It's A Woman's World: Celebrating The Trailblazing Females in CT's Culinary Industry

On March 2, CTbites and Terrain will host “It’s A Woman’s World: A Celebration” honoring and celebrating the many inspiring and trailblazing females in Connecticut’s culinary industry. Ladies…It’s about time.

From chefs and farmers, to photographers and beekeepers, we're tipping our hats to the females who are molding the CT food industry, and making sh@# happen. The evening will include a panel moderated by on-air personality Marysol Castro, (journalist, PA announcer for the Mets, and CTbites podcast host), great food, drinks, awards, and of course, plenty of time to mingle and meet the women in our community as well as the ladies who appear on the list below, our Top 20 Most Influential Woman In CT Culinary Industry. We can’t wait to meet you. Purchase your $25 ticket here and read on because we need YOUR participation in selecting 5 of the women below to win awards for “Most Inspiring & Influential Women in the CT Culinary Scene,” at the event.

VOTING

Voting is OPEN and we need your participation! On March 2, CTbites will be giving out five awards for the “Most Influential Women In CT Culinary Industry.” Candidates have been vetted based on the following criteria: Leadership, Influence, Recognition, Mentorship, and Philanthropy. We have created a list of 20 incredible and inspiring women. Please VOTE for your top five here.

DETAILS

When: March 2 from 6 - 9 p.m.
Where: Terrain, Westport
Ticket Cost: $25
What’s Included: Nibbles, Signature Cocktail, Great Company, Awards Ceremony
BUY YOUR TICKET HERE

Top 20 Most Influential Women in CT 

Silvia Baldini, Strawberry & Sage (New Canaan)

Art director to a degree at ICC in NYC & Cordon Bleu in London, to establishing a food event company, and then becoming the first female chef in Fairfield County to win Food Network’s Chopped, this lady has some cred. Silvia is an exceptional and passionate speaker, storyteller, educator, a vibrant creator, product developer, food entrepreneur and a women’s rights advocate. Recently Silvia has co-created The Secret Ingredient Girls, which sources wholesome cooking and wellness items so that anyone can access unique, high-quality ingredients easily. www.silviabaldini.com

Winter Caplanson, Connecticut Food & Farm (Franklin)

In 2015 Winter founded and was the head of marketing for the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market. Her next step was establishing Connecticut Food and Farm which offers professional photography services to the agricultural and food services industries, as well as being its own magazine. This trailblazing magazine highlights the people and places, along with the food and dishes that come forth from our state’s local food movement. www.ctfoodandfarm.com

Robin Selden, Marcia Selden Catering (Stamford)

Robin has served as President of the International Caterers Association, was named their Chef of the Year (2016) and Caterer of the Year (2017). She currently is Managing Partner & Executive Chef of CT and NY-based Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning, which has been creating memorable, deliciously unique events for more than 30 years. From small and intimate to over-the-top events, this family business has done it all with their district style. www.marciaselden.com

Carla Marina Marchese, Owner/Founder Red Bee Apiary (Weston)

After accidentally stumbling into beekeeping, Marina now runs Red Bee Apiary, which specializes in rare and unique honeys from around the country, all sourced ethically and with the highest standards of quality control. She has written two books, is a member of the Italian Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey, is founder of The American Honey Tasting Society and is also a consultant with The National Honey Board, Slow Food USA and various other commercial honey companies. www.redbee.com

Abby Kelly, Founder, Gluten Free New England (West Simsbury)

Abby Helman Kelly started Gluten-Free Connecticut in 2016 to help locals with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and other food allergies find the state’s best and safest dining, products, and services. A robust community quickly formed, and in 2018 she expanded this model into the rest of New England. Through her social media platforms, website, and events, Abby not only connects her ever-growing audience with gluten-free brands and eateries, but also with each other.  She draws thousands to her expos in Connecticut and beyond, and is a passionate supporter of local businesses and start-ups.   www.wickedglutenfree.com

Jeannette Punsoni Dardenne and Kristen Fritz, Eat IN Connecticut/INGroup Creative (West Hartford

What began as a FB page to connect food lovers and the restaurant community, bloomed into a well-followed Instagram page and finally branched into a marketing/PR agency specializing in food, drink and lifestyle brands. Believing in the power of community and conversations, Eat IN CT and INGroup Creative give equal weight to the restaurant goer and the restaurant owners. www.eatin-ct.com

Gretchen Thomas, VP of Food & Beverage Innovation for Barcelona Wine Bar (Norwalk)

Gretchen studied at the Culinary Institute of America and worked in numerous restaurants, both in the front of the house and in the kitchen. She is a current supervisor on one of the largest Spanish wine programs in U.S., she is a certified Spanish Wine Educator from the Wine Academy of Spain (scoring in the top 15 in the world), and sources stand-out small production wines from families and craftspeople from across the globe. www.barcelonawinebar.com.

