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MURIELBOWSERMayor
February14,2025
‘TheHonorablePhilMendelson
Chairman
CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
JohnA.WilsonBuilding
1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW, Suite504
Washington,DC 20004
DearChairmanMendelson:
Inaccordancewithsection2of theConfirmationActof1978,effectiveMarch3,1979(D.C.Law 2-
142;D.C.OfficialCode§ 1-523.01),andpursuanttosection5 oftheOfficeandCommissionon
NightlifeandCultureEstablishmentActof2018,effectiveDecember13, 2018(D.C.Law 22-191:
D.C.OfficialCode§3-664),Iam pleasedtonominatethefollowingindividual:
Ms.RisLacoste37thStreet,NWWashington,DC20007(Ward3)
forreappointmentastherepresentativeofanorganizationthatadvocatesforpreventingsexual
harassmentandassaultmemberoftheCommissiononNightlifeandCulture,foratermtoendMarch
15,2028.
Enclosed,youwillfindbiographicalinformationdetailingtheexperienceoftheabove-mentioned
nominee,togetherwithaproposedresolutiontoassisttheCouncilduringtheconfirmationprocess.
IwouldappreciatetheCouncil'searliestconsiderationofthisnominationforconfirmation.Please
do nothesitatetocontactme, or StevenWalker,Director,Mayor'sOfficeof Talentand
Appointments,shouldtheCouncilrequireadditionalinformation.
Sinyrely,
MufielBoyser
Ma¥or
1
2
3 at the request of the Mayor
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5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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12
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15 To confirm the appointment of Ris Lacoste to the Commission on Nightlife and Culture.
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17 RESOLVED , BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Commission on Nightlife and Culture Ris Lacoste Confirmation
19 Resolution of 2025".
20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
21
22 Ris Lacoste
23 3 7th Street, NW
24 Washington, DC 20007
25 (Ward 3)
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27 as the representative of an organization that advocates for preventing sexual harassment and
28 assault member of the Commission on Nightlife and Culture, established by D.C. Official Code§
29 3-664, for a term to end March 15, 2028.
30 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
31 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor .
32 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
RIS LACOSTE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ROCK CREEK AT MAZZA/BETHESDA Washington DC/Bethesda MD
• Corporate Chef, opening of new 160 seat mindful cuisine
restaurant
1789 RESTAURANT, F. SCOTT’S, THE TOMBS Washington DC
• Executive Chef, 180 seat seasonal American fine dining restaurant
January 2007 -
Present
August 1995 -
December 2005
KINKEAD’S AMERICAN BRASSERIE Washington DC
• Chef, 250 seat American seafood fine dining restaurant
• Menu development, staffing, execution, insurance coordinator,
POS systems coordinator
• Opened restaurant
September 1993 -
July 1995
VIDALIA Washington DC
• Reservationist, office systems development consultant
• Opened restaurant
June -
August 1993
EYE STREET CAFÉ Washington DC
• Consulting Chef for Abi-Najm family of Lebanese Taverna
• Menu development, staffing, execution of Mediterranean café
• Opened restaurant
January -
June 1993
TWENTY-ONE FEDERAL Washington DC
• Sous Chef, 160 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
• Menu development, staffing, execution, insurance coordinator,
purchasing agent
• Opened and closed restaurant
December 1987 -
January 1993
21 FEDERAL Nantucket MA
• Sous Chef, 130 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
• Menu development, staffing, execution, purchasing agent, line cook
• Opened restaurant
May 1985 -
December 1987
THE HARVEST RESTAURANT Cambridge MA
• Steward, purchasing agent, butcher, line cook, pantry cook
• 150 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
September 1982-
May 1985
EDUCATION
LA VARENNE Écôle de Cuisine Paris, France
Grand Diplôme d’Études Culinaires, Receptionist, Translator
April 1981 -
August 1982
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA at Berkeley Berkeley CA
Bachelor of Arts Degree in French
September 1977-
January 1980
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Rochester, NY
Pre-med curriculum
September 1974-
May 1976
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
“Chef of the Year” Nominee
July 2005
DC Central Kitchen Fight Night Iron Chef Champion November 2005
November 2004
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington
“Restaurant of the Year” - 1789 Restaurant
July 2000
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
“Chef of the Year”
July 1999
The James Beard Association “Best Chef – Mid-Atlantic” Nominee May 1999
Washingtonian Magazine “Restaurateur of the Year” January 1992
Dirona Award 1789 Restaurant 1995 - 2005
American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF)
Chapter Leadership Award
2000
Zagat Dining Guide Top 20 Restaurants 1997 - 2005
Zagat Dining Guide America’sTop Restaurants 1998
Washingtonian Magazine « 3 stars « January 2005
Washingtonian Magazine Top 100 Restaurants 1996 - 2005
Washington Post Best 50 Restaurants 1996 - 2005
Washington Post “3 stars” September 2005
AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
• Hospitality High School of Washington DC
Member, Board of Trustees
2000 - Present
• American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF)
Member, National Board
Chairman, Nominations Committee
2000 - 2005
2001, 2002,
2005
