The LEE Initiative, a non-profit launched by Lindsey Ofcacek and Chef Edward Lee to address equity issues in the restaurant industry, announces the 2021 chef and spirit professional mentors and mentees for the Women Culinary and Spirits Program.
The Women Culinary and Spirits Program, formerly Women Chefs of Kentucky, was The LEE Initiative’s first program, founded in the wake of the #MeToo Movement. Now in its fourth year, the program is expanding into the sprits world and launching nationally. This year, the program received more mentee applications than ever before, and a selection committee narrowed the mentees down to ten chefs and five spirits mentees.
The spirit and culinary mentees will each participate in a seven-to-ten-day externship at a female-led restaurant or beverage program and seven days throughout the year working on a sustainable farm. They will spend a week in Kentucky for programming to include bourbon blending at Maker’s Mark, foraging, butchery workshops, cooking sessions at the Monogram Experience Center, and numerous other trainings. Later in the year, they will collaborate on a series of regional fundraiser dinners.
Maker’s Mark, a partner since the founding of The LEE Initiative in 2017, supports the spirit mentees through funding and provides programming for culinary and spirit mentees with product development, a day of foraging, and more. Audi of America, a partner of The LEE Initiative since 2020, supports the chef mentees through funding, assisting with programming, and providing transportation and drivers to facilitate experiences throughout the year.
“We are so happy to be able to expand this program both nationally as well as into the spirits space,” says Ofcacaek. “Seeing how the first classes of mentees have grown through this program has been inspiring and we’re eager to bring these experiences to more people and have these women join our network.”
The LEE Initiative will focus on the following for 2021:
2021 Chef Mentors
Chef Amy Brandwein
Centrolina & Piccolina in Washington, DC
Chef Beverly Kim
Parachute in Chicago, IL
Chef Cheetie Kumar
Garland in Raleigh, NC
Chef Claudette Zepeda
Vaga in Encinitos, CA
Chef Jessica Koslow
Sqirl in Los Angeles, CA
Chef Katie Button
Cúrate in Asheville, NC
Chef Sarah O’Brien
Little Tart Bakeshop in Atlanta, GA
Chef Nina Compton
Compere Lapin in New Orleans, LA
Chef Ouita Michel
Holly Hill Inn in Midway, KY
2021 Spirit Mentors
Kristina Magro
Orbit Group in Chicago, IL
Christa Cotton
El Guapo Bitters in New Orleans, LA
Colleen Hughes
Supperland and Haberdish in Charlotte, NC
Jesse Peterson
Morning Glory in San Diego, CA
Charlotte Mirzoeff
Kindred in New York City, NY
2021 Chef Mentees
Chef Aretah Ettarh
New York City, NY
Chef Ashlee Martinis
Bristol, VA
Chef Darian Jones
Scottsdale, AZ
Chef Hannah Arvin
Lexington, KY
Chef Juliann Stoddart
Austin, TX
Chef Lauren Schoen
Louisville, KY
Chef Meagan White
Cincinnati, OH
Chef Megan Duffy
Lexington, KY
Chef Nadia Casaperalta
Elsa, TX
Chef Sydney Fisher
Cincinnati, OH
Chef Taylor Davis
Louisville, KY
2021 Spirit Mentees
Bri Hlava
Louisville, KY
Meredeth Wright
Louisville, KY
Sarah McCabe
Raleigh, NC
SC Baker
Louisville, KY
Sherri Jenkins
Louisville, KY
“It is an honor and a privilege to watch The LEE Initiative’s unwavering impact on the hospitality industry,” says Rob Samuels, Chief Distillery Officer at Maker’s Mark. “Their work continues to make a monumental difference in enabling the next generation of bar and restaurant professionals for success, and this class of mentees is no different. We look forward to supporting and being a part of this 2021 Women Culinary and Spirits Program and many future partnerships with The LEE Initiative for years to come."
“Audi is pleased to support The LEE Initiative’s Women Culinary and Spirits Program to empower female chefs and provide them with the tools they need to become leaders in the industry. We hope that programs like these inspire other women to take their dreams to the next level and support gender equality and inclusion both within the auto and culinary industries and beyond,” said Tara Rush, chief marketing officer, Audi of America.
This program would not be possible without the generous support from The LEE Initiative’s partners at Maker’s Mark, Audi of America, Monogram luxury appliances, and Libbey.
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.
