Hiwatha LaNa’ Douglas Coleman, a native of Monroe, Louisiana, has much to be thankful for during this 2025 holiday season. On Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Austin, Texas, Mrs. Coleman had the experience of a lifetime during the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts graduation ceremony. Mrs. Coleman accepted her chef’s instructor’s nomination to serve as a student speaker during this event, which you may view on YouTube or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reel/1566768541156916. Mrs. Coleman was introduced as a culinary educator by Chef Kirk T. Bachmann, Provost of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, Colorado campus. Her commencement speech, titled “Three Men of War and My Why,” garnered the audience’s applause before, during, and after delivery. It was a tribute to her deceased son, PFC Herman Jerome Davis III (military chef), her spouse SPC George Namon Coleman (sponsor of her education), and Georges Auguste Escoffier (creator of the kitchen brigade system and mise en place worldwide). Mrs. Coleman concluded her oration with the use of the American Sign Language and “Chef’s Kiss.”
Chef Watha was fortunate to have met Michel Escoffier, the great-grandson of the school’s namesake Chef Auguste Escoffier, renowned as the ‘King of Chefs and Chef of Kings. Michel holds the esteemed position of President of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum in Villeneuve-Loubet, France. Additionally, he serves as an advisory board member at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Chef Watha’s private audience with Michel Escoffier was a perfect optic moment, climaxed by Michel Escoffier conveying his autograph in Chef Watha’s personal copy of ESCOFFIER LE GUIDE CULINAIRE (authored by his great-grandfather Auguste Escoffier). Chef Watha is thankful for her degree in Hospitality and Operations Management and a final perfect 4.11 GPA. As owner of Watha’s Wonderful World, LLC, Chef Watha curates culinary programs for her etiquette customers, and nurtures The NEXT LEVEL Beautillion-Cotillion with love from “Granny Watha.”
Chef Watha is committed to providing culinary education and refined creations to her local community. She serves as a local celebrity chef on KARD10 FOX 14 “Treat Yourself Tuesdays”, educating viewers on creating chef-inspired meals in their homes. Chef Watha is currently matriculating as an aspiring tea sommelier in Canada and is a graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology.
During her 18-month culinary matriculation, Chef Watha received the following accreditations:
- Ambassador And Alum Mentor Of Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts
- Better Business Bureau A Rated Accredited Business
- Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber Of Commerce
- Bayou Life Magazine Etiquette Columnist
- From The Inside Out School Of Etiquette (Consultant Of The Year 2025)
- International Association Of Culinary Professionals
- Kenny Dennis Memorial Scholarship (2024)
- Lotus Club Member And Planning Committee
- Louisiana Chamber Of Commerce
- Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association
- Monroe Chamber Of Commerce
- National Association Of Urban Etiquette Professionals And Jr Debutante Directress
- National Restaurant Association
- National Black Debutante Project Panelist
- Northeast Louisiana Black Chamber Of Commerce
- Sebd Certified And Roundtable Graduate
- Serve Safe Manager Certified
- Society Of Human Resource Management
- Tea And Herbal Association Of Canada
- Toastmasters International
- United States Chamber Of Commerce
- For refinement and memorable culinary experiences, please contact Watha’s Wonderful World, LLC at (318) 647-4495, or at wathaswonderfulworld.com.
