One of Dallas’ most anticipated events, Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival, returns with a powerhouse lineup up of chefs and restaurants for the Main Event on November 3, 2024. To celebrate the festival’s 14th anniversary, Chefs For Farmers is bringing together Dallas’ top chefs and restaurants, highlighting the very best from local, and out-of-town, farms and artisans.
This year’s festival features a lineup of Dallas’ most acclaimed chefs, each offering something special for the city’s food lovers. Among the highlights is Chef Toby Archibald of Quarter Acre, whose New Zealand-inspired Kingfish ceviche, prepared with locally sourced ingredients, will be a must-try at the Main Event. With a focus on creating innovative dishes that reflect his international influences, Toby’s presentation at the festival will provide attendees with a taste of both global flair and local produce.
Each year, participating chefs put immense creativity and behind-the-scenes effort into every dish they present, and Travis Wyatt, Executive Chef of Mirador, is no exception. His standout creation, the Caviar Donut, is a testament to both innovation and meticulous prep work. What festivalgoers won’t see is the full day of preparation, with the team starting as early as 4 a.m. to fry the donuts to perfection. The dish combines a sweet glaze infused with fish sauce, creating a delightful sweet-and-salty contrast, topped with rich caviar.
Another standout is Chef RJ Yoakum of Georgie. RJ brings a rich culinary background, including time spent at the prestigious French Laundry, to this year’s festival. After moving to Dallas, RJ has made it his mission to grow and elevate the city’s food scene, much like the festival itself, which was the first of its kind in Texas. By using local ingredients from Texas farmers and ranchers, RJ strives to change and build Dallas into a top-tier food city. His dish for this year’s festival, is a creative play on carbonara with puffed black pepper naan, smoked pecorino fondue, and sliced cured pork jowl.
The festival offers more than just standout dishes; it serves as a unique gathering for chefs from all over, offering them a rare opportunity to step away from their kitchens and connect with fellow culinary professionals. Chef James Johnson has worked at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse for 18 years. His deep roots in Dallas include working under renowned chef Dean Fearing and as a sous chef at The Mansion on Turtle Creek.; Johnson enjoys reconnecting at the festival with chefs he’s mentored. Many now run their own successful restaurants and also participate in the festival, and it fills him with pride to witness their growth. For Johnson and all the chefs, the festival is not only about presenting creative dishes but also about fostering community and camaraderie. It’s a time for chefs to reflect on their journeys, celebrate each other’s achievements, and enjoy being part of the vibrant Dallas culinary scene.
Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival isn’t just for local talent. This year’s event welcomes a powerhouse lineup that includes a few big name, out-of-town chefs.
Chef Clément Loubeyre from Restaurant Benoît in New York, a contemporary French bistro by renowned chef Alain Ducasse, brings the artistry of French pastries to the heart of Texas at this year’s Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival in Dallas. Benoît, known for its refined yet approachable dishes, is making its mark on the festival by elevating the dessert offerings with an innovative take on French pastry. Chef Loubeyre’s featured creation, a sweet potato cream with smoked crumble, pear, and kefir milk sauce, brings together the rustic charm of local Texas farms with the sophistication of French culinary techniques.
Chef Steve McHugh is bringing San Antonio flair to the Dallas culinary scene with Cured at Pearl. This will be Chef Steve’s fourth year attending the Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival, and he is looking forward to connecting with other chefs and diners from a larger Texas community. Cured focuses on the purity of the natural ingredients used in their dishes, and this year they are serving Pickled “Pimento” Cheese and fermented hot sauce all over a twice-baked saltine cracker. Chef Steve hopes that bringing his business to Dallas will encourage attendees to come and experience San Antonio and its dining culture themselves.
For an in-depth look at the chef and restaurant line-up, visit chefsforfarmers.com/dallas-festival/dallas-chefs/. For more information on the various events and experiences you can expect to see at Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival, visit chefsforfarmers.com/dallas-festival. Don’t forget to receive email notifications and exciting festival updates.
See information below for details regarding this year’s Main Event
The Main Event at Old City Park
Where: Old City Park 1515 South Harwood Street, Dallas, Texas 75215
When: Sunday, November 3, VIP: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., GA: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: VIP: Sold Out | GA: $145
About: Returning for its 14th consecutive year, don’t miss the Main Event, also known as our signature festival celebration, highlighting the best of the best from Texas and beyond. Taking place at Old City Park, turn up the heat on your taste buds as you sample delectable bites, showcasing the very best tastes from The Lone Star State. We curated a collection of the most talented chefs from our own backyard and other favorite, culinary destinations across the country, pairing them with an array of local, family farms from the 214 to concoct unforgettable dishes to show you why supporting local is what it’s all about. But that’s not all that’s not all! We’ll keep the drinks flowing as you WINE down with sips from various wineries and spirit brands. Loosen up your belts, folks – each ticket is all-inclusive of unlimited food, drinks, live entertainment and more.
Guests will also be able to vote for your favorite dish to win The Best Bite Presented by American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card.
American Airlines® Mastercard® credit cardmembers receive a 15% off exclusive ticket discount at checkout. $25 of each General Admission ticket sold will go directly to The Seed Project Foundation. Buy Tickets for The Main Event here.
