The NFL had Bill Nunn. MLB had Tony Lucadello, and soccer had Piet de Visser. All were legendary scouts who could spot talent from a mile away. Dallas’ hospitality scene has Iris Midler, founder of Chefs For Farmers, a food and wine festival that brings together top chefs, restaurants, wineries, and culinary talent for a weekend of events celebrating the Dallas dining scene.
This year, ahead of the 16th annual Chefs for Farmers festival, Midler is honoring the crème de la crème of hospitality in the inaugural Community Impact Awards being held Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m. at CBD Provisions at the Joule.
The awards recognize culinary leaders making an impact across the hospitality landscape through philanthropy, mentorship, and more, recognizing honorees in four categories: restaurants, wine and spirits, hospitality, and food purveyors.
“These first honorees embody the qualities and contributions we value most in our community. Respect. Teamwork. Generosity. Mentorship. Integrity. Vision,” said Midler. “These are just a few of the outstanding qualities we will recognize in these inaugural recipients as we honor them at this intimate dinner.”
Honorees include Greg Katz, founder of Katz Brothers Hospitality, as the 2026 Restaurant honoree; Jamey Bellan, executive vice president and general manager of Southern Glazer’s Texas, as the 2026 Wine and Spirits honoree; Marisol Lopez, director of sales at HALL Arts Hotel, as the 2026 Hospitality honoree; and Richard Torres, vice president and co-owner of Chefs’ Produce Company as the 2026 Purveyor honoree.
Since 2010, Chefs For Farmers has grown from a farm-to-table dinner into Dallas’ premier food and wine festival. Now in its 16th year, it has created a platform for Texas talent, championing the relationship between farmers and chefs. The multi-day festival now spans Houston and Dallas, and focuses on the people behind the dishes that define each city. Midler has her fingerprints on every step of the process.
Throughout the year, she works tirelessly, from 3 a.m. emails to endless dinners where she builds genuine relationships with chefs, hospitality leaders, servers, farmers, and ambassadors. Her intimate knowledge and connection with the Texas culinary scene is the foundation for the awards, backed by her boots-on-the-ground research.
In 2025, the festival introduced the Chad Houser Catalyst Award. The award is named after Café Momentum’s founder and 2025 James Beard Awardee for Humanitarian of The Year, Chad Houser. Through Café Momentum, Houser has set the standard for community impact through post-incarceration career training and life-readiness programs for youth. The café’s program has equipped more than 1,000 justice-involved youth with the skills, network, and support system to transform their lives and reach their potential.
Billy Can Can executive chef Matt Ford was recognized as the 2025 recipient for his work with Youth With Faces. The 2026 Chad Houser Catalyst Award will be announced at the first Community Impact Awards.Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Café Momentum.
The 2026 Community Impact Awards is presented by Headington Companies, and hosted by CEO Tim Headington. The partnership is a leading example of the Chefs For Farmers mission, Midler says.
“Hosting this inaugural event at CBD Provisions with Mr. Headington means so much to me,” said Midler in a statement. “His unique concepts have elevated Downtown Dallas and employed hundreds of culinary professionals over the years, many of whom have gone on to be incredible chefs and restaurateurs in their own right. His investment in our city and its people is a rare gift and is truly inspiring.”
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome reception at the Eye at the Joule. The awards dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. at CBD Provisions. Bob Sambol, founder of Bob’s Steak and Chop House, will emcee the event.
Chef Sezer Deniz of CBD Provisions, Meridian’s Eduardo Osorio, and Café Momentum’s Aaron Collins collaborated on the four-course dinner, including quail and pork pâté, escargot ravioli, STX Prime hanger steak, and dessert. Tickets are $165 per person and available on Resy.
For Midler, the awards are another way of doing what she has spent the past 16 years doing: keeping a close eye on the people shaping Dallas hospitality, and making sure the ones doing exceptional work don’t go unnoticed. After all, a good scout knows talent when she sees it.
