Women Chef News

Dallas' Restaurant Beatrice extends game-changing culinary program

Restaurant Beatrice and Dallas College

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A Dallas restaurant that's been a champion of women in the industry is doubling down: Restaurant Beatrice, which launched a program in 2023 to promote women in leadership roles in the restaurant industry, will continue the program for a second semester, in partnership with Dallas College.

Called the Women in Restaurants Leadership Program (WRLP), it was an eight-week, tuition-free program that debuted in January 2024. According to a release, the first round was a smashing success.

From a survey they did with the first class, they learned that

82 percent of the students received job/stage opportunities
100 percent of the students would recommend the class to others
100 percent of the students felt the class improved their career prospects

Due to that remarkable success of the spring semester, they'll repeat class in the fall.

Enrollment is open to everyone, men included. The tuition-free program will allow students to stage with top Dallas restaurants including Beatrice, Zen Sushi, rye, Roots Southern Kitchen, the Duro Hospitality Group, and Crown Block.

Students also participate in a Capstone dinner to replenish costs for incoming students. That dinner will take place on Monday, October 28 at 6 pm at Dallas College's Culinary School. Leadership from Beatrice and Duro Hospitality will train and supervise participants. Students will demonstrate their improved skills and knowledge to execute a dinner for the public to enjoy.

The program was first conceived by Restaurant Beatrice owner and chef Michelle Carpenter with a goal of helping retain and advance more women in the industry and creating a more positive restaurant culture. Restaurant Beatrice is the Oak Cliff restaurant that celebrates Louisiana-style hospitality and culture which opened in 2022.

A 2022 study by the National Restaurant Association found that women enter the restaurant workforce at a higher rate than men but do not hold leadership positions.

To enroll and apply for a tuition-waiver, email Steve DeShazo, Senior Workforce Director for Dallas College's Culinary School at sdeshazo@dallascollege.edu.

Escargot News

New all-day French bistro in downtown Rockwall is all from scratch

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Belle View Bistro Rockwall

An all-day French bistro has made its debut in Rockwall: Called Belle Vie Bistro, it’s a new mom-and-pop in the charming historic downtown district, at 112 E. Rusk St., the former home of The Fatted Calf restaurant, where it opened its doors on November 12.

Belle Vie is from Luis and Iliana Marquez, a hard-working couple who also own Los Marquez, a popular taco--themed food-truck-turned-restaurant in Rockwall they first debuted in 2019. In May, the couple took over the former Fat Chicken space to open a brick and mortar location of Los Marquez, where they serve well-made Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, but also burgers & fries. They open for breakfast with breakfast tacos, and run a daily lunch special, often creative, always popular, such as birria ramen with choice of beef or lamb for $11.

But the couple had a bigger vision of creating a place where chef Luis could stretch and showcase his skills.

"Luis has a lot of culinary experience, and it’s something that he’s been putting aside,” Iliana says. “We were just waiting on the perfect time to bring this to life.”

"This is something exciting and new for us, it’s something that we always wanted to make,” Luis says.

Like Los Marquez, Belle Vie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving classics like French onion soup, moules frites, escargot, and duck confit. There are also comforting and American dishes like spinach-artichoke dip, crab cakes, and fish & chips.

Lunch features Cobb salad, a French dip, and chicken & Brie panini, while an extended breakfast -- which runs from 7 am to 4 pm — includes pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, beignets French toast, and crepes, plus pastries and breads made from scratch.

Mural on the wall at Belle Vie Bistro RockwallFacebook

The bakery counter is a delight, with eclairs, croissants, scones, fruit tarts, and cake slices in flavors like carrot cake and white chocolate raspberry. There's also a serious coffee program with espresso drinks such as lattes.

"We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch," the duo says. "Our bread—whether for sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers or anything listed on our menu is made fresh just for us by our incredibly talented pastry chef and baker. The same care goes into our pastries and desserts ensuring every bite is special and crafted with love."

The dining room is warm and cozy with dark wood chairs and plush booths and a full-wall mural depicting a street in Paris. They also have a full bar, with cocktails and beer on tap. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $9 for a Belgian waffle during breakfast to $45 for prime ribeye at dinner.

For now, they're not taking reservations — it's first come, first serve.

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