Stephan Pyles: Chef and Philanthropist

Bon Appétit has credited Stephan Pyles with “almost single-handedly changing the cooking scene in Texas.” The culinary wunderkind has created 14 restaurants, published best selling cookbooks, produced an Emmy-winning TV series, and even brought home the James Beard award. This pioneer of New Millennium Southwestern Cuisine has finally opened a fabulous restaurant which bears his own name. 

What’s left to conquer? Hunger. Pyles’ passion is serving his community and ensuring that no one has to go to bed on an empty stomach. Stephan Pyles is a founding board member of Share Our Strength, America’s largest hunger relief organization. In 1998, Share Our Strength presented Pyles the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his outstanding patronage. Pyles founded Dallas’ Taste of the Nation event for the organization in 1988, raising over $1,500,000 for local ministries and food pantries. He also serves as a life board member of The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), an organization which “seeks to eliminate hunger by distributing food and grocery products through a network of nonprofits while providing education and increasing community awareness”. 

Since its inception in 1982, NTFB has procured and locally distributed more than 293 million pounds of food. In 1986, Pyles co-founded NTFB’s perishable food program The Hunger Link, which connects Dallas restaurants and hotels with shelters and meal programs. The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Foundation and Pyles encourage rising stars by offering a $15,000 annual scholarship in his name to a promising Texas culinary student.