North Texas Food Bank's Empty Bowls

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

North Texas Food Bank Perot Family Campus

3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, TX 75075

Held at the North Texas Food Bank’s Perot Family Campus in Plano, Empty Bowls brings together food, art and music lovers who have a heart for helping our neighbors. Each attendee will be able to enjoy delicious, bowl-friendly fare, prepared by talented chefs and restaurants from across North Texas.

The event will also feature  live entertainment, as well as an interactive shopping experience and varied silent auction. In addition to great food and fun, each guest will be able to select a handcrafted bowl made by a local artisan that serves as a reminder that not everyone has access to a full bowl.

https://ntfb.org/event/empty-bowls-2026/

Empty Bowls 25th Anniversary

Thursday, February 27, 2025

North Texas Food Bank

3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, Texas

This event is for guests 21 and over.

Early VIP Access: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Main Event: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Now in its 25th year, Empty Bowls brings together the community with a unique, food tasting experience, featuring dishes crafted by some of the area’s most talented chefs and beloved restaurants.

Each guest selects a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted bowl from a local artisan—a powerful reminder that not every bowl is full, and together, we can help fill them.

Join Us for a Milestone Year!

Food Trucks

Digital Cookbook with featured recipes to enjoy at home

Expanded Chef Stations

And more surprises to mark our 25th Empty Bowls

Get your tickets here: Empty Bowls 25th Anniversary | North Texas Food Bank

North Texas Food Bank's 2021 Empty Bowls

Join the North Texas Food Bank for the 22nd Annual Empty Bowls, presented by Kroger, on Thursday, February 25, 2021.

During these uncertain times, NTFB wanted to continue the tradition of one of our favorite events, designed in a way to keep all of our guests safe. That is why NTFB decided to transition Empty Bowls this year to a drive-thru model!

As a ticket purchaser, you will visit the North Texas Food Bank's Perot Family Campus on February 25, 2021 between 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM to pick up your Bowl Box. Each box will contain a handmade artisan bowl, a 5 oz. package of gourmet soup mix, recipe cards from some of our favorite past Empty Bowl participants and NTFB Staff, NTFB's Tough Choice's Game, and more!

Once you're home, feel free to fix your soup that night or save it. We encourage you to gather around the table with your family and play NTFB's Tough Choice's where you step into the life of a single parent of two young children and are forced to make some difficult decisions!

There is also a small virtual auction featuring some handmade artisan bowls from some of your favorite artists, like June Whitacre, Brian & Gayle Dean, Louie Rosenfeld and more!

Buy your tickets online here: Empty Bowls

This Week's Hot Tickets: Extraordinary Jazz Concert, Celeb Spelling Bee, Empty Bowls Luncheon

Wednesday evening, almost 20 legendary trumpet players including Doc Severinsen, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Loughnane (the band Chicago) and Canadian Brass alumni Ronnie Romm, Ryan Anthony, Jens Lindenmann and Joe Burgstaller will join members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzik and Robert Moody and the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band in a once-in-a-lifetime musical event at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The concert's first half opens with the moving last movement of Resphigi's "Pines of Rome" then culminates in an exciting multi-trumpet "Carnival of Venice" all backed by members of the world-renown Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  The second half features jazz greats including Arturo Sandoval & Doc Severinsen from the Tonight Show. All players will join at the end for a raucous jam version of Tommy Dorsey's "Well, Git It."

 

www.cancerblows.com

 

 

This fundraising event features prominent local Dallas celebrities, corporate leaders, and community members coming together for a fun night of friendly spelling competition and celebration! All proceeds benefit Reading Partners and our students.

Celebrity Spellers

Kristi Nelson, Host, NBC

David Chard, Judge, Dean of Education, Southern Methodist University

Daryl Johnston, Three-time Super Bowl Champion and Fox Sports Analyst

Amy Havins, Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger

Serita Jakes, The Potter’s House

Mike Morath, Dallas Independent School District Board Trustee

Stephan Pyles, Chef and recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest

Jim Schutze, The Dallas Observer

Wade Smith, NFL Veteran

and YOU!

