Chef Tiffany Derry grew up eating Creole and Cajun cooking which is the basis of her restaurant’s menu according to an Eater Dallas article which observes,
“GrowingGrowing up, chef Tiffany Derry’s family meals revolved around Creole and Cajun cooking. With Roots Southern Table, her fine dining restaurant in Farmer’s Branch, Derry set out to explore her own food origins, tying the menu to Creole, Cajun, and Africa traditions. “When I first opened, I took my team through a tour of Louisiana and it started at my mother’s house,” Derry says. “She made a huge pot of gumbo and pound cake.””
Chef Derry opened the restaurant last year. She and her restaurant were both finalists for awards in their respective categories according to a Plano Magazine article. They say,
“Last year, she opened Roots Southern Table in Farmers Branch. The restaurant was named a finalist for a prestigious James Beard Award in the best new restaurant category. Derry herself was also named one of five finalists in the Best Chef in Texas category. She said that she couldn’t believe she was a finalist in one category. Then she found out about the second one five minutes later. “It’s just a complete honor to be on that short list,” she says.”
Apart from her restaurants, she also owns and co-founded and owns other businesses according to a KRLD article which reports,
“At 38, she is at the helm of a purpose-driven company she co-founded called T2D Concepts where she has created Roots Southern Table in Farmers Branch and Roots Chicken Shak at Legacy Food Hall in Plano and in Austin. She has also created a line of spices and progressive thought apparel called “Derry Wear” that carries inspirational slogans, resonates with the public and inspire many — especially women and young women.”
Chef Derry returned to television as a judge on PBS’ new culinary show The Great American Recipe.