Amazing time this past Sunday at Cherry Bombe’s Second Annual Jubilee Conference. Per the organizers, the Jubilee is “a day of celebration and conversation with an all-star line-up of some of the most inspiring women in the world of food.”

I initially thought the ticket price at $225 was a little steep – I was dead wrong!! Extraordinary day of learning and inspiration, worth every penny!! I’ll definitely be back next year – and highly recommend to anybody interested food, health, culinary trends, chefs, restaurants.  Kudos to Cherry Bombe – and Kerry Diamond you rock!!! Also loved the location at the High Line Hotel – had no idea they had such gorgeous meeting rooms.

More below on highlights of the day as well as a few notable misses.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa), in conversation with Julia Turshen (writer and one of the best interviewers of the day). Ina’s philosophy on life and business is totally inspiring: do what you love, never let money dictate what you do, don’t be afraid to try scary new things, surround yourself with a community of collaborators who you trust and want to share your life and success with. Also great intro by the amazing Bobbi Brown (Bobbi Brown Cosmetics).

The New Food Revolution Panel – 3 amazing women who are single-handedly driving change in what we eat and how we think about food (and all 3 are super funny as well, a big plus in a day filled with panel discussions):  Caroline Randall Williams (named by Southern Living as one of 50 people changing the South in 2015), Michelle Tam (nomnompaleo blog), Danielle Walker (diagnosed at 22 with autoimmune disease and honored this year as one of Forbes “30 under 30”). And fantastic moderator: Michele Promaulayko (editor in chief of Yahoo Health).

Meet the Modernists Panel – Wow!!! What a badass group of women chefs – each one totally unique and doing it their own way: Iliana Regan (Elizabeth Restaurant, Chicago), Elise Kornack (Take Root Brooklyn) and Dominque Crenn (Atelier Crenn, San Francisco).

Other notable speakers and guests included: Karen Kelley (President/COO Sweetgreen), Charlotte Druckman (OMG, love her!!), Erin McKenna (founder of Baby Cakes), Mimi Sheraton, April Bloomfield, Jordana Rothman, Padma Lakshmi, Lauren Bush Lauren (CEO of FEED).

Notable misses:

Padma Lakshmi is not ready for public speaking gigs. Yikes – killed me with boredom.

Gail Simmons is the WORST interviewer. Gail could learn a lot from Julia Turshen. What was billed as a keynote conversation with the wonderful April Bloomfield instead turned into an awkward interrogation – terrible.