When Chef Tiffany Derry and co-founder Thomas Foley launched the inaugural Shef Food + Wine Festival in Dallas last year, the culinary world took notice. Produced by Derry and Foley’s hospitality company, T2D Concepts—the brand behind Roots Chicken Shak, Roots Southern Table, and Radici Wood Fired Grill—the festival brings together top chefs and industry experts for a fun-filled weekend of entertainment, culture and outstanding food. Derry shares via press release, “We’re bringing together some of the best chefs in the industry to celebrate great food while creating real, lasting impact in our community.”
The 2025 festival will once again take place at EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, Texas, from October 24 to 26, 2025. Alongside Derry and Foley, attendees can expect a dynamic roster of chefs, with appearances by James Beard Award winners Kwame Onwuachi, Kevin Bludso and Erick Williams. Renowned restaurateurs like Silvia Barban, Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Marcus Davis will also join the lineup.
The festival kicks off on Friday, October 24, with a “Restaurant Takeover” at Derry’s recently opened Radici Wood Fired Grill in Grand Prairie. This dinner will feature an exclusive four-course meal prepared by chefs Michael Voltaggio, Tristen Epps and Angelo Sosa. Concurrently, guests can take part in an intimate discussion, “Whiskey + Wine with Fawn and Robin,” hosted by Fawn Weaver of Nearest Green Distillery and Robin McBride of McBride Sisters Wine Company. The night concludes with an After-party, where attendees can celebrate and toast the weekend in style.
Saturday begins with a competitive pickleball tournament, followed by wine tastings with DLynn Proctor, a marketplace, a cocktail experience and a panel discussion hosted by Erick Williams. The evening concludes with the Grand Tasting, the festival’s signature celebration of food and drink on the lawn of EpicCentral, featuring individual food stations where top chefs, including Derry, serve various dishes. Sunday offers a more relaxed session with storytelling and conversation during “Mimosas and Matinee” with pastry chef and TV personality Duff Goldman.
The festival will again offer various levels of access. General admission grants entry to tastings and entertainment, while VIP tickets include early access, exclusive lounges, premium pours and chances for one-on-one interactions with chefs and beverage creators.
Beyond the bites, the Shef Food + Wine Festival champions a bigger purpose. The event continues its partnership with the Texas Restaurant Foundation to support Recipe, a workforce development platform created by T2D Concepts that empowers hospitality workers through education and mentorship. Scholarships will also be awarded to aspiring culinary students from the Dallas area.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit sheffoodandwine.com.
This article first appeared on Forbes.com.
