SHEF Food + Wine Festival returning to Grand Prairie

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Chef Tiffany Derry will bring a lineup of nationally known chefs, restaurateurs and television personalities to Grand Prairie this fall for the third annual SHEF Food + Wine Festival.

The three-day festival is scheduled for Oct. 9-11 at EpicCentral and will feature more than 40 chefs, including Carla Hall, “Top Chef” Season 22 winner Tristen Epps-Long, Duff Goldman, Kristen Kish, Erick Williams and Michael Voltaggio.

Derry, a James Beard Award-nominated chef and co-founder of T2D Concepts, produces the festival with T2D Concepts co-founder Thomas Foley.

The event combines food, wine, entertainment and culinary programming while raising money to support scholarships, mentorship, workforce development and educational opportunities for people entering the hospitality industry.

“This festival has always been about so much more than food and wine,” Derry said. “It’s about bringing people together, celebrating our community, and creating opportunities for the next generation of culinary talent to learn, connect, and dream bigger.”

A portion of festival proceeds will support Roots Impact, a T2D foundation focused on equity, mentorship and community development.

The weekend begins Friday, Oct. 9, with the Sno Social at The Landing, presented by Hall. The event will include food, live music and an opportunity for guests to meet participating chefs.

Friday’s schedule also includes a welcome reception and a restaurant takeover at Radici Wood Fired Grill in Grand Prairie.

Derry will be joined by chefs Erick Williams, Silvia Barban, Mika Leon and Goldman for the collaborative dinner.

The night will conclude with The Juke Joint at The Landing, featuring late-night food from Kenny Gilbert, Tobias Dorzon, Kevin Lee and Shirley Chung, along with cocktails and live music.

Saturday, Oct. 10, will serve as the festival’s main day of programming.

Events include the Tournament of Pickleball Champions and The First Bite, which will highlight North Texas restaurants, chefs and food businesses.

Participating local names include Zavala’s BBQ, Roots Chicken Shak, Cookie Society, Breakfast Brothers, Smokey John’s, Winsome Prime and chefs Fitzgerald Dodd and Nikky Phinyawatana.

The festival will also include a chef panel focused on careers in the hospitality industry before Saturday’s Grand Tasting, which will feature food from participating chefs, wine and spirits, entertainment and VIP experiences.

Organizers said Sunday’s programming is still being finalized. A SHEF Matinee is planned to close the festival with food, drinks, conversation and entertainment.

Other chefs and culinary personalities scheduled to participate during the weekend include Joe Bastianich, Angelo Sosa, Kevin Bludso, Dawn Burrell, Shirley Chung, Mika Leon, Opeyemi “Ope” Amosu and Anastasia Quiñones-Pittman.

Derry said the event has continued to grow while maintaining its focus on developing future hospitality professionals.

“Every year, seeing the impact this festival has on chefs, students, and our industry reminds me why we started it in the first place,” Derry said. “This is our biggest, most exciting year yet, and I can’t wait to welcome everyone to Grand Prairie and share what we’ve been cooking up.”

Tickets are currently on sale through the SHEF Food + Wine Festival website.

Meet the National Culinary and Celebrity Lineup

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Joshua Carter

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Joshua Carter, a Dallas native, is a seasoned journalist with a passion for storytelling. He holds a bachelor's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of North Texas and has previously worked for the Dallas Express. Throughout his career, Joshua has interviewed a diverse range of personalities, from Mark Cuban to Ice Cube, providing unique insights into their lives. With a commitment to excellence, he continues to captivate audiences with his compelling storytelling and insightful interviews.

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