Washington, D.C. – Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) will bring together top women culinary professionals from across the United States to address the interconnections of food, business and community at its 16th Annual National Conference, November 1-3 in Washington, D.C.  

WHAT: The First Ladies of the Table: Connecting Food, Business & Community will kick off with its annual Women Who Inspire Awards Gala that honors a cadre of women who are role models to a new generation of women entering culinary professions. The three-day conference will consist of master classes, culinary tours, cookbook signings and ground-breaking discussions of the latest trends, plus mouth-watering food offerings. 

WHEN: Sunday, November 1 – Tuesday, November 3, 2009 

WHEN: The Ritz-Carlton 

      1150 22nd Street, NW

      Washington, DC 20037 

WHERE: Dozens of national culinary leaders, including chefs, restaurateurs, food and wine producers, farmers and educators. The full conference agenda is available now on the WCR Web site at www.womenchefs.org. 

REGISTER: Register online now at www.womenchefs.org.  

WHY: More than 50 percent of the foodservice-industry workforce are women, yet few reach the upper echelons of their profession. WCR’s national conference supports the organization’s mission to promote and enhance the education, advancement and connection of women in the culinary industry.