Recipient Hayley Matson-Mathes Honored by Les Dames d’Escoffier International with Prestigious Award June 17, 2025New York, NY – June 17, 2025 – In a grand celebration of leadership, education, and community impact, Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI or Les Dames) proudly announces Hayley Matson-Mathes as the recipient of its distinguished Woman of Purpose Award in partnership with YETI®. This honor recognizes exceptional Dames who are driving meaningful change in their communities through initiatives centered on global sustainability, food justice, education, and public health.“Hayley embodies the very spirit of the Woman of Purpose award,” says Stephanie Jaeger, LDEI President. “Her commitment to culinary education, her ability to create opportunity where there was once limitation, and her tireless advocacy for students, teachers, and working professionals have left a lasting mark not just in Hawaii, but across the broader culinary landscape. We are thrilled to honor her contributions.” A fourth-generation Kansan raised on her family’s farm and ranch, Hayley’s passion for food and community was sparked early. At just nine years old, she announced her culinary dreams to a local Extension Club — a dream that would carry her from wheat fields to the Culinary Institute of America and professional culinary exchanges in France and Italy. For the past 20+ years, she has served as Executive Director of the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation (HCEF), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering future culinary professionals through immersive, hands-on programs. Under Hayley’s leadership, HCEF has grown into a dynamic organization reaching over 77,000 individuals since its founding, including 6,300+ students and professionals in 2024 alone. The Foundation’s fully funded programs offer transformative experiences to community college and high school culinary students, working professionals, and the broader community, connecting them with award-winning chefs and food leaders from Hawaii and around the world. “I’m deeply honored to receive the LDEI Woman of Purpose Award,” says Hayley Matson-Mathes. “At the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation, my goal is to empower students to become the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. The most rewarding moments are when a former student tells me, ‘That program changed my life.’ Whether it’s a dish sparked by an HCEF chef or a career launched by a single taste, their stories remind me why this work matters. I’m committed to expanding our reach and elevating the voices of women chefs shaping the future of our culinary community.” The Woman of Purpose Award will enable Hayley to expand HCEF’s programs, further increasing access for under-resourced students and amplifying the voices of women chefs shaping Hawaii’s vibrant culinary scene. “We are honored to stand alongside the women who make a difference in their communities through education, hard work, and dedication,” says LeighAnn Bakunas, Director of Food + Beverage at YETI. “This award represents our belief in Hayley’s mission and the power of investing in women who uplift others through food, education, and leadership.” The Woman of Purpose Award will be officially presented to Hayley at the LDEI Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV, in 2026. About Les Dames d’Escoffier International Les Dames is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality. The organization’s 2,800 members in 42 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Italy provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy. Since its founding in 1985, Les Dames chapters have raised and donated more than $10 million to educational, community non-profits, and philanthropic organizations. For more information, visit www.ldei.org and follow Les Dames on Instagram @lesdamesintl and Facebook @Les Dames d'Escoffier Int'l.

Chef Vikram Garg PresentsCuisine of Goa (India)A Benefit Dinner for the Hawaii Culinary Education FoundationAugust 3, 2025HONOLULU, HI (June 4, 2025) — Join the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation for an Indian Dinner as Chef Vikram Garg takes you on a culinary journey to the Indian State of Goa on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, 6 p.m. Indulge in the one night only dinner at UMI by Chef Vikram Garg located in the Halepuna Hotel, 2233 Helumoa Road, Honolulu. The dinner promises to tantalize taste buds and transport guests to the sandy beaches of Western India. Celebrate the complex and varied foods that define Indian cooking as Chef Garg showcases coastal Goa cuisine. Each dish will be a work of art, meticulously crafted with authentic ingredients and traditional techniques. The Dinner will be an opportunity to enjoy fine Indian cuisine with wine selections.Dinner proceeds will benefit the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation, a nonprofit committed to providing cutting-edge knowledge and techniques for students enrolled at the state’s culinary education programs. Local, national and international chefs, cookbook authors, food and wine experts are featured in HCEF programs, providing out-of-the-classroom culinary experiences that broaden students’ awareness of the culinary world.Garg’s bespoke style of cooking is derived from his formal training in French cuisine and his inspirational rapport with clients and cultures from around the world. At his flagship restaurant, UMI by Vikram Garg, guests are immersed in his bold celebration of the ‘ocean’s harvest’, a seafood-centric dinner menu honoring the abundance of the sea by sourcing with a seasonal and sustainable chef philosophy.Tickets for the event are $350 inclusive offering tables of 10 for $3,500 and may be purchased at https://HCEFChefGargIndiandinner.eventbrite.comAbout the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation:Founded in 1998, the nonprofit Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation is dedicated to championing culinary education in Hawaii. The Foundation’s mission is to provide Hawaii’s culinary students and professional chefs with access to the best culinary knowledge through a variety of programs with local, national, and international chefs and culinary experts. www.hawaiiculinaryfoundation.orgAbout UMI By Vikram GargUMI by Vikram Garg located in the lobby of the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, is a decadent culinary tribute to the nurturing abundance of the sea. Chef Vikram Garg offers a globally inspired contemporary breakfast menu and seafood-centric dinner menu celebrated as the ‘Ocean’s Harvest.’ Garg’s award-winning cuisine features superior seasonal ingredients, refined traditions, progressive techniques, vibrant cultural infusions, masterful execution and his signature chef’s table.For more information and reservations: visit www.umibyvikramgarg.comMedia Contact:Hawaii Culinary Education FoundationHayley Matson-Mathes808-941-9088hawaiiculinaryfoundation@gmail.comUMI by Vikram GargUMI by Vikram GargChef Vikram GargConcierge@umiwaikiki.com