sponsored by Le French
Members of the Colorado Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier selected 10 local culinary-industry leaders to honor in a VIP award ceremony prior to the Big Stir festival.
VIP-Early Access ticket required: Get Tickets »
AGRICULTURE LEADER
Kena Guttridge, Farmer, Ollin Farms, Longmont
Kena Guttridge is co-owner and founder of Ollin Farms, a diversified produce farm in Longmont, providing nutrient dense food to the local community for more than 17 years. Kena is the education and community outreach coordinator, where she is passionate about connecting youth to the natural world through hands-on learning, healthy eating, and ecosystem restoration. Her youth summer classes for students, ranging in age from preschool to middle school, are aimed at empowering kids to develop healthy minds and bodies while also developing a respect and relationship with Mother Nature. Kena manages the farm-to-table events at Ollin Farms, coordinates scholarships to bring more diversity into the farm’s paid high school internship programs and develops learning and food access programs with local schools and early childhood education centers.
ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LEADER
Presented by Pernod Ricard USA
Talia Haykin, Founder/CEO, Haykin Family Cidery, Aurora
In 2017 Talia, along with her husband Daniel, founded Haykin Family Cider in Aurora, Colorado. Their cider journey began in 2013 as hobbyists in their living room. As they learned more about the rich history of apples and hard cider in the United States their cider became strongly focused on single varietals and family farms with whom they have personal relationships. In addition to her work with their cidery, which encompasses all business areas, Talia is a writer and social media strategist. She formerly was the CMO of large non-profits and worked as a freelancer, prior to managing the cidery (and family) full-time. Talia and Daniel have three children (who fight over who gets to ‘run the cider house’ one day), and their fluffy pup Soba Schnoodle.
BAKERY LEADER
Chef Thoa Nguyen, Owner, Bánh & Butter Bakery Café, Aurora
My life revolves around food. I studied baking and pastry arts and traveled to France to continue my education. It was one of the best experiences in my life where I found my independence and discovered a deeper meaning for food. It has a way of connecting me to people, culture, art, memories, stories and experiences. I hope to bring the same connection through Bánh & Butter Bakery Café and to share the love and passion to those around me. My journey started with the love of art. Being part of the art district on East Colfax in Aurora, has given me the opportunity to give back to my community. I believe in supporting people who work hard with strong ambition. All it takes is one person to believe and recognize each person’s true value and purpose.
CHEF LEADER
Caroline Glover, Owner, Annette and Traveling Mercies, Aurora
Caroline Glover has won numerous national awards for her talents as a chef. Two most notable honors are having her restaurant Annette selected as a semi-finalist in the James Beard Foundation “Best New Restaurant” category in 2018 and later then chosen the 2022 James Beard Foundation award winner in the “Best Chef: Mountain” category. She founded restaurant, Annette in 2017 and has been on 5280 Magazine’s list of Denver’s 25 best restaurants each year since it opened. Caroline is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After school, she worked for two years at The Spotted Pig in New York City. She later spent several years working on farms in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Colorado, experience that informs her cooking to this day. Caroline founded Traveling Mercies – Cocktails & Oysters in the fall of 2023.
COMMUNITY LEADERS
Megan Moore and Serena Sakkal, Project Managers, Pueblo Food Project, Pueblo
Megan, is a native of Pueblo, Colorado has been working with the Pueblo Food Project four years as one of two program managers. She is a graduate of Colorado State University Pueblo, is a certified Colorado Master Garden, and a certified Local Food Leader. During her last semester of college, Megan stumbled upon an internship with the Pueblo Food Project, which ultimately changed her ideas for the future. She found great passion and connection to the world of food systems through the Pueblo Food Project and cannot imagine working in another field. Megan has maintained several avenues of programming for Pueblo Food Project including: an entrepreneur development program, the fooducates youth council, a community meal prep class, a community garden and sustainability program, and a community pantry.
