women are unstoppable.

urban kitchen group is proud to be a woman owned and operated company.
we strive to provide opportunities for women to thrive and are thankful for the inspiring women
who make up our #CUCINAfamily.
shattering glass ceilings and paving the way for future culinary leaders we invited 4 of San Diego’s best female chefs along with our Pastry Chef Elena Palma for a five-course pairing dinner at CUCINA urbana

join us wednesday, march 20th at 6 pm for Festa Della Donna
portions of festa della donna proceeds will benefit the center for community solutions

the event is sold out, thank you for your support and interest!

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giving back // the organization

Center for Community Solutions

Center for Community Solutions (CCS) is a San Diego-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending relationship and sexual violence. Since 1969, CCS has been providing trauma-informed, wrap-around services to empower survivors as they heal and recover from trauma. CCS’ free services include a 24/7 confidential crisis hotline, four domestic violence shelters, counseling, legal services, safety planning, prevention education and more.

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THE CHEFS

kelli crosson | the lodge at torrey pines

THE CHEF: Executive Chef Kelli Crosson brings a lifelong interest in real food to the culinary program at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. From her upbringing on a 40-acre citrus orchard to attending The French Culinary Institute in New York, Crosson embraces a simplicity conveyed through dishes that allow fresh and naturally flavorful ingredients to shine. She enjoys the rush of the kitchen as much as bringing people together to dine and enjoy each other’s company, and her focus extends beyond the kitchen line to ensure an impeccable guest experience.

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charleen sandoval | born & raised

THE CHEF: An integral part of Born & Raised, Charleen Sandoval leads the kitchen as Executive Chef. In addition to working with culinary stars and renowned restaurant groups including Nancy Silverton and Michael Mina, Sandoval has spent years contributing to the local dining scene at San Diego institutions known for quality meat and butchery, such as Cowboy Star, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, and TRUST. Sandoval was hired as Sous Chef at Born & Raised in 2022 and has played an essential role in the development of the restaurant’s updated menu and the ushering in of a new era for CH Projects.

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lydia ornelas | the plot restaurant

Chef Lydia Ornelas The Plot Oceanside and The Plot Express Carlsbad Cooking has always held Chef Lydia Ornelas’ attention in a way not much else can compare. She credits her Grandma Rosie for giving her introductory food and hospitality lessons without even realizing it; at the time, Chef Lydia was more taken with Grandma Rosie’s intentional cooking style and the love she poured into each dish. Before joining forces with The Plot co-founders Davin and Jessica Waite, Chef Lydia’s culinary journey included serving as Chef de Cuisine at The Goat & Vine in Temecula, working under the direction of Chef Angelo Sosa, and being a part of opening her mother’s Hawaiian restaurant. Her current career highlight is having the opportunity to partner with The Plot team in opening multiple restaurants and continuing their sustainability-driven, plant-based, zero-waste mission. In 2019, Chef Lydia was intrigued by The Plot’s culinary ethos and made it her goal to grow her knowledge on living a plant-based lifestyle and working in a zero-waste kitchen. Overseeing the kitchens at The Plot’s Oceanside and Carlsbad locations proves to be a constant source of excitement and inspiration. Chef Lydia’s favorite part of the job is intrinsically tied to The Plot’s process and the values-based team around her — from the unique ability to source a majority of their produce from local regenerative farms and The Plot Oceanside’s own garden, to the constant creativity driven by using every part of an ingredient. Chef Lydia hopes to honor and emulate the caring and innovative cooking environment she was raised in as she continues to serve her community and overarching eco-mission. This way, she knows she’s accomplishing something for the greater good.

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Anne-Marie Ferguson Coulon

Anne-Marie is the third generation of Coulons to own a restaurant in San Diego. Not being old enough to buy her grandparents’ restaurant, the Belgian Lion, when they retired (she was only 11), she had to bide her time until she could buy a place of her own. Her grandfather did, however, begin training her as soon as she could reach the stove. Anne-Marie also cut her culinary teeth in a variety of places, including a stage at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Her cooking style developed as a mixture of her upbringing and professional experiences, with decidedly her own spin. She opened the Little Lion in 2014, focusing on the freshest ingredients, and sourcing from only the best purveyors in town, some of whom she’s known since she was a child.

