**2026 Global Culinary Conference**
*Hosted by Feed the Soul Foundation, because clearly we all need therapy through food*
**📍 Anderson-Clarke Center at Rice University | Houston, Texas**
**📅 3 Days | Takeoff Welcome Dinner + 2 Days of Business Training**
Because nothing says “culinary business success” like spending thousands to hear someone else tell you how to make money cooking
Get ready to **BOOST** and **LAUNCH** your culinary business at the 2026 Global Culinary Conference, a powerful three-day experience designed for culinary entrepreneurs who apparently enjoy paying for common sense wrapped in fancy terminology.
We’ll kick off with the **Takeoff Welcome Dinner** – because clearly we’re all astronauts about to blast off into the stratosphere of profitability – followed by two full days of immersive learning at Rice University’s beautiful Anderson-Clarke Center, where you’ll discover that “immersive learning” is just a fancy way of saying “sit in uncomfortable chairs and take notes.”
**What You Can Expect:**
– Dynamic Keynote Speakers offering insight and inspiration (also known as people who charge $10,000 to tell you what you already know)
– Expert Panels discussing strategies for business growth (translation: successful people talking about how they got lucky)
– Master Classes focused on sustainable culinary business operations (because apparently nobody knows how to run a restaurant anymore)
– Interactive Breakout Sessions for practical learning and collaboration (read: small group therapy disguised as business training)
– A Guided Workbook to help shape and structure your business success (a glorified notebook that costs extra)
– Happy Hour Networking Events to build meaningful industry connections (read: free wine to make the pain go away)
– Complimentary Breakfast and Lunch provided daily (the only thing actually worth the price of admission)
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, choose from the Boost Camp or LaunchPad training tracks tailored to meet you where you are in your business journey – because apparently one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to telling you to work harder and spend more money.
**Who Should Attend?**
Restaurant Owners, Food Truck Owners, Bakery Owners, Caterers, Private/Personal Chefs, Culinary Art College Students, Hospitality Management College Students, Future Culinary Business Owners, Industry Experts – basically anyone with a pulse and a credit card.
**The CPG Pitch Lab: Pitch Your Brand. Win a $1,000 Grant.**
The CPG Pitch Lab is a pitch competition showcasing innovative food and beverage brands with strong potential demand in today’s marketplace. Selected founders will pitch live to industry leaders, distributors, and funders for a chance at large-scale distribution, strategic partnerships, growth capital, and a **$1,000 grant** – which is exactly what you’ll need to cover the conference ticket price.
Submission Deadline: **February 11, 2026** – mark your calendars, because nothing says “culinary entrepreneur” like remembering obscure deadlines.
**KNOW BEFORE YOU GO**
**WHAT TO PACK**
– **Attire:** We recommend wearing business or business casual attire. If you tend to get chilly, consider packing a light sweater, as the building may have varying temperature controls. Or just wear your chef’s whites and look the part, we won’t judge.
– **Business Cards:** Our attendees include both local and out-of-town business owners from across the nation. Bringing business cards will help you connect with attendees and other industry professionals – or you could just write your Instagram handle on a napkin like a normal person.
**PARKING & ARRIVAL DIRECTIONS**
– **Parking:** Follow directional signage to West 5 parking lot. Parking is complimentary. That’s right, free parking – the conference planners aren’t completely heartless.
– **Directions:** Best Address: 5454 Stockton Dr, Houston, TX 77030. Cross streets are **University & Stockton use Entrance#8** – because nothing says “professional conference” like specific entrance instructions.
– **Entrance:** Guests should enter through the Anderson-Clarke Center. Look for directional signage to guide you. Or just follow the herd of lost-looking people carrying notebooks.
**COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST & LUNCH**
We are providing complimentary breakfast and lunch for conference attendees and speakers. Vegan options will be available – a yellow bracelet will be given to you. If you have dietary restrictions that were not indicated during onboarding, please inform us immediately. Because apparently feeding people is the most complicated part of running a culinary conference.
**BUILDING FREE WIFI**
You will have access to free Wi-Fi during the conference:
Wi-Fi Login: “**Rice Visitor**” – because nothing says “secure connection” like a generic login that every conference attendee will be using.
**Hotel Special Rates**
Check hotels below for special room rates for the Global Culinary Conference. Because after paying for the conference, you’ll definitely want to spend more money on overpriced hotel rooms.
**All ticket sales are final.**
Feed the Soul Foundation **will not** be issuing invitation letters to support visa applications to attend our 2026 Global Conference. We recommend that individuals outside the United States wishing to attend the conference utilize their passports for identification. Because apparently we’re very strict about who gets to learn how to make money cooking.
Check out a recap of past year’s conference below: (spoiler alert: it looks exactly like this year’s conference, just with different people pretending to be excited)
Chuck B. Ballsy, affectionately known in the satirical world as “The Sultan of Snark,” is a self-proclaimed sports expert who peaked athletically in middle school dodgeball.
Born in Halfcourt, Indiana, Chuck spent his formative years shouting unsolicited advice at professional athletes on TV, firmly believing that his couchside coaching was the key to their success.
Chuck B. Ballsy: because in the game of sports and sarcasm, he’s always the MVP. 🏀🎤
