Chefs for Farmers showcases Dallas' best chefs along with​ local and regional farmers. Photos courtesy of Chefs for Farmers.

Oct. 31, 2017

Chefs For Farmers might be just one of the best farm-to-fork festivals you will attend this year. A four-day affair from Nov. 2 to 5, the festival promises a mouthwatering extravaganza of local food from some of the best chefs in the country.  

As farmers take center stage while chefs rock the best locally sourced dishes, guests can take it all in bite by bite.  

Chef for Farmers“Our mission is to connect those who grow our food with those who serve it, to create sustainable relationships that benefit the whole community,” said Chefs For Farmers co-founder Iris McCallister. “At our festival, chefs are working booths right alongside farmers, and this is how many of them meet. We believe locally sourced, ethically raised food can be a sustainable model for both restaurants and consumers. And we’re throwing an amazing four-day party to celebrate this.”

As many as 30 nationally acclaimed chefs – most are James Beard nominees and winners – will descend on Dallas to cook alongside local culinary heroes and Texas farms. Featured national chefs include Top Chef Season 14 winner Brooke Williamson, Justin Burdett from Local Provisions in Asheville, Kelly English from Iris and Second Line in Memphis, Sheldon Simeon of Tin Roof in Maui, Shuai Wang from Short Grain in Charleston, Tyson Cole from Uchi in Austin, John Patterson from Fork in Philadelphia, and Michael Gulotta of MoPho in New Orleans. Attendees will also sip the best selections from select wineries, local breweries and top-shelf distillers. 

With all the chefs and farmers taking part there will be a number of events taking place over the four-day period.

EVENTS

Chef for FarmersThursday’s Bite Night features an all-star group of Top Chef alum at Dallas Farmers Market. Friday’s Know Thy Farmer seated dinner is presented by Celebrity Cruises and Whole Foods Market. This pairing includes five Texas farms with five farm-to-table chefs to serve a seasonally inspired dinner at the recently renovated Adolphus Hotel – all about local food at its best.

On Saturday, guests can enjoy the Street Good Night Market at Victory Park where the chefs will be offering up globally inspired food created with locally sourced ingredients. 

Then there is Sunday’s Main Event at Oak Lawn park. This is what McCallister describes as the “treasure map of culinary delights.” The event is basically all about celebrating the hard-working farmers who grow the food and the talented chefs who create the menus with this food.

Chefs for Farms also celebrates helping local charities too. 

GOOD FOOD, GOOD CAUSE

“This year, CFF is spotlighting Visiting Nurse Association Meals on Wheels, to bring fresh food to more of our community’s elderly, chronically ill and disabled citizens,” McCallister said 

Chefs For Farmers has also paired with Whole Foods Market to provide $5,000 in fresh food to VNA Meals on Wheels. Chefs For Farmers encourages everyone to participate in VNA’s upcoming Power of the Pie fundraiser to continue providing resources throughout the year too.

FARMERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

“Foremost, Chefs For Farmers will spotlight 15 featured farms at this year’s festival,” McCallister explained. “These local farms employ ethical, sustainable farming practices to create high quality food. The participating chefs are already starting to plan the locally-sourced ingredients they will be featuring in the delicious dishes they will serve at CFF’s four events.” 

For vegans and vegetarians, McCallister said there will be some options. 

“We leave the dishes entirely up to the chefs, and every year several chefs will choose to create vegetarian or vegan.”  

Chefs for Farmers

About: Four-day culinary blowout that brings chefs, artisans and culinary influencers together to celebrate supporting local and regional farmers.

When: Nov. 2-5

Where: On Thursday, Bite Night is at Dallas Farmers Market. On Friday, Know Thy Farmer Dinner will be held at the Adolphus. On Saturday, Street Food Night Market is at Victory Park. On Sunday, the Main Event is held at Oak Lawn Park.

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