Dame Leslie Mackie

Leslie Mackie is a nationally respected artisan baker and the visionary behind Seattle’s iconic Macrina Bakery. After training at the California Culinary Academy and working with celebrated chefs in Boston and Los Angeles, she moved to Seattle, where her passion for naturally leavened, European - style breads flourished. In 1993, she opened the first Macrina Bakery in Belltown with a small team and a big belief: that bread, community, and warmth belong together.

Macrina quickly drew regional and national attention for its rustic loaves and handcrafted pastries. In 1996, Mackie appeared on Baking with Julia with Julia Child, a milestone that helped introduce her work to a wider audience. As Macrina grew, so did its reputation. Mackie earned multiple James Beard Award nominations for Outstanding Pastry Chef, and in 2012 she published More from Macrina: New Favorites from Seattle’s Popular Neighborhood Bakery , a follow - up to her earlier cookbook that showcased the bakery’s evolving repertoire and deepened her influence in the artisan baking world.

Today, Macrina includes seven cafés, a thriving wholesale bakery, and a dedicated team of bakers and pastry chefs who carry forward Mackie’s commitment to sustainability and organic ingredients, despite its growth, the bakery remains rooted in the values she established from the beginning: community, and exceptional food made with intention.

For more than 30 years, Mackie has also been an active member of Les Dames d’Escoffier Seattle, serving as Chapter President and leading the Green Tables Committee since its founding in 2012.

Robin Pollard

Robin Pollard is the owner and operator of Pollard Vineyard, an estate winery rooted in both place and passion. While the winery is based on Vashon Island, her vineyard is located in the upper Yakima Valley — an area known for producing exceptional fruit. Robin’s path to vineyard ownership reflects both deep industry experience and a genuine love of agriculture. Formerly the Director of the Washington Wine Commission, she played a key role in advancing the state’s wine industry before pursuing her dream of becoming a winegrape grower and, ultimately, a winemaker BUY NOW

Driven by a hands-on philosophy, Robin is deeply involved in every aspect of her vineyard and winery, from nurturing the vines to crafting wines that express the distinctive character of their origin. Her transition from industry leadership to vineyard stewardship speaks to her dedication to authenticity and craftsmanship.

Beyond her work in wine, Robin finds joy in tending her gardens and caring for her livestock, embracing a lifestyle closely tied to the land. She also co-owns a coffee roasting company with her son and daughter-in-law, extending her passion for artisanal production into another realm of flavor and community.

Robin Pollard’s story is one of experience, vision, and heartfelt commitment — bringing together family, agriculture, and entrepreneurship in a way that defines both her wines and her way of life.

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