Celebrating Heritage Through Food
Forbes profiled Chef Dwynesha “Dee” Lavigne ’03 about her journey of becoming the second African-American woman to own a cooking school in New Orleans since 1937, continuing the legacy of Chef Lena Richards. Through her Deelightful Roux School of Cooking, she not only teaches New Orleans cuisine and the hidden African American influences in the culinary world but is also an advocate for broader representation in the industry.
Openings, Launches, and New Beginnings
Scott Conant ’92 expanded his partnership with Resorts World with opening The Kitchen inside the Resorts World Hudson Valley casino in Newburgh, NY, according to News 12 Westchester. Serving comfort food with a twist, Conant said the menu was inspired by his Italian roots and Hudson Valley tastes.
Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello ’79 unveiled a line of artisanal products and the debut of his third book, Mount Carmel, Brooklyn: The Heart and Soul of America’s Feast at the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel—a nearly 150-year-old event rooted in Catholic faith and Italian heritage according to Brooklyn Paper.
Mangia Pizza, a restaurant by Tom Doran ’96 and business partner and retired judge Scott Ugell that opened in New City, NY, immediately drew big crowds, according to Hudson Valley Magazine. The pizza shop specializes in square pies and offers a large gluten-free menu.
Joesph Iannaccone ’17 opened The Library in New Haven, CT. According to the Hartford Courant, the restaurant and its Italian-inspired menu is an ode to the 18th century Italian adventurer and writer Giacomo Casanova.
Modern Luxury featured Aubrey ’13 and Tyler O’Laskey’s ’14 new Franklin, TN, location of their Perenn bakery and café. The couple, who met while attending CIA, opened their first Perenn location in Reno, NV, in 2018 and built that into a “culinary empire that includes a private chef business, a catering company, two bakeries, a grocery store and a rotisserie—before recently relocating to Tennessee with their four children.”
Bonney’s, Jeanne Jordan’s ’10 and husband Damion Chambers’s Filipino-Jamaican fusion restaurant in Metuchen, NJ, successfully combines the two cuisines for a natural-feeling flavor story, according to an article on NJ.com. Bonney’s, which is a brick-and-mortar revitalization of the couple’s previous LA-based pop-up, combines Jordan’s and Chambers’s heritages.
Joe Sciarrotta ’95 and his wife Kathy planned to open a brick-and-mortar location of their New Orleans cuisine-based Hey Bebe Get Stuffed food truck in Maylene, AL. According to the Shelby County Reporter, the restaurant, Hey Bebe Where Yat?, will feature an eight-foot-long Mega Salad Bar and, eventually, an ice cream bar.
Omar Flores ’06 plans to open two new restaurants in Dallas in 2025. According to The Dallas Express, the two restaurants will be steak and seafood restaurant Casa Brasa and Mexican restaurant Maroma. Casa Brasa will open this summer, and Maroma will open in September.
Wine and Beverages
Kiki Austin ’17 was interviewed by Chilled Magazine about becoming a certified sake advisor at 26 years old and the future of sake in America. Now a sake sommelier at Mujō in Atlanta, GA, Austin has elevated pairing sake with different foods such as Caribbean and Mexican dishes. For example, Tokubetsu Junmai sake with stewed chicken and coconut rice is one of her favorite pairings.
Making the List
Ann Cooper ’79, founder of the Chef Ann Foundation and one of 2025’s CIA Leadership Awards honorees, was named to the annual Forbes list of 50 women over 50 making an impact. Cooper, who was listed in the “Impact” category, was recognized for her work bringing healthy, scratch-cooked food to over 16,000 schools in all 50 states. The article highlighted both her status as a CIA alum and her Augie Award.
Anniversaries and Special Occasions
The Portofino Restaurant, owned by Rich Micheli’s ’94 family, planned to celebrate 55 years in Crystal City in the Arlington, VA, area according to ARLnow.
Overcoming Challenges
Julia Sullivan ’07 shared her struggles with nasal polyps with People Health. After years struggling to smell, taste, and breathe normally, a diagnosis and medical treatment gave her relief. Sullivan opened her second restaurant, Judith, in Sewanee, TN, last fall.
The Hartford Courant discussed the potential impact of proposed tariffs by profiling Wilma Joas ’96 and her Dutch Epicure Shop in Litchfield, CT. With the majority of her products being imported, she, like other business owners, will be challenged to maintain prices and quality.
Giving Back
Richard Sandoval ’91 visited a citrus grove where oranges are grown for Alma Finca, a Mexican orange liqueur, as part of Viva Abejas, an initiative to support the bee and pollinator population, according to Forbes.
Aiana, run by Raghav Chaudhary ’18, is one of 13 restaurants taking part in The Ottawa Citizen’s inaugural Best Restaurants 2025 event taking place October 6, 2025, at the Canadian Museum of Nature. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the event will raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank.