Queer All Year
Our virtual education panel series, in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, is a year-round initiative celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices in food and hospitality. By bringing together leaders in the community, the series fosters conversations around queer identity, representation, and advocacy within the food industry.
Queer Latinx Chefs
April 2025
Moderator: Mario Monte, QFF Advisory Board
Panelists: Silvana Salcido Esparza, Comida Chingon/ Pri Aguilar, Nueva Yolk/ Luna Contreras, Chelo
Queer Private Chefs & Caterers
February 2025
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Co-founder & Executive Director, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Ayo Cherry, Served/ Claude Malone & Craig Baker, Cornbread 26 Food Co./ Chris Martin, Baker No Bakery
Queer Non-Alcoholic Beverages
December 2024
Moderator: Sunny Levin, QFF Chair of the Board
Panelists: Gefen Skolnick, Couplet Coffee/ Ezra Baker, Ghost Town Oats/ Oliva & Sarah Sears, BuzzCutt Co.
Queer Restaurateurs
October 2024
Moderator: Deborah VanTrece, VanTrece Hospitality Group
Panelists: Blake Cole, Friends and Family Bar/ Eric See, Ursula/ Gregory León, Amilinda
Queer Farmers
September 2024
Moderator: Alex Walsh, QFF Advisory Board
Panelists: Monti Lawson, Catalyst Collaborative Farm/ noa woodley, Rock Steady Farms/ Jasmyn Story, Freedom Farm Azul/ chalchiuhkoatl, Queer Farmer Network
Queer Pastry Chefs
April 2024
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Brownen Wyatt, Bayou Saint Cake/Robert Bowden, CocoaViviere/Nima Etemadi, Cake Life Bake Shop
Queer Black Chefs
February 2024
Moderator: Kareem Queeman, QFF Advisory Board
Panelists: Jurni Rayne, Gritz n Wafflez/Selasie Dotse, Elmina/ Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti
Queer Culinary Portraits
November 2023
Moderator: Margo Sivin, QFF Advisory Board Member
Panelists: Jill Cook/Gunsel Pehlivan/A.Scott
Q is for Content
August 2023
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: James Park/Aubrey Johansen/ Will Coleman
Queer Publishing Webinar
June 2023
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Michael W. Twitty/ Mary-Frances Heck/Miguel de Leon
Canna Culture
April 2023
Moderator: Jona Beliu, QFF Co-Founder
Panelists: Rashad David, Plantivia Wellness/Dae Lim, Sundae School/Katie Stem, Peak Extracts
Queer Beverage
December 2022
Moderator: Kayla Mensah, Queer Food Foundation Advisory Member
Panelists: Darwin Acosta, Co-Fermented/Alison Wsineski & Betsy Lay, Lady Justice Brewing/ Liz Rubin & Pamela Busch, Somebody’s Sister/ John deBary, Author and Co-Founder of RWCF
Queer Food Advocacy
October 2022
Moderator: Radhika Sharma, QFF Board member
Panelists: Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley, HAGs/Ora Wise, Food Issues Group/Preeti Mistry, chef, activist, and author
Mutual Aid 101
August 2022
Moderator: Superior Murphy,
Panelists: Estefania Orozco, Veggie Mijas/Kat Williams, The Gro House/Mario Monte, Queer Food Foundation
Queering the Kitchen
June 2022
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Kareem Queeman, Mr. Bake Sweets/Therese Dozier, LUVSPUN/Bethany Disque and Samantha Riley, BITE
More than Pride Month, More than Merch
June 2021
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Eric See, Ursulas/ Zenat Begum, Playground Coffee Shop/ Jasmine Sheth, Tasting India/ Parisa Parnian, Savage Muse