They are women — hear them roar, and taste what they create. You’ll get a chance to do both on April 20, when Las Vegas’ top female chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs, promoters and hospitality professionals will gather at UNLV to show off their skills
The Sip and Savor Grand Tasting is the closing event of the second annual Women in Hospitality Leadership Conference. As the conference’s grand finale, it will bring together more than 30 chefs, mixologists and beverage professionals for an evening designed as both a celebration and a showcase. Guests can expect dozens of dishes, a wide range of wines and cocktails, and the chance to experience the city’s hospitality community in the same building where the next generation of hospitality workers are learning their trades – UNLV’s Hospitality Hall.
50% Of Graduates, 7% Of Leadership Roles
The culinary festival is a public-facing conclusion for the conference, a two-day gathering at Wynn Las Vegas focused on mentorship, education and advancement within the industry. It’s a mission inspired by a stark reality.
While women make up roughly half of culinary school graduates, they account for only 6 to 7% of executive-level positions in the culinary industry. The Women’s Hospitality Initiative (WHI) was created to help close that gap through mentorship and education.
Two of the WHI’s founding members – Jolene Mannina and Kristin Whittemore – recently spoke to the Food and Loathing podcast about the cause, the conference and the Grand Tasting.
“We just need to help [young women in the field] and teach them and guide them and give them the tools,” Whittemore said on the podcast, describing the organization’s focus on supporting women at every stage of their careers.
The conference, which debuted at Wynn Las Vegas last year, provides those tools. It brings together a wide range of industry leaders to offer guidance through panels, workshops and networking. When that wraps, they celebrate with a feast, which is (thankfully) open to the public.
Amazing Lineup
Sip & Savor will take over multiple levels of UNLV’s Hospitality Hall, featuring 30-plus food stations and more than a dozen beverage activations. Participants will come from some of the city’s most notable kitchens and bars, with dishes, desserts and drinks served throughout the evening. In addition to food, the event will feature wine selections curated by leading sommeliers and cocktails from some of Las Vegas’ top mixologists.
Chefs for the evening include Sarah Thompson (Casa Playa), Nicole Brisson (Brezza), Dani Garcia-White (Yukon Pizza), Stephanie Martinez (Zaytinya by José Andrés) and Gina Marinelli (La Strega). Behind the bar(s), you’ll find beverage pros like Lindsey Geddes (Carversteak), Mariena Boarini (Wynn Las Vegas), Kat Calma (Dustland), Jennifer Szychowski (Ada’s Wine Bar) and Alexcia Renee Simon (The Golden Tiki), among others.
According to Mannina, the night is designed to highlight top talent while offering guests a full-scale tasting experience. “It’s a great place to come and see, and meet, all the women in the community, but also have a beautiful meal the entire time,” she said on the podcast.
For attendees, Sip & Savor offers more than just a night out. It’s an opportunity to support an initiative aimed at shaping the future of the industry—while enjoying a snapshot of the talent shaping Las Vegas right now.
The Women in Hospitality Leadership Conference takes place at Wynn Las Vegas, with Sip & Savor closing the event at UNLV. Tickets start at $230 and are available through the Women’s Hospitality Initiative website.
FOR A 20% DISCOUNT ON TICKETS, USE THE CODE “AL20”
Hear the full interview with Mannina, Whittemore and sommelier Lindsey Geddes on the April 10 episode of Food and Loathing.
