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 JBF All-Stars
June 2026
Moderator: Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman, QFF Advisory Member, Baker & TV Host
Panelists: Arnold Myint, International Market/ Kristi Brown, Communion/ Anthony Jones, EC of Marcus DC
Queer CPG
March 2026
Moderator: Sunny Levine, Chair of the Board, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Andre Springer, Shaquanda Will Feed You / Yao Zhao, 50Hertz Tingly Foods / Tom Jackson, Supergay Spirits
Queers At The Table
February 2026
Moderator: Alex D. Ketchum and Megan J. Elias, Co-Editors of Queers At The Table
Panelists: Vanessa Parish, Queer Food Foundation / Cori DaCosta, Food Educator / Kareem Queeman, Pastry Chef
Queer Food Community Organization
December 2025
Moderator: Gabrielle Lenart, Co-founder, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Ken Baker, Rethink Foods / Liz Alpern, Queer Soup Night / Susan Feniger, Mundo Hospitality Group
Queer Culinary Leaders
October 2025
Moderator: Vanessa Parish, Co-founder & Executive Director, Queer Food Foundation
Panelists: Danisia Anderson, Tatiana / José Cepeda, Quixote / Kayla Stewart, Eater
Queer Vegan Chefs
June 2025
Moderator: Jae Camino, QFF Advisory Board
Panelists: Dustin Harder, Chef & Author / Marino Benedetto, Yeah Dawg / Meagan Benz, Crust Vegan Bakery
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