The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts announces Breaking Bread, a new live conversation series in partnership with James Beard Award–winning chef, entrepreneur, and television personality Chris Shepherd. Launching in April 2026, the three-event series brings together Grammy®-nominated rapper and Houston icon Bun B; acclaimed cellist and self-described foodie Joe Kwon; and Michelin-recognized chefs Felipe Riccio, Emmanuel Chavez, and Mayank Istwal.
Tickets are now on sale at thehobbycenter.org, with individual tickets starting at $35 and a three-show package available for $89.
Hosted in the Hobby Center’s Founders Club, Breaking Bread places audiences steps away from the conversation. Shepherd trades his chef’s jacket for a microphone, sitting down with creatives and leaders who have inspired him personally and influenced culture. Together, they share candid, unscripted exchanges about craft, risk, reinvention, and the experiences that shaped them. Each evening pairs small-club energy with a menu curated by Shepherd and available for purchase, creating a setting where food and dialogue share the spotlight.
Chris Shepherd (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
“Through this new Breaking Bread conversation series, I will share the stories of people I look up to,” says Shepherd. “Stories that haven’t been told before. What led them here to this moment on this stage with me. Moving this series to Founders Club at the Hobby Center is even more special for me since I’ve had such a great time working with the team to update the food and drink menus so guests can have a really wonderful experience from the time they arrive. Join me for these intimate conversations with my friends, who also happen to be incredible artists and even better people.”
The series takes its name from a ritual associated with Shepherd’s former restaurants, where whole loaves of bread were set on tables to be torn and shared, sparking connection among strangers. Though he has stepped away from restaurant life, that belief in gathering people around a table remains central to his work.
“The Breaking Bread series captures what makes the Hobby Center special, bringing remarkable people together in a setting where conversation feels personal,” says Hobby Center vice president of programming and education Deborah Lugo. “Chris has built his career around gathering people and sparking dialogue, and this series extends that spirit beyond the kitchen, welcoming artists, musicians, and leaders whose work defines culture today.”
The new series expands artistic programming in the Founders Club beyond its music focus in the Live at the Founders Club Series, opening the space to a broader range of artists and creative voices. The addition reinforces the Hobby Center’s role as an intimate crossroads where Houston audiences can experience diverse forms of artistic expression up close.
The Founders Club is a flexible event space located on the top level of the Hobby Center. For Breaking Bread, it is transformed into an intimate club with cabaret-style tables offering food with an exclusive menu by Shepherd and beverage service throughout the event.
Shepherd’s menu includes Birria Taquitos with warm spicy broth and jalapeño cabbage slaw; Caviar, Crème and A Can featuring Altima Kaluga caviar with crème fraîche and sour cream and onion Pringles; and Crackling Queso with crispy chicharron and hatch chile queso. The full menu is available online at thehobbycenter.org/lafcmenu.
Doors open at 6 pm for guests to relax and socialize before the show. Patrons are invited to purchase full tables of four or meet new friends. Parties of one, two and three may be seated with other guests.
“BREAKING BREAD” 2026 CONVERSATIONS:
Breaking Bread: A Conversation hosted by Chris Shepherd with Bun B | Wednesday, April 8, 7:30pm
Grammy-nominated American rapper and Houston legend Bun B sits down with Chris for an unfiltered conversation on music, culture, and a career that keeps reinventing itself. From pioneering rapper to Rice University professor and trusted civic voice, Bun B reflects on the moments that shaped him. The two also get into his jump into the restaurant world and how Trill Burgers became a citywide obsession, plus his move into podcasting and storytelling—and what it means to build a legacy that stretches far beyond the mic.
Bun B (photo courtesy of The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts)
TODD SPOTH
Breaking Bread: A Conversation hosted by Chris Shepherd with Joe Kwon | Saturday, May 16, 7:30pm
Joe Kwon—known to many as the cellist of The Avett Brothers—joins Chris for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, craft, and creativity. Born in South Korea and raised in High Point, North Carolina, the self-described foodie shares his roots on stages around the world as they explore his Joe Kwon path from lifelong musician—with a detour through computer science—to artist, wine enthusiast, and collaborator, reflecting on how discipline and instinct shape everything he pursues, from music to food. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how passions evolve, how ideas connect across worlds, and why a melody or a shared meal can mean more than the moment itself.
Joe Kwon (photo courtesy of The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts)
Breaking Bread: A Conversation hosted by Chris Shepherd: A Michelin Roundtable with Felipe Riccio, Emmanuel Chavez and Mayank Istwal | Saturday, June 13, 7:30pm
Three of Houston’s Michelin-starred chefs—Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó), Felipe Riccio (March), and Mayank Istwal (Musaafer)—join Chris for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what a star really means for their kitchens and their teams. They’ll debate whether rankings push the industry forward or hold it back, reflect on the turning points that shaped their paths, and share the lessons behind becoming some of the city’s most celebrated chefs. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at success, pressure, creativity, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
Visit thehobbycenter.org for more information. Patrons can become Hobby Center Insiders by signing up at thehobbycenter.org/news/stay-connected to receive updates and additional perks.