NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) New Orleans has just announced the two grant recipients for the Leading from the Heart Awards 2024. Recipients include Sinnidra Taylor, founder of Codey’s Nola commissary kitchen and incubator, and Thuy Pham, owner of Nola Nite Market – the monthly pop-up at the Westwego Farmers Market. Each of these women in hospitality will be awarded individual $2,500 grants.
In keeping with LDEI’s philanthropic mission, the awards honor women in the 10-parish Greater New Orleans community who have made a positive impact in hospitality, sustainability, food justice and/or public health. “Supporting women and our community are the core tenets of our organization,” said LDEI President Christa Cotton. “We were thrilled with the overwhelming response to last year’s Leading From The Heart Awards and we’re excited to continue this initiative. I am especially pleased that last year’s recipients are passing the torch by presenting the awards to this year’s recipients in person, and I cannot wait to see how these women in our community use the funds to further their impact.”
“As we reviewed the outstanding nominees, it became evident that these two remarkable women have not only elevated themselves but have also emerged as trailblazers in our community” said Dee Lavigne, LDEI vice president of philanthropy.
The grants will be presented at the Leading from the Heart Awards breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), 725 Howard Ave. in New Orleans. The event is open to the public and tickets, priced at $45 per person, can be purchased at LDEI Leading from the Heart Awards Breakfast.
Sinnidra Taylor
Sinnidra is the founder of Codey’s Nola, a non-profit commissary kitchen/incubator for up-and-coming New Orleans food entrepreneurs focused on access to affordable commercial kitchen space, technical assistance and revenue-generating opportunities.
Thuy Pham (Individual Company)
Thuy is the owner of Nola Nite Market, a monthly market/food festival at the Westwego Farmers Market. Thuy designed the market to spotlight Asian food businesses in New Orleans, which are often overlooked in the ways media/marketing of “New Orleans cuisine” homogenize the New Orleans food experience. The market recognizes how cultural influences on New Orleans food have grown beyond the city’s French or Italian food histories, and provides a space for Asian-American dishes to be considered part of New Orleans contemporary food experience.