JWU senior receives Women in Culinary Leadership Grant

COURTNEY L. SEGAL, a senior at Johnson & Wales University, is holding a centerpiece made of chocolate. She is one of eight women who received 2015 Women in Culinary Leadership Grants from the James Beard Foundation. / COURTESY COURTNEY SEGAL
COURTNEY L. SEGAL, a senior at Johnson & Wales University, is holding a centerpiece made of chocolate. She is one of eight women who received 2015 Women in Culinary Leadership Grants from the James Beard Foundation. / COURTESY COURTNEY SEGAL

PROVIDENCE – A senior at Johnson & Wales University is among eight women who received 2015 Women in Culinary Leadership Grants from the James Beard Foundation.
New Jersey native Courtney L. Segal, 22, will participate in a 12-month mentor program at the Townsman in Boston with owners Matt and Kate Jennings through the grant. The couple previously operated the Farmstead restaurant in Providence.
Segal, who is studying baking and pastry art, has been interning at the restaurant which she described as a “New England-style brasserie” for the past two months.
She said the mentor program will expose her to all aspects of running a restaurant, from the “back of the house” cooking operation to the “front of the house” customer experience.
Segal, who said she has always loved to bake, said as a pastry student, she has had no formal culinary training, which is why she was interested in pursuing the internship and grant.
She said she heard about the grants through Eater National, a food news website, and was excited to hear about a program designed for young women like herself.
“One day I would like to have my own place, but right now I’m focusing on learning as much as possible,” Segal said. “This really is a dream come true for me.”
“It’s a great program and I’m so excited to be part of it. … I was definitely crying when they told me,” she said.

More than 60 women with a background in hospitality and the culinary arts applied to participate in the mentor program, according to information from the foundation.
“With the guidance of eight phenomenal mentors, JBF’s Women in Culinary Leadership grantees are embarking on rigorous programs that will include business training in kitchen, floor management, marketing and entrepreneurship. We congratulate our recipients who went through a three-step selection process based on applications, interviews and trials with their mentors,” Rohini Dey, JBF trustee and restaurateur, said in a statement.
Each grantee also will have the opportunity to work alongside guest chefs cooking at the historic James Beard House for one week.
“This mentorship program is a part of the foundation’s overall mission to help launch the careers of the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs. As of 2015, we have awarded over $5.6 million in financial aid to 1,750 culinary students and mid-life career changers,” Susan Ungaro, James Beard Foundation president, said. “Our foundation is grateful to our eight mentors, who, in addition to training our WICL grantees, are financially supporting this women’s leadership program. We are excited to see how these women’s careers will blossom under the inspiration of such talented industry veterans.”
Segal said she knew her future career would have something to do with food. She especially enjoys making large centerpiece concoctions out of chocolate and sugar.
“It’s all worth it when someone takes the first bite of something” you make “and you see them light up,” Segal said.

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