A group of Austin-area women just got a big boost toward their next culinary chapter — and it comes with everything from pastry dreams in Italy to pop-ups right here at home.
This week, the Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin Chapter awarded more than $52,000 to 18 women in Central Texas to support the growth of their careers. The scholarships and grants will help recipients pursue professional education and accreditations, launch new business ideas, and expand skills across food, beverage, and hospitality.
Austin Les Dames d’Escoffier awards women $52K in scholarships to chase culinary dreams
Michelle Lee Memorial Grant
Abi Chen, owner of Harvest Moon Asian Kitchen, will use the funds to cover equipment and initial operating expenses for upcoming pop-ups in the Austin area.
Cheryl Drummond Culinary Education Grant
Lilian Flanigan, a barista at Stouthaus Coffee and the first recipient of the Cheryl Drummond Education Grant, will use the funds toward the Austin Community College International Program focusing on Italian Pastry Arts in the summer semester of 2026.
Beverage Education
Kendall Jackson, a sales representative for Henderson Selections, plans to use the scholarship to further wine knowledge by registering for the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines course.
Janah Bermudez, a member of the dining room team at Birdie’s, will use the scholarship to enroll in an Introductory Sommelier Course and Exam.
Charlotte Overturf, wine and beverage director at Dai Due, will continue building a career in wine by taking the Certified Sommelier Exam.
Madeline Gills, a barback at Michelin-awarded LeRoy and Lewis Barbeque, will be applying for Certified Cicerone, a certification for skilled beer professionals.
Olivia Lombardo, the coffee outreach coordinator at Mercado Sin Nombre, will use the scholarship to earn a Q Grader Certification through SCA Education, a professional qualification in specialty coffee.
Culinary Education
Cynthia Romriell, owner of Cinful Sweets in Austin, plans to use the scholarship to further chocolatier studies by enrolling in classes at the Chocolate Academy Center in Chicago.
Rocio Leon will use a business grant described as pivotal for Tozi Foods, with funds going toward product photography and web design for e-commerce expansion of the CPG brand.
Libby Goldman, owner of Pickle Envy, plans to use the funds to purchase equipment for the pickle operation.
Sierra Preston will use the scholarship for equipment and licenses for a coffee and pastry stand at the farmers market.
Student
Ashley Ramnath, a pricing analyst at Whole Foods Market, will use the scholarship to earn a Food Product Development Certificate from Cornell University for a halal-certified food brand, Halummy.
Marissa Nicholas will complete a final course this fall — History of Food — to round out a graduate degree in gastronomy at Boston University.
Anamaria Gutierrez, the garden manager at Suerte, will use the funds to attend the EcoFarm Conference and secure membership to the Texas Master Naturalists.
Travel
Rosa de Lima Hernandez Landaverde, chef and owner of La Santa Barbacha, will use the scholarship to study the Fundamentals of Mexican Cuisine offered through Le Cordon Bleu Mexico.
Carly Stoy, the Central Texas account manager for Pangea Selections, will travel to Austria for an immersive experience learning more about biodynamic certified female wine growers in the region.
Adrienne Ash, winemaker and co-owner of the Austin Winery, will use the scholarship to expand knowledge of large-scale pottery making for fermenting and aging Texas wines.
Karina Cuenca will use a travel scholarship for an immersive coffee experience at Rancho Contento Coffee Estates in Puerto Rico.
Beyond scholarships, the Austin chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier hosts education, mentoring and networking events for members and non-members, supports local philanthropic initiatives including an annual holiday dinner for people experiencing homelessness, and provides bi-weekly “food runs” to reduce food waste in partnership with Keep Austin Fed.
Mark your calendars!
The group’s largest fundraiser of the year, You Grill Girl!, will be held at a new space, Franklin Backyard, on April 24, 2026.
ABOUT LES DAMES D’ESCOFFIER
Les Dames d’Escoffier International is a philanthropic society of more than 2,500 professional women leaders in food, fine beverage and hospitality, with 43 chapters across the globe. The Austin Chapter has 209 members and, since 2003, has given $430,500 in scholarships and culinary stipends to students and professionals seeking further education. More information is available at https://www.ldeiaustin.org/.