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elena palma | urban kitchen group

A San Diego native, born & raised in Imperial Beach, Elena Palma leads an impressive pastry program for Urban Kitchen Group’s restaurants in San Diego and Orange County, alongside bread and pastry for their commissary and full-service catering division. Inspired by her travels throughout Europe and time spent living in Germany, she was in awe of the skilled artisans and innovators in modern patisserie and quickly feel in love with the world of pastry. Elena moved back to the U.S. in 2008 with a new career path. After acquiring a degree in Baking and Culinary Arts, she landed a sought-after position working with renowned Pastry Chef Jack Fisher at the former Jack’s La Jolla followed by Arterra in Del Mar. In 2010 Elena was tapped by The Lodge at Torrey Pines, where she rose to the position of Executive Pastry Chef and spent more than six years working for one of Southern California’s most prestigious luxury resorts. In 2018, Elena made a career move to San Diego’s Coronado Island to spearhead one of the city’s most iconic bistros, Clayton’s. There, she built a cult-like following for the upscale café’s bakery division. Elena began working with Urban Kitchen Group in 2022, where she is proud to support one of San Diego’s most notable hospitality collectives as Pastry Chef.

THE WINE + BEVERAGE PRODUCERS

April Kirby – Beverage Director, You & Yours

Founded by Laura Johnson in 2015 and opened to the public in 2017, You & Yours is California’s first urban destination distillery located in San Diego. Utilizing a custom-built hybrid eau de vie still, You & Yours strives to not only provide high-quality, transparent spirits made with sustainable practices and top-notch ingredients, but also a welcoming and enjoyable tasting experience for all. Today, all You & Yours spirits and canned cocktails can be found not just behind the bar and in retailers across California, but also throughout the United States. You & Yours was created for the purpose of bringing people together over elevated imbibing experiences, which became the foundation for the distillery’s name: by You & Yours, for you and yours.

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BECCA KUFRIN – FOUNDER, BOURDON WINE

BECCA KUFRIN – FOUNDER, BOURDON WINE Founded in 2020 by former ABC Bachelorette Becca Kufrin, Bourdon Wine was birthed from the idea that no moment is too small to not have a bottle of bubbly in the fridge. Bourdon, meaning bumblebee in French, represents community, celebration, brightness, and power. It is meant for all of life’s celebrations that deserve to be celebrated and savored. Today, Bourdon has evolved into a well-known California Wine brand with expansion on the horizon.

Danielle Rubin, Laird Family Estate

After 50 years in the wine business, Laird Family Estate understands the ins and outs of the industry, from the trends to the challenges. We believe that our success is due to our vineyard expertise as well as our shared goal to produce great estate wines. With a concentration on Napa and Carneros vineyards, we have sought to produce wines that are “a window to a place.” Each one of our vineyards is different in expression, with its own subtle, yet distinctive character and voice. Each year renews in us an intense drive to understand, react to, and work with each vineyard to allow it to reach its full potential. This process, lead by our winemaking and vineyard management team, is crucial for the execution of successful wines.

BEHIND THE SCENES AND MEDIA

CBS Morning News Visit – Neda Iranpour

CBS 8 Morning News, Neda Iranpour invited UKG Principal, Tracy Borkum, Little Lion Cafe Chef, Anne Marie Coulon, and UKG Pasty Chef, Elena Palma to chat Festa della Donna and why we are giving back to Center for Community Solutions! (press play on the video above)

WATCH HERE

AS SEEN ON INSTAGRAM

TOGETHER WE RISE ✊🏽San Diego’s top female chefs are teaming up with California’s renowned winemakers & spirits pros for a charitable 5-course dinner on Wed. March 20th at CUCINA urbana. Tracy Borkum of @cucinarestaurants has made it her mission to empower women in life & business, and she launched CUCINA’s annual Festa Della Donna event to honor the achievements of female industry leaders and raise critical funds for Center for Community Solutions (@ccs_sd). Link in bio for tickets!

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