Women in Hospitality: Ladies of Lettuce
Meet these fearless female leaders
In honor of Women’s History Month this March, we’re pleased to introduce you to some of the incredible women who bring Lettuce Entertain You’s special brand of hospitality to life! Get ready for some inspiration from the vibrant, creative and fearless female minds who make Lettuce shine, from keeping every wine glass full and sweet tooth satisfied, to ensuring every dining experience is a memorable one.
Menu Mavens
Janet Kirker, Executive Chef & Managing Partner, Beatrix Market
Chef Janet Kirker grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and developed a passion for food at a young age while spending time in the kitchen with her mother and grandmothers. Preparing food for holidays and celebrations year after year sparked her interest in cooking and enticed her to pursue a career in hospitality. Kirker earned a B.S. in Restaurant Management at the University of Illinois, and then a Culinary Arts degree from The Culinary Institute of America in New York. Since joining Lettuce in 2012, Kirker has been instrumental in opening multiple concepts, chief among them Beatrix Market in Streeterville, where she helped to create a delicious, healthful, and homemade menu for the restaurant, which now has four locations in Chicago. Kirker is also entrusted with overseeing kitchen operations at R.J. Grunts, Lettuce Entertain You’s original restaurant concept.
Visit a Beatrix Market location nearest you | Make a reservation at R.J. Grunts
Yasmin Gutierrez, Executive Pastry Chef & Partner, Beatrix
Calling all women in STEM: If you have a knack for math, a career as a pastry chef might be for you! Born in Mexico City, Chef Yasmin Gutierrez moved to the U.S. with her family as a child to pursue an education. Spending hours in the kitchen with her grandmother and mother making traditional Mexican dishes and desserts like buñuelos and flan sparked her passion for sweets, but she also loved math and planned to be an accountant. After working at her mom’s office, however, she realized the cubicle life was not for her. “I knew my career needed to incorporate numbers somehow and pastry is surprisingly technical,” she says. “To have success as a pastry chef, you must demonstrate immense attention to detail in measurements, presentation and flavor.” She breezed through culinary school and today, if you live in the Chicagoland area, chances are you’ve indulged in one of her incredible desserts and pastries at Beatrix (Common and Emmy Rossum are fans!). Make a reservation at the Beatrix location nearest you | Order carryout or delivery from the Beatrix location nearest you
Whip up a batch of Chef Yasmin’s family recipe for Spicy Mexican Chocolate Cookies.
Tiffany Fox, Executive Chef, RPM Italian – Las Vegas
Chef Tiffany Fox has worked across a diverse portfolio of restaurants at Lettuce Entertain You since 2014. Her advice to young women pursuing a career in hospitality is to embrace the community and stay true to yourself: “I earned my degree in Business and Hospitality Management from Robert Morris University and had planned to pursue a career in front-of-house restaurant operations, but during a summer internship, I found out that I gravitated toward the energy and camaraderie of the kitchen even more.” She began her culinary career in 2008 at Chicago’s Carnivale, where she immersed herself in farm-to-table cooking, then worked at Roka Akor before taking her first Executive Chef role at Encola Wine Bar. Seeking growth, she joined Lettuce, working at Summer House and Mon Ami Gabi before becoming Sous Chef at RPM Italian Chicago in 2016, where she fell in love with Italian cuisine. After six years in Chicago, she moved to Las Vegas, working her way up to her recent appointment to Executive Chef of RPM Italian in 2024.
Make a reservation at RPM Italian – Las Vegas
Mary Ciancio, Pasta Maker, Tre Dita
Mary Ciancio spends her day meticulously hand-making, rolling and shaping a multitude of pasta shapes through the window of Tre Dita‘s temperature- and humidity-controlled “pasta lab,” a signature of pasta master and Chef Partner Evan Funke. When it comes to succeeding in the culinary arts, her advice to other women is to “Lead with humility and lift those around you to help them reach their highest potential. This industry can be taxing on both the mind and body, but the more you can learn to hold your head up high and persevere, you’ll come out better and stronger every time. It doesn’t get easier, you just get better and stronger, and I truly believe there is great power in that.”