For the first time ever, we will be raffling off a seat on stage! One member from the audience will join a team on stage during competition. Guests will nominate their friends during the cocktail hour.

http://info.readingpartners.org/2014-dallas-celebrity-spelling-bee-0

 

 

The 16th Annual Empty Bowls event takes place this Friday, March 6th. Guests will enjoy lunch at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, benefiting the North Texas Food Bank. In addition to soup and other bowl friendly fare from 20 of North Texas’ finest restaurants, attendees can select a handcrafted bowl from some of Texas’ finest artists as a memento of the day.

Time: 11:00AM-1:00PM

See more at: http://web.ntfb.org/get-involved/events-campaigns/empty-bowls#sthash.Aduzmpku.dpuf

NTFB Empty Bowls 2012

Dine out with friends or colleagues and enjoy the best lunch deal in town at the 13th Annual Empty Bowls event! Select a handmade bowl created by a local artisan, sample a variety of delicious soups, breads and desserts from popular area restaurants, and enjoy classical music by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Young Strings. All proceeds benefit the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and its efforts to “ReThink Hunger.”

Friday, March 9, 2012

11am – 1pm

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

NTFB distributes 92,000 meals a day, yet the community need is closer to 300,000 meals a day. Every $1 donated provides three meals for hungry North Texans.

Tickets: 

$35 in advance online (http://www.ntfb.org/d_empty_bowls_info.cfm)

$20 no-bowl ticket

$40 at the door

Reserved tables for 10 guests - $1,500 (main level) and $1,000 (upper level)

Limited number of $100 VIP tickets for early 10:30am entrance

Diners are able to enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread served in a decorative ceramic bowl that guests keep as a reminder of those who suffer from hunger. Participating restaurants include:  The Blue Goose Cantina, Blue Mesa Grill, Bolsa, Bread Winners Café & Bakery, Celebration Market & Restaurant, Empire Baking Co., Freeb!rds World Burrito, Hattie's, McAlister's Deli, Dining at the Meyerson, Milestone Culinary Arts Center, Nick & Sam's Grill, North Texas Food Bank Community Kitchen, Place at Perry's, ReMARKable Affairs Catering, Royal Cup Coffee, Tom Thumb, Truluck's Seafood Steak and Crab House, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.

NTFB Fundraiser Fills 422,501 Empty Bowls

On Friday, February 25, 2011, North Texas Food Bank hosted their 12th Annual Empty Bowls luncheon at Meyerson Symphony Center. Attendees gathered for the best lunch deal in town! A $40 admission ticket included delicious samples of soups, breads and desserts from local restaurants, with all proceeds benefiting North Texas Food Bank. Guests also could select a souvenir handmade bowl crafted by a local artisan from among the thousands of bowls on display.
Empty Bowls 2011 drew a crowd of over 1,897 guests, raising $140,834 for the NTFB. That translates to 422,501 meals to North Texans in need!

Fill Empty Bowls with North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank’s signature luncheon, Empty Bowls, presented by Tom Thumb, marks its 12th anniversary on Friday, February 25, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center serving up unlimited steaming bowls of soups and bisques, breads and desserts from 20-plus of the city’s top restaurants and food purveyors. VIP reception starts at 10:30 a.m. and guests are allowed to pick their bowl first and enjoy special, exclusive treats.

For $35 in advance or $40 at the door, guests enjoy the best lunch deal in town and listen to classical music by Young Strings of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, plus each diner selects a handmade bowl created by an area artisan to take home as a party favor. This year new restaurants include: Bolsa, Truluck’s, Pizza Inn, Horne & Dekker, Empire Baking Co., Chill Bubble Tea, and Freeb!rds World Burrito. Purchase tickets here.

The North Texas Food Bank serves 1,146 feeding and education programs in 13 North Texas counties. Every dollar donated equals three meals.