Lori Cochran Dougall, Director, Westport Farmers’ Market (Westport)

Lori spearheaded and directed the turnaround of the Westport Farmers’ Market, heralded as the best farmers’ market in CT. WFM is now a Westport staple with numerous vendors, food trucks, music, as well as educational and outreach programs that work with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, young visitors to the market, area high school students and the local homeless shelter, farmers in need and veterans. www.westportfarmersmarket.com

Linda Kavanaugh, Founder/President, MaxEx PR & Director of the New England Culinary Group

From chef to catering director and now to representing chefs, as MaxEx specializes in public relations for the restaurant industry. She is also the Director of the New England Culinary Group and founder of Norwalk NOW, a collaborative marketing group which promotes area businesses. www.maxexposure.net

Patti Popp, Owner, Sport Hill Farm (Easton)

Starting Sport Hill Farm from the ground up, Sport Hill Farm has become one of the premier sustainable farms in Fairfield County, supplying restaurants, running a thriving farm stand, as well as hosting various events to educate both children and adults alike on the benefits of knowing our food sources and appreciating local farms and farmers. www.sporthillfarm.com

Emily Mingrone, Owner/Chef, Tavern on State (New Haven)

Graduating from culinary school led to working with various notable chefs in Connecticut, and now Emily has realized her dream and opened Tavern on State, a tavern that specializes in “simple, flavor focused, properly made tavern food”. She works with local butchers and farmers to utilize fresh, local ingredients that help her create elevated pub fare. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Kristin Eddy, Executive Pastry Chef-Millwright’s, Porron & Pina, and The Cook and The Bear (Simsbury)

Kristin attended The Culinary Institute of America and started her career in (Daniel Boloud’s) DB Bistro and Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern. Returning to Connecticut, she began as pastry cook at Millwright’s in Simsbury where she quickly rose to Executive Chef. She now manages the dessert program at Porron and Pina and The Cook and The Bear in addition to Millwright’s. Follow her on Instagram @kristin1323.

Rosinne Chlala, Founder/Partner/Owner Festivities Events (Norwalk)

Since 1984, Festivities, an award winning company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, has been planning, designing and catering events that range from the small to the large. Their attention to detail, cordial service and utilization of fresh, locally sourced foods are their hallmarks. Festivities has also begun the “Pass on the Love” Foundation, raising funds for agencies that provide services for victims of domestic violence. www.festivitiesevents.com

Greer Peaches Fredericks, Owner, Peaches (Norwalk)

Singing backup for The Drifters, managing and event coordinating in CT and NY, co-owning and managing award-winning two South Norwalk restaurants and now owning Peaches Southern Pub and Juke Joint, Greer has created the place where her love of music and food intersect. She will be expanding Peaches footprint to NYC later this year. www.peachesnorwalk.com

Christy Colasurdo, Events Director, Wakeman Town Farm Sustainability Center (Westport)

Christy is the former Co-Chair and present Events Director of Wakeman Town Farm in Westport, in which she played a pivotal role in the revival of this town farm as a demonstration farm. The farm hosts numerous events for adults and kids, from the informational to the creative. She is the author of The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook, as well as the co-founder of Graze online delivery food service, bringing Vermont farm foods to your home. www.wakemantownfarm.org

Carole Peck, Chef/Founder/Owner, Good News Restaurant & Bar (Woodbury)

Since 1992, the award winning Good News Restaurant and Bar has been working with local and regional farms to offer seasonal, top quality food made from the freshest and most natural ingredients. Her restaurant has received numerous accolades  and set the bar for farm-to-table dining. Carol is also the author of The Buffet Book, cookbook and has collaboratively established the Ici La Press, which publishes English language editions of fine European cookbooks. www.goodnewsrestaurantandbar.com

Sarah Bouissou, Owner/Events Coordinator, Bernard’s and Sarah’s Wine Bar, Sarah Bouissou Catering (Ridgefield)

She started as the first female chef at Le Cirque (NY), then moved onto to other kitchens and finally founded her own catering business, which runs to this day. Her kitchen at Bernard’s is filled with women chefs and Sarah’s Wine Bar makes it a point to work with local artists to showcase their work. www.bernardsridgefield.com

Dorie Greenspan, Cookbook Author (Westbrook)

Dorie is a New York Times columnist, five-time James Beard award winner, recipient of the International Association of Culinary Professionals award for two of her books, and author of 13 cookbooks in total, two of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She is also the creator of cooking and baking apps and one of the first people in the culinary world to do so. www.doriegreenspan.com

Jodi Bernard, Director of Operations, Fortina (Stamford)

Jodi’s path began in finance and then shifted gears to the world of food. After attending culinary school and working in various restaurant kitchens, she now finds herself at Fortina as Director of Operations. She works to continually embrace the challenges of managing five branches of Fortina, all the while creatively handling restaurant operations. www.fortina.com