DOMINIQUE CRENN, NIKI NAKAYAMA AND ANNEMARIE AHEARN AMONG THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2016 WOMEN WHO INSPIRE AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE WOMEN CHEFS & RESTAURATEURS
23RD ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES APRIL 17 – 18
Winners will be announced during a star-studded ceremony hosted by Food Network Celebrity Chefs Waylynn Lucas and Ron Ben Israel April 18th at Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures Studios
Finalists for the 2016 Women Who Inspire Awards, a hallmark of the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) organization, have been chosen for being women who have inspired and instigated change in the culinary landscape. Celebrating the best and brightest in the hospitality industry, this year’s finalists include XX XX XX. Winners for each category will be feted at a lavish ceremony to be held Monday, April 18th from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the legendary New York Street backlot at Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures Studio.
The awards will close out the two-day conference, taking place April 17 – 18, which gathers the nation’s top, female chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and other hospitality professionals for two days of mentor sessions, panel discussions, cooking competitions and celebrations at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City. Registration is now open, and tickets to the Women Who Inspire Awards can be purchased as part of a Conference Pass, One-Day Registration for Monday, or as a Stand Alone Ticket.
The finalists for each category of the 2016 Women Who Inspire Awards are as follows:
· WCR Barbara Tropp Golden Knife Award recognizes a lifetime of culinary excellence and honors a woman who has made exceptional and last contributions to the foodservice industry.
o Joan McNamara, Joan’s on Third, Los Angeles, California
o Heidi Krahling, Insalata’s and Marinitas, San Anselmo, California
o Karen Trilevsky, Entrepreneur and Founder Full Bloom Baking Company, San Francisco, California
· WCR Golden Glass Award recognizes distinction in the dining room or beverage profession and honors a woman whose front-of-house management skills, beverage service and/or production demonstrates a commitment to excellence.
o Bella Lantsman, Chinois on Main, Santa Monica, California
o Julie Merino, The Macintosh, Charleston, South Carolina
o Ani Meinhold, The Federal Food Drink and Provisions, Miami, Florida
· WCR Golden Whisk Award recognizes excellence in the kitchen and honors a woman whose passion and achievements as a chef or cook serves as a role model for others.
o Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, California
o Melissa Perello, Octavia and Frances, San Francisco, California
o Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn and Petit Crenn, San Francisco, California
· WCR Golden Bowl Award recognizes excellence in baking and pastry arts and honors a woman whose skill in this industry inspires others.
o Ilma Lopez, Piccolo, Portland, Maine
o Sally Darling, Chow Restaurants, Danville, California
o Della Gossett, Spago, Beverly Hills, California
· WCR Golden Hand Award recognizes outstanding contributions to society and honors a woman whose contributions in community or civic affairs have made a strong impact on the lives of others.
o Sharon Hapton, Soup Sisters, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
o Ashleigh Parsons, Alma Community Outreach, Los Angeles, California
o Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez, Hot Bread Kitchen, New York, New York
· WCR Golden Pencil Award recognizes dedication to teaching that is making a difference in the culinary world and honors a woman who inspires her students both technically and creatively.
o Kirsten Dixon, Within the Wild, Anchorage, Alaska
o Annemarie Ahearn, Saltwater Farm, Rockport, Maine
o Tiffany Poe, Tiffany Poe Culinary Services, Tulsa, Oklahoma
· The Laurey Masterton Golden Amulet Award recognizes women entrepreneurs in the food service industry (including farmers, artisanal producers and up-and-comers). The award is named for the trailblazing entrepreneur who proudly wore and sold amulets containing 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey, the amount made by one worker bee in its lifetime.
o Sal Howell, River Café and Boxwood, Calgary Alberta, Canada
o Stephanie Castellucci, Castellucci Hospitality Group, Atlanta, Georgia
o Sandra Harvey, Sandra Harvey Designs, Ashville, North Carolina
*Additional programming details will be announced in the coming weeks. Registration is open to the public.
For more information, pricing, and to purchase tickets to attend the WCR 22nd Annual National Conference, visit www.womenchefs.org. For specialty rates at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City during the conference, visit this link. Guests may also call 866.329.1010 and identify themselves as an attendee of the WCR 2016 Annual Convention by using the code, WC1. The specialty room-rate deadline is March 31, 2016.
ABOUT WOMEN CHEFS & RESTAURATEURS
Since its founding in 1993, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs has worked to promote and enhance the education, advancement, and connection of women in the culinary industry. Originally founded by eight of the nation’s top female chefs and restaurateurs including Lidia Bastianich and Barbara Tropp, WCR has grown to over 4,000 members and friends, with Ruth Gresser serving as the current president. The organization offers a variety of networking, professional, and support services including scholarship opportunities. For more information visit www.womenchefs.org.