Tiffany Christiansen, Pastry Sous Chef, Miru and Tre Dita at The St. Regis Chicago
As a sous chef in the busy pastry kitchen at The St. Regis Chicago, Tiffany Christiansen is responsible for preparing some of most opulent and showstopping desserts in Chicago for Miru, Tre Dita and the luxury hotel and residences’ numerous weddings, banquets and events of all sizes. Tiffany, who developed her expertise as a pastry chef at some of Chicago’s finest dining establishments, including Boka Restaurant Group and Lettuce’s RPM Steak and il Porcellino, shares that her greatest sense of accomplishment comes from witnessing her hard work come to fruition, when she looks out into the dining rooms and sees the joy on a guest’s face. A chocolate lover with a degree from the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, her best advice for other women in hospitality is to “Be comfortable with the uncomfortable and make yourself grow everyday.”
Wine & Spirits Stars
Diane Corcoran, Bar & Spirits Director, Lettuce Entertain You
Armed with endless energy and creativity, Corcoran has been an integral part of the beverage leadership team for nearly 30 Lettuce Entertain You concepts, including Bub City, RPM Italian, RPM Steak, Three Dots and a Dash, Ramen-san and Summer House. along with Windy City Smokeout, Chicago’s premier BBQ and country music festival. Most recently, her menu of Italian spirits and cocktails at Bar Tre Dita landed the hotspot on the cover of Chicago Magazine’s “Best Bars” issue, and the Japanese whisky and global spirits selection she curated for The St. Regis Chicago’s modern Japanese restaurant Miru is notably unrivaled in Chicago. She says a collaborative spirit and humility have been essential to her success in hospitality. “It’s not about me,” she says, “I want to do everything possible to make sure my team feels supported and has all of the tools and information they need to do their best for our beverage programs and ultimately, for our guests.”
Make a reservation at Miru | Make a reservation at Bar Tre Dita
Kathleen “Kat” Hawkins, Wine Director, Miru and Tre Dita at The St. Regis Chicago
Kat Hawkins began her career with Lettuce at the iconic Shaw’s Crab House in River North, then moved to RPM Steak, where she oversaw the renowned steakhouse’s list of more than 1,300 rare and sought-after wines. Now overseeing the award-winning wine programs at Miru and Tre Dita, Lettuce’s concepts at The St Regis Chicago, Hawkins says the the world of wine offers endless opportunities for learning and growth. While personally fond of the wines of Champagne, Alsace, and the Northern Rhône, she credits a trip to Oregon’s Willamette Valley as particularly inspiring, where she witnessed first-hand local growers’ dedication to promoting their region and inspiring each other. She carries this through many parts of her professional life, but finds it especially important on the restaurant floor and working with her team. Her advice to other women in hospitality is to focus on building strong relationships and uplifting one another.
Make a reservation at Miru | Make a reservation at Tre Dita
Katie Wilkinson, Sommelier, RPM Steak
The intellectual challenge and growth opportunities inherent to the restaurant industry drew Katie Wilkinson to become a sommelier. Prior to joining the team at RPM Steak, she served as a sommelier at the California-inspired Fulton Market favorite The Oakville Grill & Cellar, 167 Events, and RPM Seafood, which she describes as a “see it to be it” moment. Being surrounded by the other women in leadership roles within Lettuce allowed her to visualize what was possible and how to achieve it. Her words of wisdom for women in hospitality? Surround yourself with other inspiring women in your chosen profession.
Make a reservation at RPM Steak
Interested in learning more about wine? Explore wine experiences at Lettuce.
