FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Announcing the Inaugural Lisa Weiss Cookbook Grant
Supporting a Bay Area Cookbook Author
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, JULY 30, 2026 — The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) announces the inaugural Lisa Weiss Cookbook Grant. Endowed by Dan Weiss in honor of his late wife, Dame Lisa Weiss, an unrestricted cash grant of $5,000 will be awarded in the fall of 2026 to a woman who demonstrates promise, enthusiasm, and progress toward the goal of publishing a cookbook.
The Lisa Weiss Cookbook Grant reflects LDEI-SF’s continued commitment to philanthropy in food, beverage, and hospitality. “We’re so excited to offer this opportunity to a first-time or previously published author who demonstrates a new voice and bold ideas,” says Elaine Johnson, former senior food editor at Sunset magazine and chair of the grant committee.
The recipient may use the money toward any stage of the cookbook-making process, which might include research, photography, promotion, social media, or a book tour.
LDEI-SF’s cookbook grant seeks to support unique insight, a groundbreaking view, or a new area of culinary practice or study. Eligible applicants can be preparing to publish a cookbook or be in the process of proposing or writing one. They must reside in the greater Bay Area and identify as women. LDEI members are not eligible, and financial need is not a criterion. Applicants will be evaluated based on the strength of their concept, voice, writing, and recipes. LDEI-SF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its membership and outreach.
The grant is led by LDEI-SF’s newly established Lisa Weiss Cookbook Grant Committee, marking an important expansion of the chapter’s philanthropic programming. The committee consists of a dozen local Dames, including many whose cookbooks have won or been nominated for James Beard and IACP awards. The group also includes writers, chefs, literary agents, public relations professionals, cooking teachers, and others.
Applications will be open from September 8 through October 23, 2026. The recipient will be announced in November, 2026.
For full application details and eligibility requirements, please visit the LDEI-SF website here.
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About Dame Lisa Weiss
Lisa was a prolific food writer and stylist whose work often appeared in such stalwart publications as Cook’s Illustrated and Cooking Light. She co-authored six cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominated The Seventh Daughter: My Culinary Journey from Beijing to San Francisco with Cecilia Chiang.
About Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI)
Founded in New York in 1976, LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage, and hospitality fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram @lesdamesintl, LinkedIn and X @lesdamesintl.
"Les Dames d'Escoffier is a leadership culinary organization composed of women who have not only achieved success in their profession, but who contribute significantly to their communities… I am very proud to be a member." — JULIA CHILD, 2001
About Les Dames d’Escoffier International – San Francisco Chapter
In 1989, 19 powerhouse women in the culinary field founded the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames to bring the mission of LDEI to Northern California. Today, our 135 members across the Bay Area include professional chefs and bakers, restaurateurs and winemakers, farmers and producers, as well as leading publicists and industry executives shaping the food and wine industry who nurture each other’s careers while mentoring the next generation of local culinary leaders. More information on the San Francisco chapter of LDEI can be accessed at lesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Instagram @lesdamessf and on Facebook.
Media Contact
Katie Canfield, DipWSET
Communications Committee, Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco Chapter
katie@odonnell-lane.com
530-720-1138
