Deadline for 2015 Women in Culinary Leadership Grants Extended

The James Beard Foundation has extended its deadline for its 2015 Women in Culinary Leadership Grant. Applications will now be accepted through January 16, 2015. Women with at least two years of professional hospitality or culinary experience are encouraged to apply for a chance to participate in a six- or twelve-month mentor/grantee program with top industry leaders, including Christina Tosi, Tom Douglas, and Matt and Kate Jennings.

Mentorship programs are available with the following chefs and restaurateurs:

• Kevin Boehm – Boka Restaurant Group, Chicago (six months; front of house)
• JBF Award winner Richard Melman and Kevin Brown – Lettuce Entertain You® Enterprises (six months; front and back of house)
• Rohini Dey (WICL founder) – Vermilion, Chicago or NYC (twelve months; front and back of house)
• JBF Award winner Tom Douglas – Multiple Restaurants, Seattle (twelve months; front and back of house)
• JBF Award nominee Matt Jennings and Kate Jennings – Townsman, Boston (opening December 2015; twelve months; front and back of house)
• Anthony Lamas – Seviche, Louisville, KY (six months; back of house)
• JBF Award winner Donnie Madia – Nico Osteria (One Off Hospitality), Chicago (six months; front and back of house)
• JBF Award winner Christina Tosi  – Momofuku Milk Bar, New York City (twelve months; front and back of house)

Conceived by JBF trustee and restaurateur Rohini Dey, Women in Culinary Leadership is an educational program focused on mentoring and training women aspiring to careers in the culinary industry. The program's first grantee, Eliza Martin, apprenticed at Dey's New York and Chicago locations. "The WICL gave me more insight into the culinary realm than any other experience I've had in a kitchen," says Martin. "I came away with an invaluable tool set of knowledge, skills, and adventures."

Visit our WICL page for more details. Get the application here. Read the official WICL Grant press release.