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We are continuing our series of news features of  women in the food industry who are putting their skills and experience to great use by helping others in this challenging time.  This week we are featuring two chefs whose work is  supporting frontline staff and the elderly in London and in Bristol. 

As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches (13-19 May 2024) Ambassador of Women In the Food Industry and Writer, Antonia Lloyd, talks to the Women Head Chefs making waves in their restaurant kitchens and why wellbeing matters.

One of our members, Ishwariya Rajamohan is the founder of Love Letters to Chefs, she delivers workshops and 1-1 coaching for Hospitality leaders and teams looking to enjoy more balanced lives and sustainable careers. A former pastry chef, she is now a certified coach and mental health first-aider and shares her thoughts on how women in hospitality can balance their personal and professional lives. 

Kelly’s Cause Foundation is a charity that aims to create a mentally healthy hospitality industry for all through Mental Health First Aid training, awareness raising, and stigma reduction. Kelly’s Cause was founded in honour of Kelly, a young, talented chef who sadly took her own life at just 23. Women in The Food Industry have teamed up with the foundation to offer a discount off all of their in-house courses.

Join Karen Walker co-founder of the award-winning sauce brand, Nowt Poncy at our Inspiring Women in Food Panel at our Lancashire Female Food Entrepreneurs event on January 30th 2020 at Lancaster University with Marketing Lancashire.  She’ll share her experience in  starting-up  a food business, allergen control, compliance, branding, experience of the Environmental Health Department and Trading Standards, moving into supermarkets, building a commercial kitchen, and lack of sleep!

Women in the Food Industry and The Chefs Forum teamed up with one of West London’s largest catering colleges – West London College – Hammersmith & Fulham Campus, for an evening of canapés, Christmas drinks and insightful fireside chats. Guests enjoyed delicious canapés prepared by catering students working with our chef community, plus wine & delicious non alcoholic drinks. There was also sampling of food, drink gifts and party food ideas from a range of award-winning female founders.

Plant Feasts – Frankie Paz’s debut cookbook (published by Nourish Books / Watkins 9th April 2024) is reviewed by Ambassador of Women In the Food Industry and TV Producer, Antonia Lloyd, who talks candidly with Frankie about her overcoming drug addiction and then appearing on Jamie Oliver’s Cookbook Challenge for Channel 4.

CEO Lucy Vincent is a firm believer in the power of food to change lives in prison.   Ambassador of Women In the Food Industry, Antonia Lloyd, finds out more about how Lucy came to found Food Behind Bars, the UK’s only registered charity dedicated to transforming the food served in British prisons, and why she is on a mission.

At Women in the Food Industry we are interviewing the strong female line-up of chefs from across Britain competing to serve their dish at the final banquet of Great British Menu. To continue the series, our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, interviewed Simmie Vedi, former Head Chef of Bully’s.

The British Library are in the 5th year of their highly popular talks on food, all inspired by their extensive food-related collections.  Many of the events feature prominent women in the food industry. The events started in  April and run until late May 2022. We highlight some of our favourites.

We recently caught up with inspiring young chef Amber Francis, Senior Sous Chef at Bermondsey Larder (previously known as The Dairy Bermondsey), to discover more about the resilience of working in the restaurant world during lockdown. Plus as Youth Ambassador for The Craft Guild of Chefs, discover her thoughts on importance of training, development, women in the industry and her clear love for the hospitality world.

At Women In The Food Industry we are delighted to partner with The Craft Guild of Chefs. Established in 1965 as a Guild of the Cookery and Food Association, the Craft Guild of Chefs has developed into the leading Chefs’ Association in the UK and has many members worldwide. Look out for some exciting offers for our members and also news from the Guild’s annual National Chef of the Year Awards.  We spoke to three female members of the Guild about their experience, how the industry has been for female chefs / managers and what piece of wisdom would you give your younger self right now.