The Grit & Fire Scholarship

Chris Schlesinger found his purpose in the heat and chaos of a restaurant kitchen. That early spark led him to the halls of the CIA, beginning a journey that took him from scrubbing pots and pans to opening five restaurants, including East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Massachusetts; co-offering eight cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning Thrill of the Grill; and later winning a James Beard Award himself for Best Chef Northeast. Chris recognizes that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. So, this scholarship is being created to support the misfits and strivers, specifically those from underrepresented backgrounds, and from the hard-working non-native-speaking community who are the backbone of our industry. The scholarship is Chris’s way of saying thank you to the industry that didn’t just provide him with a job, but gave him a North Star. The scholarship is designed to level the playing field for those people from underserved communities.