The Comings & Moingings column is about sharing the professional success of the community. We want to recognize that we will participate in those new jobs, new clients’ businesses, organizational boards and other outcomes. Share your success with us comingsandgoings@washblade.com.
congratulations Jamie Lee’sthe chef celebrates Hank’s Oyster Bar as he celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle. Leeds said: “I am grateful that Hanks has been in such a supportive and friendly neighborhood for 20 years.”
Leeds is a pioneering and persistent entrepreneur who has spent his career developing a community, mentoring other female business owners and culinary professionals, and supporting sustainable practices across the restaurant and seafood industry.
She has 40 years of experience, from European kitchens to DC-Maryland-Virginia-Area. The self-taught chef began her career in New York at Danny Meyer’s famous Union Square Cafe in the early 1980s, working from potato peelers to sous chefs. With Meyer’s encouragement, she moved to France in 1991, where she spent a year honing her skills before working for Rich Melman in the state to work for Rich Melman in Chicago’s Lettuce Enterprises.
From the moment she appeared on the DC cooking scene, Leeds earned positive reviews and praise, winning a nomination as “Rising Shrinery Star” at the Metropolitan Washington Capital Restaurant & Hospitality Awards Restaurant Association in 2003, and “Rising Star Chef” by Starshiffs’ Local Awards Program.
In early 2005, she met Leeds as she was about to open a Hank in Dupont Circle in DC. The restaurant is named after his father. She believes as an inspiration to become a chef. It debuted to be widely praised. Some of us were working with Jamie to fight local neighbours who were trying to stop her opening for many invalid reasons. Thankfully, they lost, and the people in the neighborhood and DC won. Currently celebrated with its own oyster bars and other locally produced seafood ranges, Hank’s oyster bars have recently been recognized in the Best of Washington Leader polls for “Best Bloody Mary” and “Best Chef Jammy Reed” (2nd Chef Dead Blade) with “Best Bloody Mary” (2019 Washington Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Blade Blade in 2020 and many other accolades in 2021. Leeds currently has Hank’s Oyster Bar in the Old Town of Alexandria, Virginia, and her biggest location, Hank’s w head Hank, which opened in October 2017.
In June 2021, she was recognized by the US Chamber of Commerce for inspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the DMV region and for her approach to sustainable and inclusive business practices. A resident of North Chevrolet Chase, Maryland, when she is not busy at the helm of the burgeoning restaurant empire, she enjoys spending time with her wife Tina and her two children, Hayden and Hazel.
Postcomungs and events first appeared in Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, and Gay News.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
