MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
February 21, 2024
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and section 5 of the Office of and Commission on Nightlife and
Culture Establishment Act of 2018, effective December 13, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-191; D.C. Official
Code § 3-664), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Ris Lacoste
37th Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
(Ward 3)
for reappointment as the representative of an organization that advocates for preventing sexual
harassment and assault member of the Commission on Nightlife and Culture, for a term to end March
15, 2025.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
;3
iltl!!:::::
at the request of the Mayor
4
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
13
14
15 To confirm the reappointment ofRis Lacoste to the Commission on Nightlife and Culture.
16
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 2024".
20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
21
22 Ms. Ris Lacoste
23 37th Street NW
24 Washington, DC 20007
25 (Ward 3)
26
27 as the representative of an organization that advocates for preventing sexual harassment and
28 assault member of the Commission on Nightlife and Culture, pursuant to section 5 of the Office
29 of and Commission on Nightlife and Culture Establishment Act of 2018, effective December 13,
30 2018 (D.C. Law 22-191 ; D.C. Official Code§ 3-664), for a term to end March 15, 2025.
31 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
32 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
33 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
 RIS LACOSTE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ROCK CREEK AT MAZZA/BETHESDA Washington DC/Bethesda MD January 2007 -
• Corporate Chef, opening of new 160 seat mindful cuisine Present
restaurant
1789 RESTAURANT, F. SCOTT’S, THE TOMBS Washington DC August 1995 -
• Executive Chef, 180 seat seasonal American fine dining restaurant December 2005
KINKEAD’S AMERICAN BRASSERIE Washington DC September 1993 -
• Chef, 250 seat American seafood fine dining restaurant July 1995
• Menu development, staffing, execution, insurance coordinator,
POS systems coordinator
• Opened restaurant
VIDALIA Washington DC June -
• Reservationist, office systems development consultant August 1993
• Opened restaurant
EYE STREET CAFÉ Washington DC January -
June 1993
• Consulting Chef for Abi-Najm family of Lebanese Taverna
• Menu development, staffing, execution of Mediterranean café
• Opened restaurant
TWENTY-ONE FEDERAL Washington DC December 1987 -
January 1993
• Sous Chef, 160 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
• Menu development, staffing, execution, insurance coordinator,
purchasing agent
• Opened and closed restaurant
21 FEDERAL Nantucket MA May 1985 -
December 1987
• Sous Chef, 130 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
• Menu development, staffing, execution, purchasing agent, line cook
• Opened restaurant
THE HARVEST RESTAURANT Cambridge MA September 1982-
May 1985
• Steward, purchasing agent, butcher, line cook, pantry cook
• 150 seat regional American fine dining restaurant
EDUCATION
LA VARENNE Écôle de Cuisine Paris, France April 1981 -
Grand Diplôme d’Études Culinaires, Receptionist, Translator August 1982
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA at Berkeley Berkeley CA September 1977-
January 1980
Bachelor of Arts Degree in French
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Rochester, NY September 1974-
May 1976
Pre-med curriculum
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) July 2005
“Chef of the Year” Nominee
DC Central Kitchen Fight Night Iron Chef Champion November 2005
November 2004
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington July 2000
“Restaurant of the Year” - 1789 Restaurant
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) July 1999
“Chef of the Year”
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) 2000
Chapter Leadership Award
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 2000 - Present
Member, Board of Trustees
• American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF)
Member, National Board 2000 - 2005
Chairman, Nominations Committee 2001, 2002,
2005
• American Institute of Wine and Food, National Capital Area Chapter
(AIWFNCAC)
Member, Board of Directors 1991 - 2002
Honorary Member, Board of Directors 2002 - Present
Chairman, Board of Directors 1996 - 2002
Newsletter Coordinator 1996 - 2001
• Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) January 2006
Member, Board of Directors - Present
• DC Central Kitchen (DCCK)
May 2007 –
Member, Board of Directors 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 2005 - 2006
Chef coordinator for Gala Fundraiser
• St Jude Children’s Hospital 1998 - Present
Chef Coordinator for Gala Fundraiser
• Taste of the Nation, Golden Carrot Awards, Zoofari, Food and 1987 - Present
Friends, Share Our Strength, Second Genesis, Tuberous Sclerosis, DC
Rape Crisis Center, DC Central Kitchen, Summer Opera Theatre
Company, regular contributor
TEACHING/COOKING SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
• L’Academie de Cuisine, Gaithersburg MD 1995 - Present
Teacher, mentor
• Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, New York NY (CCAP) 1998 - Present
Judge, mentor
• Fresh Farm Markets, Washington DC 2001 - Present
Cooking demonstrator
• Sur La Table, Arlington VA 1994 - Present
Guest chef cooking class instructor
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) 1996 - 2001
Quarterly Newsletter coordinator and regular contributor
• Featured in: The New York Times, Washingtonian Magazine, 1994 - Present
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
• “Cooking for Julia”, Documentary honouring Julia Child at her 90 th 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 - Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Ris Lacoste
Ris Lacoste is one of the most respected and dedicated
chefs working in Washington DC today. She has earned
her reputation 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, Ris Lacoste is chef and
owner of her West End D.C. bistro, RIS. After
schooling in Paris, Lacoste 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 door step of her own
restaurant. Her innovative regional American fare drew national and local attention and earned
her numerous awards. The restaurant RIS is proud to be recommended in the Michelin Guide
DC as one of DC’s top restaurants.
Ms. Lacoste is also well known for her commitment to community involvement. She actively
participates in fundraising efforts in the District. She currently sits on the advisory board of the
Smithsonian’s Museum of American History, The Kitchen Cabinet; is a member of the State
Department’s Culinary Diplomatic Corps; is on the Executive Committee of the Restaurant
Association of Metropolitan Washington; and is a member of the Women’s Forum of
Washington 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 recently was honored as one of the Class of 2015 DC’s
Most Powerful Women from Washingtonian Magazine 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 the
National Board of Directors for the American Institute of Wine and Food 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 in Paris.
 GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
To: Tommy Wells, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: October 5, 2023
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolutions nominating Bernard White II, Maggie
O’Neill, Ris Lacoste, and Vinoda Basnayake as members of the Commission on
Nightlife and Culture
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681