Natcha Gibson, Lead Bartender, Miru
Born and raised in Thailand, Natcha Gibson’s fearlessness and natural curiosity has served her well. After emigrating to the U.S. and cutting her teeth at internationally acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges’ Perry St. in New York City and a luxury hotel in Florida, she landed in Chicago, where she joined the team at Three Dots and a Dash before signing on to the opening team at Miru at The St. Regis Chicago. Now serving as lead bartender at the modern Japanese favorite, she recommends continuous exploration and learning: “In the bartending world, there are so many things that you could learn from [industry colleagues]. I feel excited every time that I go out to a new restaurant and see what other bartenders in the world are passionate about.”
Event Experts
The Dalcy Event Hall Team
The dream team at The Dalcy Event Hall in Chicago’s Fulton Market is female-powered and ready to bring your vision to life! With extensive experience in every aspect of party planning, design, vendor management and building client relationships, this team makes magic happen, whether your wishlist involves tricky table settings, specialized entertainment or custom favors with an extreme wow-factor. Led by Partner Maureen Larson, who has been instrumental in producing events at other Lettuce venues such as Bub City and The Ivy Room, the team flawlessly executes events of all sizes, from weddings, rehearsal dinners and birthdays, to corporate events and happy hours on the shared patio space at Aba. Maureen’s passion for developing and mentoring young female leaders has led to continued growth for The Dalcy team, with more to come!
Learn more about hosting an event at The Dalcy
RPM Restaurants Parties & Special Events Team
This dynamic, all-female team includes experts who oversee the flawless planning and execution of special events for RPM Italian, RPM Seafood, RPM Steak, RPM Events and Pizzeria Portofino. It’s never a dull moment, from hosting New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on the riverfront, to parties of all sizes across every location, including weddings, corporate meetings, baby showers, birthdays and more.
Brittany Albright, Summer House on the Lake Parties & Events
Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs in Orlando made a splash on the local event scene almost immediately, with its bright and airy indoor-outdoor spaces, not to mention the friendly and oh-so-creative events team helmed by Sales & Catering Manager Brittany Albright. As a Certified Wedding & Event Planner with a passion for food forged by her father’s career as a chef, she’s dedicated to creating meaningful moments, and seamless and unforgettable events.
Learn more about hosting an event at Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs
Lettuce Leaders
Molly Melman, Executive Partner & Director of Divisional Training, Lettuce Entertain You
With hospitality in her genes (her father, Rich Melman, is the co-founder of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants), Molly Melman has opened more than two dozen Lettuce restaurants including RPM Italian, RPM Steak, RPM Seafood, Pizzeria Portofino, Ramen-san, Sushi-san, The Omakase Room, il Porcellino, Bub City, Three Dots and A Dash and more. She and her partners also execute Windy City Smokeout, an award-winning country music, BBQ and beer festival in Chicago. She brings a background in teaching to her role as divisional training director, responsible for interviewing and hiring candidates for all positions, overseeing training for new restaurant openings and working with a team of trainers who oversee employee development ongoing. Molly’s advice to women is hospitality is, “Never stop evolving, reflecting, analyzing and growing. One of my least favorite phrases is, ‘that’s how we’ve always done it.’ Come in with fresh eyes, new perspectives and constantly think of ways to make things better. Even if it is small changes each day.”
As a creator and founding member of the Rowe Club, which launched in 2017 to empower women in the restaurant industry around three main focuses–education, networking and philanthropy–Molly finds value in connecting with other women in the industry to run through thoughts and ideas on a daily basis. She also relies on mentors for advice, guidance and reflection and says it’s important as you grow to pay it forward: “Be a mentor and be available to your team and others who are looking to grow in the industry.”
Click here to learn more about the Rowe Club.
