Non-profit launches premier event for women in the culinary arts and hospitality industry from April 24-26, 2022
Restaurant Reset is here. Non-profit organization MAPP — Mentorship, Advocacy, Pandemic relief, and the Power of women, is pleased to announce its inaugural Restaurant Reset Conference, set to take place in Fort Lauderdale, FL at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort from April 24-26, 2022. Nationwide celebrity chefs, as well as South Florida talent, including James Beard Awards’ semi-finalist Valerie Chang, Lorena Garcia, Paula DaSilva, Karla Hoyos and Dayanny De La Cruz, will explore how to bring greater prosperity and equity into the culinary and hospitality industry over the 3-day conference, which includes a celebratory Food and Wine Extravaganza at Morea, and Sunday Welcome at Burlock Coast in the Ritz Carlton Hotel led by Chef DeSilva. In addition, a woman chef or restaurateur from nearly every state will be represented at the first-time event.
Founded by award-winning filmmaker, Joanna James of A Fine Line, MAPP empowers women in hospitality to lead through mentorship, using a roadmap designed with the industry’s top programs, professionals and partners all working to close the inequality gap and build equity for women in food. MAPP was built off the heels of James’ film, which was touted by Vanity Fair as Best Documentary by a First Time Filmmaker, and had its national broadcast premiere on PBS in Spring 2020, sparking national conversations about the inequality in the industry. Exploring gender bias in restaurant culture and the food system, the film featured world-renowned female chefs, including the voices of Dominique Crenn, Cat Cora, Barbara Lynch and Lidia Bastianich.
MAPP’s Restaurant Reset Conference is proud to be designed for and about women in the culinary arts and hospitality professionals, fueled by the mission to bring industry peers under the same roof to cultivate lasting relationships, while learning how to continue to advance their careers with the proper tools. The conference will be a utility belt and steppingstone for many to forge powerful alliances to generate new ideas to grow their business and thrive in their professions. James will also be making a major announcement at the event, unveiling what could be a game changer for the hospitality and culinary industry when it comes to bridging equity and employment.
The conference kicks off on Sunday, April 24th, spotlighting other women-led hospitality organizations as MAPP believes in supporting one another to create a sea-level change of equity now. A welcome reception will follow with keynote speaker, James Beard Awards’ finalist, Chef and Founder JJ Johnson of FIELDTRIP, who will address the importance of male allyship; leading then into mentorship speed-dating, which will provide attendees direct access to industry leaders and experts. The conference will continue to cascade into a bevy of events in the days to follow with notable speakers and expert panels, luncheons, and a Food, Wine and Spirits Extravaganza at Morea at the Paramount Residences in Fort Lauderdale.
Ticket holders can expect to hear the renowned talent speak about equality, inclusion, and career advancement for women throughout the weekend’s program of events, including:
- Bravo TV’s Top Chefs Karen Akunowicz, Tanya Holland, and Lorena Garcia
- James Beard Foundation Awards Finalists Katie Button, JJ Johnson, Ellen Yin, and Reem Assil
- Michelin-starred Chef Emma Bengtsson
- World Central Kitchen’s Chef Karla Hoyos
- Super Bowl’s 1st Woman Executive Chef Dayanny De La Cruz
- ACF’s 1st Black & Woman President and Corporate Chef Kimberly Brock Brown
- Let’s Talk Womxn’s Founder Rohini Dey
- ReHer’s Acclaimed Chef and Founder Mary Sue Milliken
- Union Square Hospitality Group’s President Chip Wade
- James Beard Foundation’s CEO Clare Reichenbach
- IRC Board Member and Restaurateur Michael Shemtov
“Arguably no industry has been hit harder from the pandemic than our restaurants, and these small businesses are the backbone of so many of our communities,” explains MAPP Founder and President Joanna James. “That is why MAPP is hosting the Restaurant Reset; we are at a precipice of a new direction for our industry, and MAPP is especially committed to ensuring women, people of color and all those from marginalized communities are not only heard, but part of the process in creating a more inclusive food system.”
Since its inception, MAPP has generated tremendous impact honoring women and people of color through recognition and opportunities with media and food and beverage titans. MAPP helps women advance in their careers through 1-on-1 mentorship, advocacy for gender and racial equities and policies that support working families sponsoring pandemic relief grants and creating opportunities for representation where women and people of color are often overlooked. MAPP has provided life changing mentorship experiences and leadership training for 30 women in food and hospitality over the last two years; and it has provided $50K in pandemic relief and scholarships to women-led independent restaurants, ProStart, CCAP, Soul Fire Farm, Just Call Me Chef, Food to Eat and more.
Proud partners and sponsors of this year’s Restaurant Reset Conference include the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, BMW, PepsiCo, Dough Wines, Uncommon Threads, S. Pellegrino, BentoBox, Roast House Coffee, Sunday APP, the James Beard Foundation, American Culinary Federation, and Chef’s Roll. The organization’s partnership with the luxury oceanfront resort Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach will offer ticketholders a discounted rate during the dates of the conference. To book, call the central reservations line at 1 (800) 445-8667 and mention group code MAPP22 for discount.
For more information and to see the full itinerary of speakers and program of events, click HERE. Several ticket options are available, including a Weekend Pass, Sunday Wine & Dinner, Monday Day Pass and Monday Dinner & Dancing. To purchase tickets, click HERE.
ABOUT MAPP
Founded in 2019 after Joanna James’ film premiere of A Fine Line sparked national conversations regarding gender bias in restaurant culture and the food system, thus the 501C3 non-profit Mentorship, Advocacy, Pandemic relief, and the Power of Women (MAPP) was created to empower women to lead through mentorship and advocacy. MAPP furthers the fight for equal rights through 1-on-1 mentorship, advocacy for gender and racial equities and policies that support working families sponsoring pandemic relief grants and creating opportunities for representation where women and people of color are sorely missed. For more information, please visit www.mappimpact.org or follow along on Instagram. #MAPP22 #RestaurantReset