Applications Open for LDEI 2025 Legacy Awards

 Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) and The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts announced the 2025 LDEI Legacy Award experiences. Since 2009, the LDEI Legacy Awards provide winners with curated industry experiences designed specifically to enhance the careers of women in food, beverage, and hospitality. 

This year’s awards include an exciting array of six immersive experiences designed to empower women across the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. The 2025 LDEI Legacy Awards offer tailored opportunities to advance careers and inspire growth. Highlights include a culinary and agricultural program in Hawaii, entrepreneurial mentorship in New England, and a deep dive into food policy and advocacy in Washington, D.C. These experiences, hosted by accomplished Dames across North America, provide invaluable mentorship and networking, making a transformative impact on the awardees’ professional journeys.

“Through the personalized Food Policy & Advocacy Legacy Award experience in Washington,D.C., I met with cross-disciplinary leaders and organizations in food systems,” says previous winner Sami Maldonado. “The award has deepened my understanding of how policy and legislation intersect with food, agriculture, equity, and nutrition, elevating my skills to be an impactful advocate in my field.”

2025 LDEI Legacy Award Experiences

The Culinary and Hospitality Legacy Award with Zingerman’s Bakehouse

Hosted by Dame Amy Emberling and the Zingerman’s team, this week-long immersive experience in Ann Arbor invites the awardee to explore the artistry and operations behind Zingerman’s Bakehouse, a 32-year-old artisan bakery specializing in bread, pastries, and cakes. Tailored to your interests, the program offers hands-on learning in baking, large-scale production, leadership strategies, and customer service, complemented by classroom sessions and observation of Zingerman’s renowned organizational practices. Participants will tour the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, enjoy its restaurants, and connect with staff sharing similar passions. Designed for professionals with at least three years of culinary or baking experience, this unique opportunity runs from June through September 2025.

The Culinary Education Legacy Award

This week-long mentorship program, hosted by the Dallas Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to integrate culinary medicine and nutrition into their professional and personal lives. Guided by expert chefs and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist Dames, including Anne Vanbeber and Milette Siler, awardees will explore the dynamic intersection of food, health, and wellness through hands-on experiences at institutions like Texas Christian University, Dallas College, Collin College, and the Moncrief Cancer Center, as well as with private practice dietitians and community venues. Evenings will feature culinary adventures through the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, providing a holistic understanding of how food nourishes the body and soul. Tailored to the awardee’s interests, this program is ideal for those considering a career shift or seeking to diversify their skills in culinary medicine and nutrition, and it will take place between June and mid-October 2025.

The Restaurant and Agriculture Legacy Award

Hosted by the Hawai’i Chapter Dames, this program offers the awardee a deep dive into the unique culinary and agricultural landscape of Hawai’i. Highlights include time with James Beard Award-winning Chef Robynne Maii at her restaurant Fête, insights from Dame Monica Toguchi Ryan of Highway Inn, and a cooking class on Kaua'i with Dame Aletha Thomas. The program also features tours of cacao farms, the Honolulu Fish Auction, and Slow Island Food & Beverage’s innovative operations. Tailored to the awardee’s career stage and interests, the experience emphasizes the connection between culture, community, and food, showcasing how these elements drive both diner satisfaction and business success. Scheduled for late August through September 2025, this award is a transformative opportunity for culinary professionals.

The Journalism Legacy Award

This award, hosted by the Saint Louis Chapter Dames, allows an early-career journalist to enhance their food writing skills and connect with award-winning professionals. The tailored experience includes two days at the Missouri School of Journalism with Dame Nina Furstenau, exploring topics like cultural journalism and environmental reporting, and sessions with Dame Roberta Duyff on translating science into practical food communication. Participants will also learn from Dame Suzanne Corbett on integrating history into food writing and meet Dame Catherine Neville to explore the connections across the food system. The awardee will develop story ideas, refine pitching skills, and network with professionals across diverse media platforms. Scheduled for early June 2025, this experience bridges agriculture, nutrition, culture, and food identity for impactful storytelling.

The Food Entrepreneurship Award

Hosted by the New England Chapter Dames, this experience will provide a mid-stage entrepreneur in the dynamic New England food landscape with a one-of-a-kind program. The awardee will receive mentorship from successful entrepreneurs across diverse industries, including oyster farming, fine beverages, cheesemaking, and food rescue hubs, with businesses ranging from $500,000 to $100 million in revenue. They will explore how mission-driven businesses serve their communities, learn from failures, and embrace strengths and networking to thrive. Designed to align with the awardee’s profession, this program fosters growth and leadership through personalized experiences, taking place between June and mid-October 2025.

The Food Policy and Advocacy Legacy Award

Hosted by the Washington, D.C. Chapter Dames, this week-long experience immerses a culinary professional with at least two years of experience in the world of food policy, justice, and advocacy. Tailored to the awardee’s interests, the program includes meetings with legislators, government agencies, and culinary leaders to explore topics such as hunger and food equity, climate and food, sustainable practices, and food justice. Mentored by local Dames, the awardee will gain a comprehensive introduction to shaping systems through legislative and grassroots efforts while enjoying curated dinners and opportunities to explore D.C. The experience runs from June through mid-October 2025.

Each LDEI Legacy Award winner earns a five-day experience working alongside accomplished LDEI members. Experiences may start as early as June and as late as mid-October of 2025. 

For complete details and itineraries of each experience, visit ldei.org.

Applications for the 2025 LDEI Legacy Awards are open now until March 31, 2025.  Click here for the application. 

Legacy Award Committee Co-Chairs are Dame Bonnie Tandy Leblang of New York and Dame Beth Pav of Austin. The awards are supported by Les Dames D’Escoffier International, LDEI chapters, individual members, their companies, and The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. For more information on the LDEI Legacy Awards and to meet last year’s winners, click here. 

The LDEI Legacy Awards are open to women residing in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, or Italy. For consideration, applicants must have at least four years of related work experience in the beverage, food, or hospitality industry. Applicants may only apply to one award category. Candidates will be notified on May 1, 2025.

LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality. The organization’s 2,800 members in 42 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Italy provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy.