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Tickets are now on sale for the October 9–11 festival at EpicCentral, featuring culinary stars Carla Hall, Tristen Epps-Long, and Duff Goldman alongside 40+ acclaimed chefs to support the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Grand Prairie, TX (RestaurantNews.com) James Beard Award-nominated chef, entrepreneur and T2D Concepts co-founder Chef Tiffany Derry is bringing together some of the country’s most celebrated culinary talent such as Carla Hall (Chef, Emmy Award-Winning TV Personality), Kristen Kish (Chef, Emmy-nominated TV Host for Top Chef), Tristen Epps-Long (Winner – Top Chef Season 22), Duff Goldman (TV Personality, Chef & Musician), and 40+ other acclaimed chefs, for the Third Annual SHEF Food + Wine Festival, taking place October 9–11, 2026, at EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, Texas. Tickets are currently on sale at SHEFFoodAndWine.com.
More than a food and wine festival, SHEF Food + Wine is a purpose-driven celebration designed to connect people through extraordinary food, wine, and spirits while investing in the next generation of hospitality professionals. Hosted and produced by Derry and T2D Concepts co-founder Tom Foley, in partnership with Roots Impact – a T2D foundation focused on equity, mentorship and community empowerment – a portion of festival proceeds supports scholarships, workforce development, mentorship and educational opportunities that help create lasting pathways into the culinary industry.
“This festival has always been about so much more than food and wine,” said Derry. “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. Every year, seeing the impact this festival has on chefs, students, and our industry reminds me why we started it in the first place. 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.”
SHEF Food + Wine: A Weekend of Unforgettable Experiences
Friday, October 9 | Shef Sno Social, Festival Kick-Off & Restaurant Takeover
The festival begins with a day of unforgettable opportunities to mix and mingle with superstar chefs from television and acclaimed restaurants across the country. Guests are invited to kick off the weekend at the SNO SOCIAL AT THE LANDING block party, presented by Carla Hall, featuring a meet-and-greet, Syrup + Sno treats, live music, and festival vibes. The celebration continues with the SHEF Welcome Reception, complete with cocktails and a live ice carving display, before culminating in the exclusive Restaurant Takeover at Radici Wood Fired Grill (Grand Prairie), where Chef Tiffany Derry joins acclaimed chefs Erick Williams, Silvia Barban, Mika Leon, and Duff Goldman for an intimate, one-night-only collaborative dinner.
The night continues with the The Juke Joint at The Landing Afterparty, inspired by legendary Southern juke joints where great food, handcrafted cocktails, live music and lasting memories come together. Guests will enjoy late-night bites from Kenny Gilbert, Tobias Dorzon, Kevin Lee and Shirley Chung while dancing the night away in one of the festival’s most anticipated experiences.
Saturday, October 10 | The Signature Festival Experience
Saturday is the heart of SHEF Food + Wine, beginning with the Tournament of Pickleball Champions, where guests can compete against their favorite celebrity chefs. From 10AM to 12PM, attendees can enjoy The First Bite – a celebration of North Texas culinary talent featuring bites from local chefs and makers, including Zavala’s BBQ, Roots Chicken Shak, Chef Fitzgerald Dodd, Chef Nikky Phinyawatana, Winsome Prime, Cookie Society, Breakfast Brothers, Smokey John’s, and many other local favorites – alongside curated wine experiences, artisan vendors and opportunities to meet the chefs behind the festival. Guests can also hear directly from industry leaders during the Guest Chef Panel, hosted by Erick Williams, and featuring Ope, Nyesha Arrington, Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Simone Byron, as they share candid conversations about building successful careers in hospitality. The day culminates with the festival’s marquee Grand Tasting, where nationally acclaimed chefs, premium wine and spirits, live entertainment and exclusive VIP experiences come together for an unforgettable evening.
Sunday, October 11 |SHEF Matinee (TBD)
The festival weekend concludes with a relaxed and entertaining experience that will offer guests an inspiring finale filled with conversation and entertainment, along with mini sips and bites.
Meet The National Culinary & Celebrity Line-Up
This year’s festival brings together an impressive lineup of award-winning chefs, restaurateurs and culinary personalities from across the country, including:
- Thomas Foley | Co-Founder, SHEF Food + Wine
- Carla Hall | Chef, Emmy Award-winning TV Personality
- Kristen Kish | Chef, Emmy-nominated TV Host for Top Chef
- Duff Goldman | Chef & TV Personality
- Silvia Barban | Top Chef Competitor and Restaurateur
- Erick Williams | James Beard Award-winning Chef
- Michael Voltaggio | Chef & TV Personality
- Angelo Sosa | Chef & Author
- Tristen Epps-Long | Chef + Top Chef Winner Season 22
- Kevin Bludso | Award-winning Chef & Restaurateur
- Arnold Myint | Chef-Owner & Restaurateur
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph | Chef & Restaurateur
- Nyisha Arrington | Chef, TV Personality & Restaurateur
- Joe Bastianich | Restaurateur & TV Personality
- Rebecca Swindle | Chef
- Tobias Dorzan | Chef, Restaurateur & TV Personality
- Osei Blackett “Picky” | Chef, Restaurateur
- Eduardo Ossorio | Chef
- Anastasia Quinones-Pittman “AQ” | James Beard-Nominated Chef
- Shirley Chung | Chef & TV Personality
- Mika Leon | Chef, TV Personality, Author & Restaurateur
- Opeyemi “Ope” Amosu | Chef, Restaurateur
- Kevin Bludso | Chef, Restaurateur & TV Personality
- Dawn Burrell | Top Chef Finalist
- Kenny Gilbert | Chef
- Marcus Davis | Chief Steward, Entrepreneur & Radio Host
- Uno Immanivong | Chef
- Samir Dhurandhar | Chef
- Peja Krstic | Chef
- Kevin Lee | Chef
- Meika “MiMi J” Johnson | Chef
- Joe Zavala | Chef
- Simone Byron | Chef
- RJ Yoakam | Chef
- Fitzgerald Dodd | Chef
- Nikky Phinyawatana | Chef
- Robin McBride | Owner and Founder
- Lady Jade | Emcee for Saturday’s Signature Festival Experience
Since its inception, SHEF Food + Wine has become one of Texas’ premier culinary events, bringing together nationally recognized chefs, hospitality leaders, food lovers and industry professionals for a weekend centered on excellence, collaboration and meaningful impact.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and the complete festival schedule, visit SHEFFoodAndWine.com.
About T2D Concepts
T2D Concepts is the hospitality group behind Roots Chicken Shak, Roots Southern Table, Radici, Syrup + Sno, and ‘Shef Tiffany (spice and apparel line) founded on passion, principle, and purpose. Fueled by a spirit of service and a deep-rooted hunger to drive social change, Co-Founders Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley aim to bridge the gender and racial wealth gap in the hospitality industry through the power of good food and meaningful dialogue around the table. For more information, visit T2DConcepts.com.
Media Contact:
Leah Frazier
Think Three Media
469-428-7498
Leah@ThinkThreeMedia.com
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