Nashville Welcomes MAPP Impact: A Culinary Extravaganza and A Fine Line Premiere
Nashville, TN - On October 10, MAPP Impact brought its inspiring roadMAPP 10-city LIVE tour to Music City, hosted at the heartwarming sanctuary of survivors, The Cafe & Shops at Thistle Farms. This incredible event shone a spotlight on the extraordinary women of Nashville's culinary and hospitality scene, revealing their untold stories and immense contributions to their communities.
The event featured a lineup of exceptional local talents:
Chef Star Maye of Anzie Blue, a recent Food Network Champion celebrated for serving the city's finest brunch.
Chef Charlotte Miller of Yay Yay’s, who trained under an alum of culinary masters like Bocuse and led prestigious hotel kitchens.
Kirbee Miller, a culinary author, flavor enthusiast, and real estate powerhouse.
Dana Wronski, a 30+ year hospitality veteran and James Beard Foundation award recipient who now directs Thistle Farms' hospitality efforts.
Each of these chefs and restaurateurs, despite their remarkable talents and community contributions, have yet to achieve the national recognition they truly deserve. This is where MAPP Impact steps in, to ensure that their stories are heard, their work celebrated, and their communities thrive.
The highlight of the evening was the Nashville Premiere of A Fine Line Movie, filmed and directed by MAPP Founder Joanna James. The documentary stars renowned chefs such as Dominique Crenn, Cat Cora, Mashama Bailey, Barbara Lynch, and Carrie Nahabedian, among others. Nashville marked the special 5th-anniversary since the film's nationwide premiere on PBS. Following the private screening, a dynamic panel discussion brought together featured professionals and restaurateurs to reflect on the progress and challenges in creating gender equity in the workplace, particularly within the restaurant industry.
The premiere's resounding success reaffirmed the importance of MAPP's mission, underscoring the continued relevance of A Fine Line in promoting gender equity. The evening's delightful culinary creations were prepared by the featured chefs and the Thistle Farms team, complemented by a selection of fine wines from MAPP's steadfast partners, Markham Vineyards and Dough Wine, along with beverages from sponsors PepsiCo, San Pellegrino, and Acqua Panna.
The room was filled with positivity and energy, with attendees including members from MAPP's valued partners PepsiCo, and Delta Air Lines who generously awarded a $500 travel certificate to lucky MAPP members and attendees Serveen Johnson and Amber Steele of Pinky’s Up in Clarksville, TN, which provides a childcare center for its employees, helping them strike a balance between work and life.
A heartfelt thank you to our roadMAPP Nashville partner, Thistle Farms, and their director of hospitality, Dana Wronski, for opening their space and their hearts to MAPP and our wonderful community.
MAPP Impact's roadMAPP tour continues to illuminate and empower, one city at a time, ensuring that the voices and stories of women in culinary and hospitality are not only heard but celebrated.
For our next tour stop, we head to Napa, California with Markham Vineyards on October 17-19 for a private mentorship luncheon. Read more about it here.
Follow @mappimpact on instagram and watch the event recap video here.