Kelly Clancy, Managing Partner & Divisional Supervisor, The Oakville Grill & Cellar, 167 Events & RPM Restaurants
Kelly Clancy has spearheaded sustainability efforts Lettuce-wide, starting with implementing composting programs at the Chicago locations of RPM Restaurants, which includes RPM Seafood, RPM Steak, RPM Italian and Pizzeria Portofino. The program has also been adopted at The Oakville Grill & Cellar in Chicago’s Fulton Market and Aba in Austin, Texas, inclusive of glass, cardboard, and food waste. In collaboration with Chicago-based company WasteNot, which supplied the restaurants with bins and composting bags, Kelly has provided comprehensive training for staff and managers at the restaurants, and also works with culinary leaders such as RPM Restaurants Executive Chef Partner Bob Broskey to identify ways to reduce kitchen waste in intentional ways, such as using tallow to create beef butter.
Kiran Pinto, Managing Partner, The Ivy Room, Gem Catering & Events, Lettuce Parties & Special Events, The St. Regis Chicago
For as long as she can remember, Kiran Pinto has been passionate about food, with cultural influences from her Irish-German mother and Indian father while growing up in Peoria, Ill. After attending Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration and going on to front-of-the-house operations at various restaurants in Boston, she studied abroad in London and Sydney to experience hospitality firsthand from a global perspective. After returning to Chicago, she joined Lettuce and over the past two decades, has been an integral part of numerous notable openings, from RPM Italian, Ramen-san and RPM Steak, to Miru and Tre Dita at The St. Regis Chicago. She has four bits of advice for women in hospitality: 1. You’re never done learning. 2. You’re not prepared to manage people until you’re prepared to work alongside them. 3. Listen to what people have to say. 4. You’re never too far along in your career to bus a table.
Ola Staszczynski, General Manager, Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Make a reservation at Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Lettuce Entertain You Interior Design Team
When dining at your favorite Lettuce restaurant, do you sometimes marvel at the thoughtfully curated design elements that add to the overall experience—a showstopping light fixture, gorgeous greenery, a fabric or texture that perfectly complements a space? Chances are one of the creative, eagle-eyed women from Lettuce Entertain You’s interior design team hand-selected those details. From Project Manager Callie Revel, who also oversees the look and feel of the Windy City Smokeout, to Director of Interior Design Avril Zayas, who along with her team has spearheaded such unforgettable creations as Aba – Chicago, The Oakville Grill & Cellar and Summer House – Las Vegas (recognized by People Magazine in 2024 as one of the 50 Most Beautiful Restaurants in America!), these ladies work hard to make us look very, very chic.
Hosts with the Most
JoAnn Ciccone, Host, Wildfire – Schaumburg
JoAnn Ciccone has been a fixture at Wildfire – Schaumburg for nearly 20 years as the daytime host. Always ready with a smile and a positive attitude, she multitasks with ease, seamlessly arranging seating, managing busy phone lines, and kindly helping guests and colleagues, all while ensuring everyone who comes through the door receives the warmest welcome possible. Management’s confidence in her flawless ability to run the show Monday through Friday allows for them to focus efforts on improving the overall guest experience every day. “Women in hospitality is a recipe for success,” Ciccone says. “Use your passionate and nurturing nature to excel. Be caring to both guests and staff.”
Make a reservation at the Wildfire location nearest you.
Linda Djancovic, Host & Carryout, Shift Leader, Wildfire – Glenview
Linda has been working at Wildfire since they opened in 2004, where she started as a server. She has the ability to talk and is able to form meaningful connections with guests thanks to her phenomenal memory, whether it’s where a regular likes to sit or their favorite carryout order. She gets to know people and is always following-up and asking about their families. She is a true asset to Wildfire – Glenview, and not just because of her boisterous laugh! She advises women in hospitality: “Expect to work very hard. And always remember, tomorrow is a new day with a whole new set of customers.”
Make a reservation at the Wildfire location nearest you.
Women of Windy City Smokeout
For 12 years, Windy City Smokeout, Chicago’s annual celebration of music and BBQ, has included a wealth of influential female voices, including Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and the 2024 headliner, eight-time GRAMMY award winner Carrie Underwood. Also in attendance are the hundreds of women involved in producing Windy City Smokeout, all there doing what they love – ensuring attendees have the weekend of a lifetime!
