The Colorado Chapter of the philanthropic organization Les Dames d’Escoffier International will host its inaugural The Big Stir Festival on Saturday, April 23, at the Tivoli Center on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
The Big Stir Festival attendees can expect a fun, interactive, and educational food and wine festival all afternoon. Twenty-five tasting tables will introduce guests to delicious food and drinks served throughout the afternoon. There will be live music from two Boulder-based female artists, Lauren Joy and Jennifer Davis Flynn.
Educational seminars will include:
- Sistahs Are Grilling it for Themselves, from James Beard Award-Winning author Adrian Miller
- Exploring Single Varietal Champagne Houses, presented by Maia Parish proprietor of The Wine Suite
- All About Agave: Let’s Talk Tequila and Mezcal, presented by Valerie Alvarado, Agave National Brand Ambassador for Pernod Ricard USA.
Additionally, the festival will recognize 9 local female leaders making an impact in Colorado’s food, beverage, agriculture and hospitality industries by championing philanthropy, diversity, sustainability and education.
The 2022 Les Dames d’Escoffier Colorado Leadership Award winners include:
- Hospitality Leader – Fathima Dickerson, Co-Owner, Welton Street Cafe, Home of Mona’s
- Agriculture Leader – Sally A. Herbert, Founder and CEO, Altius Farms Inc.
- Bar Leader – Nicole Mattson, Co-Founder, Nocturne and Noble Riot
- Food Retail Leader – Barbara Macfarlane, Marketing Director Emeritus, Marczyk Fine Foods
- Food Manufacturing Leader – Jolene Collins, CEO, JoJo’s Sriracha
- Alcohol Beverage Leader – Tiffany Fixter, Founder, Brewability Lab
- Bakery Leader – Aminata Dia, Chef Owner, Le French Bakery & Café
- Community Leader – Julie Stone, Executive Director, Work Options
- Chef Leader – Lisa Wong, Chef Owner, WongWayVeg
The event and organization as a whole aims to raise scholarship dollars to support more women joining these industries. Part of its ongoing mission, Les Dames d’Escoffier International Colorado Chapter has awarded more than $20,000 in scholarship dollars to aspiring female culinary professionals over the course of more than a decade.
One fun way to participate in the scholarship fund is the “wine under wraps” table. Wines curated from Frasca Food and Wine and wines donated from Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits will benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund directly. Guests can purchase bottles that are literally under a wrapped paper bag for $25 and know that is directly going to 2023 scholarship recipients.
The Book Nook by Denver’s Bookbar have authors attending for book signings. A portion of the proceeds of book sales will go back to the chapter for scholarships.
The Big Stir Festival will take place from 1-5 p.m.; general admission tickets are $55 and student tickets are $45; tickets are available here. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
(The founder and owner of Local Table Tours, Megan Bucholz, is currently the President of the Colorado chapter of Les Dames and the co-chair of the festival.)