — this is the kind of afternoon that lingers long after the last sip.

Adding even more depth to the experience, veteran wine writer and author of Hill Country: Winery Getaways John Griffin will also be on hand to share stories from the vineyard trails and insider tips from his travels through Texas wine country. His thoughtful insights and anecdotes will give guests a richer appreciation for the wines poured throughout the afternoon.

The Becker Luncheon

📅 Friday, November 14 | 11:30 AM 📍 Becker Vineyards | 464 Becker Farms Road, Stonewall, TX

🎟️ Early Bird $80 | General $100 (Advance Sales Only)

Seats are limited — and this experience is as unforgettable as it is unrepeatable.👉

Reserve your seat among the vines today → https://www.culinariasa.org/becker-luncheon