Alzheimer’s Advocate & Cookbook Author Wins Prestigious Award
Congratulations to Paula Wolfert, 2018 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Honoree.
Paula Wolfert, of Sonoma, has won five James Beard awards for her cookbooks, which have focused on Mediterranean and Moroccan cooking. Paula immersed herself in the cultures and cuisines she shared through her cookbooks. She was an early champion of the benefits to eating the Mediterranean way.
Paula, on left, with friend, Nancy
A new mission: Alzheimer’s advocate
After being diagnosed with early stage dementia in 2013, Paula quickly connected with Alzheimer’s Association staff in the North Bay. Paula and her husband, Bill, filmed a series of videos to help raise awareness and reduce stigma of people living with dementia.
After she shared her diagnosis, friends in the food industry reached out to Paula. She worked with them to hold fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association in several cities throughout the country. In 2014, Paula served on the Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Advisory Group. These advisors bring the unique perspective of persons living with the disease to key efforts of the national association, including advocacy, program and consumer awareness initiatives.
Paula, center, with Congressman Denham at Advocacy Forum
Paula has traveled to the Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress. She has shared her story and encouraged them to increase dementia research funding.
Unforgettable – A biographical cookbook on Paula’s life
Last year, Paula’s story and recipes were featured in a biographical cookbook. Unforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula Wolfert’s Renegade Life shares Paula’s story, along with over 50 of her recipes. Unforgettable writer, Emily Kaiser Thelin, recently won the 2018 Literary Food Writing award for her work.
Congratulations Paula, for a well-deserved honor. And thank you for all that you have done to raise awareness and reduce the stigma related to living with Alzheimer’s.
Learn More:
James Beard Award Announcement
Coping by Cooking – Washington Post
Paula Wolfert: Alzheimer’s Activist – Washington Post
Article on Paula’s fundraising dinners
New York Times article on Paula
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/dining/paula-wolfert-alzheimers.html
