Applications
Since our scholarship and grant program began nine years ago, we have awarded nearly $250,000 to women across the state pursuing a wide variety of food- and culinary-related careers.
Scholarships
We offer annual scholarships for education and continuing education awards to female applicants pursuing culinary or pastry arts, farming, beverage management, hospitality, nutrition and dietetics, or agriculture coursework at four-year universities and community colleges.
Application Details 2025
Scholarship Award Applicant Eligibility
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Any female student accepted to or attending a college/university/junior college/graduate school or trade school (not in your last semester) majoring in a food related field (ie: Nutrition/Dietetics, Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, Agricultural Sciences, etc.)
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Agree to collaborate with LDEI by allowing the use of your likeness and testimonials, and participating in LDEI activities as requested.
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Has a completed application form below.
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Has a completed essay.
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Has 2 letters of recommendation.
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Submits a video (no longer than 90 seconds) introducing yourself and your goals in a unique and personal way.
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Includes a headshot.
Individual Educational Scholarships:
Each scholarship is a minimum of $1,000, and the recipient(s) must submit a complete application by the deadline. Money is to be used only for tuition.
Deadline: March 21, 2025
Click below to complete the Individual Scholarship Application
Monique Williams, Owner of the Cheesecake
Empori-Yum, 2021 Entrepreneur Grant Winner
Entrepreneur Grants
The mission of LDEI Birmingham is to mentor and support women working in the food, culinary and hospitality industry. Our chapter assists female-owned businesses in the industry with cash awards up to $5,000 to help them expand and enhance their business.
Application Details 2025
Entrepreneur Award Applicant Eligibility
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Female business owner in the food, agriculture, culinary, or hospitality industry.
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Willing to support and participate in Les Dames d’Escoffier events.
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Has a completed application.
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Has a completed essay.
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Has a completed business plan.
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Has 2 letters of recommendation.
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Submitted a video (no longer than 90 seconds) introducing yourself and your goals in a unique and personal way.
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Includes a headshot.
Entrepreneur Grant: Up to $5,000
The candidate must define and validate how her business plans to meet its mission and goals. Only complete applications with all required information and forms will be considered for this award.
Deadline: March 21, 2025
Click below to complete the Entrepreneur Award Application
Women helping women, we are all about that.
Past Entrepreneur
Grant Recipients
Etricia Simone Williams Robinson was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. She attended college at the University of Montevallo where she discovered who she wanted to be. "I had always loved to cook, but I didn’t know I could make a whole life from it. "My grandmother, Sadie Lee Hunter, had taught me everything I needed to know to be a magnificent chef. I just didn’t know it until attending Culinard. Making the recipes she had taught me and seasoning food the way she did, people noticed,
Yanisa Odom moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to pursue an MBA at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but she missed the delicious food and drinks from Bangkok, Thailand, where she grew up. To fill this gap, she began cooking Thai dishes and making Thai drinks for herself and her friends at UAB. Soon, she became passionate about sharing more of her culture and heritage through the best medium: food! Her mission was to “Bring Bangkok to Birmingham!”
Dr. Rylie M. Hightower opened The Lumbar, one of downtown Birmingham’s most popular and unusual bars, at the end of 2018 while studying for her doctorate in biomedical neuroscience at UAB. Her dream: to open a space where creative thought takes place over good food and drinks. Rylie’s business hosts and celebrates events like Apollo Week and Women’s History Month and has hosted over 40 scientific presentations and science-themed happy hours. She used the grant to expand her outdoor seating.
Etricia Simone Williams Robinson was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. She attended college at the University of Montevallo where she discovered who she wanted to be. "I had always loved to cook, but I didn’t know I could make a whole life from it. "My grandmother, Sadie Lee Hunter, had taught me everything I needed to know to be a magnificent chef. I just didn’t know it until attending Culinard. Making the recipes she had taught me and seasoning food the way she did, people noticed,