Culinary Arts Month + Celebrating Women Chefs
July is National Culinary Arts Month, a time to recognize the contributions and achievements of professional chefs and cooks. But to be honest, at Vollrath we celebrate culinary arts and chefs every day. After all, their passion is our business.
This year, we’re putting the spotlight on women chefs who have risen to the top, as well all the women in in the culinary industry who work extra hard to prove themselves. That includes figuring out how to lift 100-pound bags of flour and enormous pans without asking for help. Heather Terhune, Executive Chef at Tre Rivali and The Outsider in Milwaukee and a former Bravo “Top Chef” contestant, views those challenges as an incentive.
“I didn’t see it as an obstacle. If I couldn’t lift something, I figured out a way to get stronger,” Terhune said. “When something draws you in with a passion, you figure out a way to do it.”
The good news? The culture has improved dramatically. More top organizations are establishing programs aimed specifically at helping women advance within the culinary industry, to achieve work-life balance, and to open their own restaurants. The key, top female chefs say, is more leadership roles for women and mentorships to build financial literacy, operational skills, networking, and confidence.
Gale Gand has seen drastic changes throughout her career. The nationally acclaimed pastry chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality said the work environment and career opportunities for women have definitely improved since she started out. She does look forward to the day when there’s a “Best Chef” award without a separate “Best Female Chef” category.
Executive Chef Mary Kastman, of Driftless Café in Madison, didn’t face the often-intimidating environment that trailblazing chefs before her did, but as the only woman in the kitchen during her internship, Kastman made sure she wasn’t the person to “shoot holes in the bottom of the boat.” Although she was driven to prove herself, she found the culture to be supportive and equitable for the most part.
For women starting out in the culinary industry, top female chefs offer these tips :
- Don’t get put in a box. Follow your passion and pursue your dreams, but be open and amenable to change.
- Trust your intuition. Trust your instincts. Go ahead and take risks, but also know when to stay the course.
- Find a mentor. Network and connect with like-minded people, and try a variety of jobs to see what you like most.
Terhune, Gand and Kastman credit their success to hard work, passion and sheer determination.
Vollrath Chef Series - Heather Terhune on Women Leading Kitchens
Executive Chef Heather Terhune of Tre Rivali and The Outsider located in the heart of Milwaukee, WI discusses how she navigated a tough kitchen culture to become an executive chef in Milwaukee.
Vollrath Chef Series - Gale Gand and Mary Kastman (Full interview)
Kyle Cherek, former Host of Emmy Award-winning PBS television show Wisconsin Foodie, sits down to interview "the first lady of pastry and baking in America", Gale Gand, and Executive Chef of the Driftless Café, Mary Kastman. The conversation includes past stories throughout their careers and what it's like being a female chef in the kitchen and the strategies they used to prove they belonged.