Women Chefs & Restaurateurs Announce 2003 Women Who Inspire Awards

Courtesy of Yahoo News (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031116/nysu025_1.html)

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) announced the recipients of the 2003 Women Who Inspire Awards at a celebration dinner today at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental Hotel here (in San Francisco). WCR, a 2,000-member nationwide organization of women chefs and restaurateurs, was founded in San Francisco and is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The fourth annual WCR Women Who Inspire Awards are meant to inspire present and future generations of women chefs and restaurateurs. WCR strives to recognize achievement within the industry and pay tribute to those women who have demonstrated excellence in the kitchen, dining room, beverage profession, baking and pastry arts, community affairs, growing and producing, and for a lifetime of culinary excellence.

New for 2003, The WCR Golden Plow Award recognizes excellence in growing or producing from nature’s bounty; honoring a woman whose skill in farming or making artisanal products results in food that grace our plates while respecting the environment.

The 2003 Women Who Inspire Award Recipients are:

 WCR Golden Fork Award sponsored by Food Arts
 Recognizing Excellence in the Dining Room
 2003 Recipient: Christina Adamson, Director, Food & Beverage Operations
 The Culinary Institute of America Greystone
 St. Helena, California

 WCR Golden Whisk Award sponsored by The Institute of Culinary Education
 Recognizing Excellence in the Kitchen
 2003 Recipient: Odessa Piper, Chef & Proprietor, L'Etoile Restaurant
 Madison, Wisconsin

 WCR Community Service Award sponsored by Marriott International
 Recognizing Outstanding Contributions in Community Affairs
 2003 Recipient: Diane Rose, Executive Chef & Co-owner, Crimson Restaurant
 Los Gatos, California

 WCR Golden Goblet Service Award
 Recognizing Excellence in the Beverage Profession
 2003 Recipient: Cat Silirie, Wine Director, No.9 Park
 Boston, Massachusetts

 WCR Golden Bowl Award
 Recognizing Excellence in the Baking and Pastry Arts
 2003 Recipient: Elizabeth Falkner, Executive Chef & Managing Partner,
 Citizen Cake
 San Francisco, California

 WCR Golden Plow Award
 sponsored by Bon Appetit Management Company
 Recognizing Excellence in growing or producing from nature's bounty
 2003 Recipient: Peggy Smith, Owner, Cowgirl Creamery & Tomales Bay Foods
 Point Reyes Station, California

 WCR Barbara Tropp President's Award
 Recognizing a Lifetime of Culinary Excellence
 2003 Recipient: Ella Brennan, Owner, Commander's Palace
 New Orleans, Louisiana

The award recipients are characterized by passion, service, dedication and innovation within the industry. To be considered for an award, each nominee’s professional work must have served as an inspiration to other women in the industry. All women involved in the foodservice industry were eligible for nomination.

Previous Women Who Inspire award recipients include Lidia Bastianich, Beth Casey, Terri Hutter, Andrea Immer, Madeline Kamman, Melissa Kelly, Kathy King, Michela Larson, Barbara Lazaroff, Edna Lewis, Emily Luchetti, Nancy Russman, Amy Scherber, Barbara Tropp, and Alice Waters.

WCR was founded in 1993 by eight prominent female chefs and restaurateurs with the mission of promoting the education and advancement of women in the restaurant industry and the betterment of the industry as a whole. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, WCR’s membership of more than 2000 professionals represents all sectors of the industry, from culinary students to restaurant owners.

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