5th Annual Culinary Mentorship Program Goes National with $5,000 Award
‘Off the Menu by House of Form’ Opens National Call Granting One Winner Exclusive Mentorship with 10 Pros
Off the Menu by House of Form is proud to announce the return of its 5th annual nonprofit mentorship program and is seeking promising, up-and-coming changemakers in the culinary arts world. One selected visionary will be granted exclusive, one-on-one mentorship sessions with a board of 10 seasoned culinary and business leaders, all deeply rooted in and committed to the future of food. In addition to this unparalleled access, the recipient will receive a $5,000 cash award to invest directly in their growth.
Applications close on Monday, Sept. 15. The board of directors will evaluate and select the most promising concept based on their collective judgment, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 5. This is the first year Off the Menu by House of Form is accepting nationwide nominations and adding a monetary award to its program.
“After a decade of designing in the hospitality space, we at House of Form identified a gap; many creative food and beverage innovators lacked access to funding and design expertise, which are critical tools for scaling businesses,” said Founder and CEO Dala Al-Fuwaires. “So, in 2017, we took necessary action and established Off the Menu by House of Form to uplift these underserved and underestimated voices in our local food and beverage community, providing mentorship, insight and access to essential tools.”
Al-Fuwaires said what began as an Arizona-local grassroots effort has now evolved into a nationwide search to give bold, creative food and beverage innovators the tools and mentorship they need to turn vision into reality.
This year’s board of directors features ten distinguished leaders from across the hospitality, culinary and creative industries, each bringing a unique perspective and deep commitment to the future of their craft:
- Veronica Arroyo of the Mina Group is a Michelin-starred pastry chef and global director of pastry programming, known for crafting innovative dessert menus across 30+ international restaurant concepts.
- Angela N. Bankhead of Marcus Samuelsson Group is an award-winning multimedia producer and marketing strategist known for her creative storytelling and cultural engagement across culinary media.
- Calli Cholodenko, founder of Something Social, launched one of LA’s first specialized food and beverage social media agencies and is a leading voice in digital branding and audience engagement.
- Matt Erickson, SVP of hospitality development at MGM Resorts International, has over 30 years of experience leading global restaurant and nightlife development for luxury brands.
- Sam Foley, chief of staff at Major Food Group, specializes in hospitality operations and strategic planning across restaurants, real estate and private client services.
- Jason Ganga, a food and beverage consultant previously at Hillstone, The Global Ambassador and Wish You Were Here Group, brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience, specializing in operational strategy, team development and scalable systems that drive consistency and profitability.
- Shawn Hamada of Groot Hospitality, a seasoned culinary executive with over 15 years of experience leading high-profile restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay concepts and Groot Hospitality venues, specializes in high-volume restaurant operations, team development and delivering exceptional guest experiences across iconic brands.
- Brian McHugh of Ritz-Carlton brings three decades of global hospitality leadership, with a passion for organizational performance and harnessing the power of storytelling through branded experiences.
- Kevin PJ Okuszka of Cooper’s Hawk Winery is a nationally recognized restaurant executive with expertise in operations management, supply chain optimization and performance-driven leadership.
- Dala Al-Fuwaires, Founder and CEO of House of Form, is a visionary hospitality designer whose work with leading brands, including the likes of Marriott, Hilton and MGM, has shaped countless restaurant concepts through intentional, experience-driven design.
The 501(c)(3) organization ultimately aims to empower emerging culinary creatives to take risks and pursue visionary concepts, and its long-term mission is to remain a trusted resource for the next generation of chefs, bar owners and hospitality entrepreneurs.
Premier sponsors of the program include the Mina Group, Graza and Sueños Tequila. For more information and to apply, visit offthemenu.org.
Off the Menu by House of Form
Off the Menu by House of Form is a Phoenix-based nonprofit mentorship program dedicated to uplifting emerging voices in the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2017 by the award-winning hospitality design studio House of Form, the program selects one standout culinary innovator each year to receive personalized mentorship from a rotating board of industry leaders. With a mission to provide access, insight, funding and design expertise, Off the Menu by House of Form empowers creative talent to turn bold ideas into thriving businesses with staying power. To stay current, visit www.offthemenu.org or connect with @OffTheMenuOrg on Instagram.