Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation (FWFWF) announces today its lineup of fall events, all of which highlight North Texas’ thriving culinary scene and reflect the Foundation’s mission of championing and cultivating North Texas’ hospitality community. Four returning events from September through November including Industry Insights, Shooting with the Chefs, The Napa Valley Wine Experience, and Night Market create an event roster flexing the culinary talent across Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond while emphasising the Foundation’s work to support current and upcoming culinary talent via scholarships, resources, and educational opportunities.
While supporting the Foundation’s core mission, attendees can expect an array of programming from a buzzy street market full of global fare to an expanded wine tasting night with 45 Napa Valley wineries. Known for producing community-minded culinary events with local, regional, and national talent, the FWFWF has raised more than $765,000 to fund programming, grants, chef stipends, emergency relief funds, and scholarships that support the food and beverage industry in the local community. The autumn happenings demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to creating lasting impact by funding education, fueling entrepreneurship, and building community connections.
“Our fall season is special because it brings together all of the Foundation’s efforts in one lineup,” says Julie Eastman, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation. “Between education, investment, expansion, and excitement from our featured chefs, attendees discover that the FWFWF is illustrating their investment across the board, from the annual shooting event fundraiser that brings in businesses to showcase skill alongside that of our chefs to our growing industry focused education series that empowers our agriculture, hospitality, culinary, and beverage communities to grow. After time away from our chefs and supporters this summer, fall brings it all back to the table.”
Fall Event Lineup Industry Insights: A Lunch + Learn Series for Food & Beverage Professionals
Celebrating a full year of support for area culinary professionals, Industry Insights is the only bi-monthly function that the Foundation hosts all year long. The free lunch and learn series is designed specifically for food and beverage professionals and is made possible in part by The Culinary School of Fort Worth, an organization also dedicated to strengthening the current and next generation of culinary professionals in Fort Worth.
Every other month, Industry Insights features expert-led discussions that provide food and beverage workers with practical advice on pressing topics from how AI affects business operations to understanding commercial real estate and even how Executive Chefs can be the best possible mentors for their Sous Chefs. The sessions are always held around a complimentary lunch and give working professionals a chance to network.
The Talent Equation: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retention This session explores how hospitality operators are finding strong candidates in the workforce, and what’s keeping them onboard long term. Panelists include Richard Miller with The Mansion at Turtle Creek, Nicole Workman with The Grand Hyatt, and Russell Kirkpatrick with From Scratch Hospitality.
Details:
- September 21, 2026 | 12–1 PM | The Culinary School of Fort Worth (6550 Camp Bowie Blvd. #110, Fort Worth)
- Registration: Free for industry professionals (limited spaces)
Navigating the Numbers: Menus, Costs, and Vendor Relationships Explores how to plan a creative menu while protecting the bottom line in an economy where food costs and vendor pricing are constantly shifting.
Details:
- November 16, 2026 | 12–1 PM | The Culinary School of Fort Worth (6550 Camp Bowie Blvd. #110, Fort Worth)
- Registration: Free for industry professionals (limited spaces)
Shooting with the Chefs
A fan favorite, Shooting with the Chefs allows attendees to try their hands at sports clay shooting while networking with celebrity chefs and industry professionals in a fun and competitive setting as teams compete for top prizes. In its fifth year, this event has raised an upwards of $60,000 for the Foundation’s scholarships and grants programs.
Guest shooters this year include Marcus Paslay (Clay Pigeon, Piattello, Provender Hall), Quincy Wallace (Fred’s Texas Cafe), Jon Bonnell (Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Waters Restaurant, Buffalo Bros), Gigi Howell (JD’s Hamburgers), Travis Heim (Heim Barbecue, One Trick Pony Pizza Tavern), and more. Lunch provided by The Hamburger Man and live music by the Jeremy Young Band.
Details:
- October 18, 2025 | 9 AM–2 PM | Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch (8270 Aledo Rd, Fort Worth)
- Registration: $600 per team of four; $30 spectator (includes lunch and entertainment)
The Napa Valley Wine Experience
Presented with the Napa Valley Vintners Association, this one-night-only tasting has expanded from last year’s inaugural event to feature 45 acclaimed wineries, with winemakers, proprietors, and estate principals pouring in person—a return that enunciates the Foundation’s credibility to work alongside notable organizations to bring something truly unique to North Texas. This event is Napa Valley Vintners Association’s largest 2026 appearance in North Texas, giving Dallas/Fort Worth oenophiles the chance to learn about winemaking, meet expert winemakers, and get a taste of Napa Valley without leaving Cowtown.
The Foundation strives to bring its mission of education and access to the forefront with this experience, and an earlier-in-the-day gathering offers local sommeliers the chance to mingle with Napa experts for a hands-on session that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the region’s top producers.
Details:
- October 29, 2026 | 6–8:00 PM | Cullen Yards (2412 Cullen St., Fort Worth)
- Tickets: $159 per person
Night Market The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion bustles with Night Market, when 17 culinary concepts and 16 beverage participants from across Dallas/Fort Worth flex their foodie skills to nearly 1,000 guests with dishes highlighting global cuisine and creative craft cocktails meant to please every palate. As emerging chefs share their culture and expertise, enjoy global fare from food trucks, family-run restaurants and new concepts, with bites inspired by Mexico City, Laos, Vietnam, and Soul Food, among many others.
Don’t miss the Foundation’s signature mixologist showdown, a friendly competition amongst some of the most talented bartenders across North Texas. Live music keeps the energy going all night, and proceeds support FWFWF’s scholarship and grant programs, ensuring the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs have the resources for success. Blackland Distillery will serve as the event’s official spirit sponsor.
Current Chef Participants:
- Julee Chanthapanya — ZAAP Kitchen Lao & Thai Street Eats
- Zameika “Chef Z” Williams — Luckey G’s Bistro
- Tuan Pham — Four Sisters – A Taste of Vietnam
- Nick Hurry — Paradiso Fort Worth *First Time Participant
- Jake Morgan — Flama Blanca *First Time Participant
Currently Mixologist Participants:
- Conner Hargesheimer — Nickel City
- Konrad Hartman & Ethan Goettsch — Mea Culpa Bar
- Travis Lutje — Stewart’s Croquet Club & Cocktails
- Jimmie Quintana — Reata Restaurant
- Kelly Middleton — Westland Bar Co.
- Drew Arroyo — Amber Room
- Lisa Little-Adams — PROPER
- Jason Pollard — The Usual
- Ricky Cleva — Atlas FW
Full Chef and Mixologist Lineup to Follow. Details:
- November 12, 2026 | 6:30–9:00 PM | The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St., Fort Worth)
- Tickets: $65 per person
Tickets for all fall events are available now at fwfwf.org. For more information about The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation or to arrange interviews, please contact Ivy Lopez at ivy@hollandcollective.co.
ABOUT THE FORT WORTH FOOD + WINE FOUNDATION Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation that is funded by proceeds from the annual Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival and charitable donations from the public. The Foundation celebrates local culinary talent today while also helping protect it for tomorrow, funding culinary scholarships, chef stipends, and more, creating bright futures for local students, their families, and the community. For more information, visit FWFWF online.
