Grand Prairie, October 19, 2025
News Summary
The Shef Food + Wine Festival will be held from October 24 to 26 in Grand Prairie at EpicCentral. Curated by Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley, the festival celebrates food with a roster of notable chefs and culinary events, while supporting community initiatives like workforce education. Highlights include tastings, panels, and the anticipated Grand Tasting event. Tickets start at $15, and proceeds support the Texas Restaurant Foundation’s RECIPE program, promoting mentorship for aspiring culinary students.
Grand Prairie
The Shef Food + Wine festival will take place from October 24 to 26 in Grand Prairie at EpicCentral. The event returns for its second year with a roster of notable culinary figures and a program designed to celebrate food while creating a lasting impact on the community.
What’s happening and why it matters
This is the second annual festival, curated by Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of T2D Concepts. The festival aims to bring national and regional chefs together for multi-day programming that includes tastings, panels, dinners, and social events. Organizers emphasize culinary celebration alongside community investment by supporting workforce education and mentorship.
Who is involved
The festival will feature renowned culinary personalities, including James Beard Award Winner Kwame Onwuachi, Ace of Cakes’ Duff Goldman, Chef and author Angelo Sosa, James Beard winner Chef Erick Williams, and Chef Silvia Barban, known for her new pasta shop Tortelli in NYC and also an alum of Top Chef. Celebrity Chef Tiffany Derry, a former contestant on Top Chef who owns Roots Southern Table and Radici Wood Fired Grill, is one of the curators.
Event highlights and schedule
Planned activities span three days and are intended for a broad range of attendees, from industry professionals to food enthusiasts. Key items on the schedule include:
- Restaurant Takeover on opening night featuring a four-course dinner at Radici Wood Fired Grill.
- Shef Welcome Reception on Friday.
- A panel discussion titled Whiskey and Wine with Dawn and Robin.
- An afterparty with live music.
- A competitive pickleball tournament.
- Tasting sessions and the Grand Tasting event on Saturday evening, showcasing dishes from top chefs.
Community and education focus
The festival supports the Texas Restaurant Foundation’s RECIPE program, which promotes education and mentorship for hospitality workers. As part of that commitment, scholarships will be awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area. The programming is structured to pair public-facing events with initiatives that benefit local hospitality workers and students.
Tickets and access
Tickets for the festival range, with general admission starting at $15 depending on the event. A range of ticket categories will be available for different events and experiences across the three days. For more information and tickets, attendees can visit ShefFoodandWine.com.
Context and background
The festival follows a first-year effort that aimed to position Dallas as a culinary hub and was well received. The previous year’s festival aimed to position Dallas as a culinary hub and was well received. Organizers return this year with curated programming and broader community partnerships to expand the festival’s reach and impact.
More than 20,000 subscribers receive updates from Dallas Voice, which features events and news in North Texas. This subscriber base is among the audiences that have followed the festival’s development and the broader regional culinary conversation.
Logistics and location
The in-person footprint for the festival will center on EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, with select events staged at nearby restaurants such as Radici Wood Fired Grill. The multi-venue approach aims to connect festival programming directly to the local restaurant community.
FAQ
When and where will the festival take place?
The Shef Food + Wine festival will take place from October 24 to 26 in Grand Prairie at EpicCentral.
Who curated the festival?
This is the second annual festival, curated by Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of T2D Concepts.
Which chefs and personalities will appear?
The festival will feature renowned culinary personalities, including James Beard Award Winner Kwame Onwuachi, Ace of Cakes’ Duff Goldman, Chef and author Angelo Sosa, James Beard winner Chef Erick Williams, and Chef Silvia Barban, known for her new pasta shop Tortelli in NYC, also an alum of Top Chef.
What are some headline events during the festival?
A “Restaurant Takeover” on opening night featuring a four-course dinner at Radici Wood Fired Grill, a “Shef Welcome Reception” on Friday, a panel discussion titled “Whiskey and Wine with Dawn and Robin,” an afterparty with live music, a competitive pickleball tournament, tasting sessions and the Grand Tasting event on Saturday evening, showcasing dishes from top chefs.
Does the festival support any community programs?
The festival supports the Texas Restaurant Foundation’s RECIPE program, which promotes education and mentorship for hospitality workers.
Will scholarships be offered?
Scholarships will be awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area.
How much do tickets cost and where can I get them?
Tickets for the festival range, with general admission starting at $15 depending on the event. For more information and tickets, attendees can visit ShefFoodandWine.com.
What is the festival’s prior history?
The previous year’s festival aimed to position Dallas as a culinary hub and was well received.
Is there local media interest?
More than 20,000 subscribers receive updates from Dallas Voice, which features events and news in North Texas.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | October 24 to 26 |
| Location | Grand Prairie at EpicCentral |
| Curators | Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of T2D Concepts |
| Notable Participants | Kwame Onwuachi; Duff Goldman; Angelo Sosa; Erick Williams; Silvia Barban; Tiffany Derry |
| Key Events | Restaurant Takeover; Shef Welcome Reception; Whiskey and Wine panel; Afterparty; Pickleball tournament; Grand Tasting |
| Community Support | Texas Restaurant Foundation’s RECIPE program |
| Scholarships | Awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area |
| Ticketing | General admission starting at $15 |
| More Information | ShefFoodandWine.com |
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Additional Resources
- Forbes: Dallas Gears Up for Shef Food + Wine Festival
- Dallas Voice: Chef Pride
- Dallas Observer: Tiffany Derry’s Festival
- Dallas News: Shef Food + Wine Festival
- Dallas Innovates: Shef Food + Wine Returns
- Wikipedia: Food Festival
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Festival
- Google Search: Shef Food Wine Festival
- Google Scholar: Shef Food Wine Festival
- Google News: Shef Food Wine Festival
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
