Nicholls State Hopes To Inspire Female Chefs

Nicholls State is kicking off a series it hopes will inspire future female chefs and highlight women who have made it in the male dominated industry. Amelie Zeringue, an assistant professor at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, says having successful women chefs come speak may give women considering the culinary arts more confidence to enter the field. Currently, only 21% of restaurant industry jobs are held by women.

The series, "Empowered Women Chefs", kicks off today with Chef Jacqueline Blanchard, a Nicholls graduate and owner of Coutelier NOLA. Zeringue says she hopes these speakers will encourage female chefs when they face stumbling blocks along the way. "Getting a bunch of successful female chefs to come out and tell us their obstacles in the industry and what led them to their success."

The seven part series will continue through the 2016 fall semester.