Grand Prairie, Texas, October 3, 2025
News Summary
Shef Food + Wine is making a welcome return to Grand Prairie, Texas, hosting a three-day culinary and community-focused event from October 24–26. Curated by Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of T2D Concepts, the festival highlights nationally recognized chefs and immersive tasting experiences. Emphasizing food as a vehicle for positive community impact, the event will feature the Grand Tasting, a Restaurant Takeover, and engaging panel discussions. Collaborations with local organizations aim to support culinary education and workforce development in the Dallas area, promising a weekend filled with deliciousness and purpose.
Grand Prairie, Texas
Shef Food + Wine returns to Grand Prairie for three-day culinary and community event
Shef Food + Wine returns to Grand Prairie, Texas from October 24–26. The event is curated by chef Tiffany Derry and hospitality entrepreneur Tom Foley of T2D Concepts. The festival showcases nationally recognized chefs, immersive tastings, and purpose-driven programming designed to use food as a platform for community impact. The theme of the festival emphasizes food as a force for good and includes partnerships intended to support workforce development and scholarships for aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area.
Key event highlights and schedule
The festival centers around the Grand Tasting, an open-air culinary event featuring dishes from top chefs across the U.S. The event kicks off on October 24 with a Restaurant Takeover at Radici Wood Fired Grill, featuring a four-course dinner by guest chefs. Highlights on Friday include a Wine and Whiskey Tasting along with a panel discussion led by Robin McBride and Fawn Weaver, followed by an evening After Party for guests and chefs. On Saturday, the event will start with a Pickleball Tournament, followed by tastings, cocktails, and storytelling sessions throughout the day.
Featured chefs and talent
Participating chefs include Kwame Onwuachi, Duff Goldman, Angelo Sosa, Erick Williams, Silvia Barban, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Arnold Myint, Tristen Epps-Long, Kevin Bludso, Saeng Douangdara, Michael Voltaggio, Marcus Davis, and Dawn Burrell. The program aims to bring national culinary talent to North Texas for a weekend of food and community impact. Last year’s Restaurant Takeover featured multiple courses prepared by chefs like Michael Voltaggio and Dawn Burrell.
Organizers and mission
Tiffany Derry gained national fame on Top Chef and has appeared in over 160 episodes of food-focused television. Derry and Foley co-founded T2D Concepts in 2016, which focuses on social impact in the hospitality sector. T2D Concepts aims to create opportunities for women and minorities in the restaurant industry. Roots Chicken Shak and Roots Southern Table are two restaurants operated by T2D Concepts.
Community partnerships and education
The festival collaborates with the Texas Restaurant Foundation to support RECIPE, a workforce development platform providing mentorship and educational opportunities for hospitality workers. Scholarships will be awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area as part of the festival’s purpose-driven programming.
Attendance and audience
Organizers expect a mix of local attendees and visitors from other regions who are drawn by the event’s lineup and its emphasis on social impact. The combination of tastings, panels, competitions, and structured networking opportunities is intended to serve both industry professionals and general food enthusiasts.
Background and context
Shef Food + Wine was created to highlight culinary talent while linking hospitality to community and workforce priorities. The festival’s programming model includes ticketed culinary experiences, educational panels, and partnerships with nonprofit and industry groups to expand career pathways in hospitality. By bringing nationally recognized chefs to North Texas, the event seeks to raise visibility for local hospitality initiatives and create practical pathways for mentorship and training.
This year’s schedule preserves the festival’s established elements—grand tastings, chef-led dinners, and panel discussions—while adding recreational and community-oriented activities like the Pickleball Tournament to broaden engagement. The festival’s organizers highlight the dual goals of showcasing culinary excellence and creating measurable community benefits through scholarships and workforce support.
Logistics and practical details
The event runs October 24–26 in Grand Prairie, Texas. Programming is spread across multiple venues, with the Restaurant Takeover beginning at Radici Wood Fired Grill, and the Grand Tasting in an open-air format to accommodate a broad lineup of chefs and demonstrations. Specific ticketing options, schedules for individual sessions, and additional participating restaurants are typically posted by organizers in advance of the event.
FAQ
Q: When and where does the festival take place?
A: Shef Food + Wine returns to Grand Prairie, Texas from October 24–26.
Q: Who is curating the event?
A: The event is curated by chef Tiffany Derry and hospitality entrepreneur Tom Foley of T2D Concepts.
Q: What is the theme of the festival?
A: The theme of the festival emphasizes food as a force for good.
Q: What is the central feature of the festival?
A: The festival centers around the Grand Tasting, an open-air culinary event featuring dishes from top chefs across the U.S.
Q: What happens on October 24?
A: The event kicks off on October 24 with a Restaurant Takeover at Radici Wood Fired Grill, featuring a four-course dinner by guest chefs.
Q: What are the highlights on Friday?
A: Highlights on Friday include a Wine and Whiskey Tasting along with a panel discussion led by Robin McBride and Fawn Weaver.
Q: What activities are planned for Saturday?
A: On Saturday, the event will start with a Pickleball Tournament, followed by tastings, cocktails, and storytelling sessions throughout the day.
Q: Which chefs are participating?
A: Participating chefs include Kwame Onwuachi, Duff Goldman, Angelo Sosa, Erick Williams, Silvia Barban, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Arnold Myint, Tristen Epps-Long, Kevin Bludso, Saeng Douangdara, Michael Voltaggio, Marcus Davis, and Dawn Burrell.
Q: What is T2D Concepts and when was it founded?
A: Derry and Foley co-founded T2D Concepts in 2016, which focuses on social impact in the hospitality sector.
Q: What workforce or education programs are involved?
A: The festival collaborates with the Texas Restaurant Foundation to support RECIPE, a workforce development platform providing mentorship and educational opportunities for hospitality workers.
Q: Will scholarships be awarded?
A: Scholarships will be awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area.
Event features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 24–26 |
| Location | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Curators | Tiffany Derry; Tom Foley of T2D Concepts |
| Central event | Grand Tasting (open-air, dishes from top chefs across the U.S.) |
| Kickoff | Restaurant Takeover at Radici Wood Fired Grill (four-course dinner) |
| Friday highlights | Wine and Whiskey Tasting; panel discussion led by Robin McBride and Fawn Weaver; After Party |
| Saturday highlights | Pickleball Tournament; tastings, cocktails, storytelling sessions |
| Community partners | Texas Restaurant Foundation; RECIPE workforce development platform |
| Scholarships | Scholarships awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area |
| T2D Concepts focus | Create opportunities for women and minorities in the restaurant industry; social impact in hospitality |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Fall Festivals Celebrate Food and Wine in North Texas
North Texas Food Festivals Celebrate Cultural Diversity
Art Worth Festival to Showcase Visual Arts and Music
Shef Food + Wine Festival Returns to Grand Prairie
Additional Resources
- Dallas Innovates
- Culture Map Dallas
- Dallas Voice
- Dallas Observer
- WFAA
- Wikipedia: Grand Prairie, Texas
- Google Search: Tiffany Derry
- Google Scholar: Shef Food + Wine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food
- Google News: Shef Food + Wine
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