Serena transplanted from her home state of Florida to Pueblo, Colorado in July 2022. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Ag & Natural Resource Management and Soil & Water Science. Though a lifelong lover of delicious and colorful food, Serena realized her passion for food systems work in her previous job as sustainability manager at the University of Florida’s dining program. She is a program manager at the Pueblo Food Project, and finds so much joy in serving the community. Her favorite part of working with the project is witnessing people, particularly children, foster a deeper connection with their food. Serena is an herbalist, yogi, lifelong traveler, mother of a cat and many plants, and lover of anything that bridges the connection between food, medicine, and planetary wellness.
FOOD JOURNALIST LEADER
Presented by B Public Relations
Patricia Kaowthumrong, Food Editor, 5280 Magazine, Denver
Patricia Kaowthumrong joined the 5280 Magazine’s staff in July 2019 and oversee all of the publications dining coverage. As a writer and editor, she is dedicated to spotlighting minority-owned businesses and nurturing and diversifying the magazine’s network of contributors. A proud Colorado native, she graduated in 2010 from the University of Colorado Boulder with degrees in journalism and psychology. In her spare time, Patricia enjoys cooking Thai and Chinese dishes with her mother and hopes to write a cookbook someday. She also loves spending time with her husband, Gavin; son, Jack; and cocker spaniel, Teddy Roosevelt. Her other loves include anchovies, tequila, and fried chicken.
FOOD MANUFACTURING LEADER
Beth Conrey, Founder, Bee Squared Apiaries, Berthoud
Beth Conrey is the owner and the beekeeper of Bee Squared Apiaries, a chemical-free honey company with 200 colonies located along the Front Range from Denver to Wellington. Our tagline is “We BEE Exponentially Better” and it is reflected in the following: a four-time Good Food Award winner, a Certified B Corporation, a member of 1% for the Planet, plastic neutral certified by RePurpose Global and has a “Snail of Approval” from Slow Food Boulder County. We donate 2% of our sales to environmental non-profits primarily those working on pollinator health. She is past-president of the Western Apicultural Society, the Colorado State Beekeepers Association and the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association, a co-founder and current board member of People and Pollinators Action Network, the treasurer of the Pollinator Stewardship Council.
MIXOLOGIST LEADER
Saydee Canada, General Manager, Williams and Graham, Denver
Saydee Canada was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She has been in the food and beverage industry more than 12 years, 10 of which at Williams & Graham. The intermingling between chemistry and imagination to present a delicious beverage has always been an intriguing concept. Although she is in the role of general manager of Williams & Graham, her true passion is still bartending and she’s delighted this job allows her to still entertain that portion of her interests. Most of what she has been working on lately are drinks that remind her of food and working with savory flavors in a cocktail setting. The next venture is to continue striving for reusability of ingredients, eliminating waste as much as possible, and finding new and fun ways to present these drinks.
NON-ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LEADER
Presented by Nestlé Premium Waters
Frewyni Beyene, Founder, Endless Grind Coffee, Aurora
Frewyni Beyene has had a lifelong passion for coffee. She fondly remembers coffee ceremonies from her childhood in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Coffee is the 2nd largest commodity in the global economy and originated in Ethiopia.
Coffee is embedded within our culture. The coffee ceremony is enjoyed every day, multiple times of the day, no matter what time of the day with family, friends, and guests in your home. Since our opening in 2017, she has been committed to uplifting our community. She host a number of community events throughout the year, invigorating the community with local arts, culture, and so much more.”
SOMMELIER LEADER
Sally Stewart, Co-Owner, Denver Wine Merchant, Denver
Sally was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Houston. She worked in restaurants since age 16 holding positions from line cook to sommelier. After graduating from the University of Houston, life took her out west where she met Steven Washuta, who became her life and business partner. In 2015 they set up a seasonal guest house in Casablanca, Chile, where they hosted travelers from nine countries. After moving back stateside, they spent time in Portland, Oregon and then ended up in Telluride, Colorado. In Telluride they worked full time as sommeliers for a resort. In 2016 they moved to New York City, where Sally was a sommelier at Michelin starred Babbo and Cut by Wolfgang Puck. In 2018 she passed the Advanced Sommelier exam. In 2019 she was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive and terminal nerve disease. She and Washuta relocated to Denver in 2020, where they embarked on their greatest adventure of owning Denver Wine Merchant where they curate fine wines.
