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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 Non-Alcoholic Beverages

December 2024

Moderator: Sunny Levin, Chair of the Board for QFF

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 aka Mr. Bake

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