• American Institute of Wine and Food, National Capital Area Chapter
(AIWFNCAC)
Member, Board of Directors
Honorary Member, Board of Directors
Chairman, Board of Directors
Newsletter Coordinator
1991 - 2002
2002 - Present
1996 - 2002
1996 - 2001
• Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
Member, Board of Directors
• DC Central Kitchen (DCCK)
Member, Board of Directors
January 2006
- Present
May 2007 –
Present
• Women’s Forum of Washington DC (WFWDC), Member 1999 - Present
• Women Chefs and Restaurateurs (WCR), Member 1999 - Present
• James Beard Foundation, Member 1995 - Present
• Les Dames d’Escoffier, Member September
1996 - Present
• Ovarian Cancer Alliance
Chef coordinator for Gala Fundraiser
2005 - 2006
• St Jude Children’s Hospital
Chef Coordinator for Gala Fundraiser
1998 - Present
• Taste of the Nation, Golden Carrot Awards, Zoofari, Food and
Friends, Share Our Strength, Second Genesis, Tuberous Sclerosis, DC
Rape Crisis Center, DC Central Kitchen, Summer Opera Theatre
Company, regular contributor
1987 - Present
TEACHING/COOKING SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
• L’Academie de Cuisine, Gaithersburg MD
Teacher, mentor
1995 - Present
• Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, New York NY (CCAP)
Judge, mentor
1998 - Present
• Fresh Farm Markets, Washington DC
Cooking demonstrator
2001 - Present
• Sur La Table, Arlington VA
Guest chef cooking class instructor
1994 - Present
PUBLICATIONS AND TELEVISION
• Fine Cooking Magazine
“The Sweet and Savory Sides of Winter Squash”, Issue #35, Nov. 1999
“Do-Ahead Beef Wellingtons”, Issue #42, January 2001
“Elegant Spring Dinner”, Issue #50, May 2002
The Best of Fine Cooking, Comfort Food, 2004
The Best of Fine Cooking, Dinner with Friends, 2004
“Home for the Holidays”, Issue #75, Winter 2006
“Green Beans On the Side”, Issue #82, December 2006
“The Secrets of Fluffy Flavorful Rice Pilaf”, Issue #84, March 2007
“Plan Ahead for a Delicious Thanksgiving”, Issue #88, November 2007
• Food Service Monthly, Contributor 2006
• American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF)
Quarterly Newsletter coordinator and regular contributor
1996 - 2001
• Featured in: The New York Times, Washingtonian Magazine,
Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, Food Arts, Gourmet Magazine,
Hemispheres, USA Today, The Examiner, The Washington Post, The
Washington Post Magazine, The Washington Times, The Boston Globe, The
Standard Times, Restaurant Business, The Wall Street Journal,
The Hill, Washington Flyer, Wines, Nantucket Magazine
1994 - Present
• “Cooking for Julia”, Documentary honouring Julia Child at her 90th Birthday
Celebration at 1789 Restaurant, August 2002 as seen on WETA in August and
November 2004
• “Local Flavor”, WETA 2000
• Appearances on Wolf Kitchen Demonstrations, Iron Chef
“Secrets of the Kitchen Stadium,” Philadelphia Kitchens,
local cable television, Fox News, CBS News
Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Ris Lacoste
Ms. Ris Lacoste is one of the most respected and dedicated chefs working
in Washington, DC today. H er reputation was built upon high- quality
ingredients, bold innovative technique, and food that is both familiar and
simply delicious. She is also an advocate for the prevention of domestic
violence and sexual assault.
A James Beard nominated chef, Ms. Lacoste is chef and owner of her
West End DC bistro, RIS. After schooling in Paris, she returned stateside
and started a long, rewarding relationship with Chef Bob Kinkead. The
restaurants Harvest, 21 Federal, Twenty-One Federal in Washington, DC,
Kinkead’s American Brasserie, and 1789 Restaurant all brought her to the
pursue opening her own restaurant. Her innovative regional American
fare drew national and local attention and earned her numerous awards. The restaurant R IS is
proud to be recommended in the Michelin Guide DC as one of DC’s top restaurants.
Ms. Lacoste actively participates in fundraising efforts in the District. She currently sits on the
advisory board of the Kitchen Cabinet with the Smithsonian Museum of American History; is a
member of the State Department’s Culinary Diplomatic Corps; is on the Executive Committee of
the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW); and is a member of the
Women’s Forum of Washingto,n DC, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, and Les Dames
d’Escoffier. She is also a member of the board of Fresh Farm Markets as well as a member of
Camp CEO with the Girl Scouts National Capital Council. She was honored as one of the
Washingtonian Magazine’s Class of 2015 DC’s Most Powerful Women and is a member of
Leadership Greater Washington’s Class of 2017. She was a long- time board member of DC
Central Kitchen as well as the Hospitality Charter High School of Washington, DC. She was an
active member of th e National Board of Directors for the American Institute of Wine and Food
(AIWF) and served as Chairman of its National Capital Area Chapter. She is an annual participant
in the Chefs Take a Stand to End Domestic Violence Gala.
A Ward 3 resident, Ms. Lacoste studied culinary arts at L’École de Cuisine La Varenne.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: January 31, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution reappointing Ris Lacoste as a member of
the Commission on Nightlife and Culture
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Order and found
it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate
to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-727-
0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish