the feast - Les Dames d'Escoffier - Vol. 2. Iss. 2

chapter programs

By Dame Nichole Bendele (San Antonio)

ATLANTA

by Hope Webb

We celebrated the season in style at the 2024 Holiday Potluck and 2025 Board Member Induction Ceremony. The evening was filled with camaraderie, gratitude, and culinary excellence. Dames brought their finest dishes and showcased the extraordinary talent within our chapter. The holiday spread included savory delights such as gourmet hors d’oeuvres, artisan cheeses, and charcuterie, along with comforting main courses and desserts equally as impressive. The evening concluded with the induction of the new Board Members. We are thrilled to welcome these passionate leaders who will guide us into an exciting new year of initiatives, collaboration, and growth. This year's Atlanta Chapter Culinary Futures Scholarship was awarded to Akira Thomas who will be attending Johnson and Wales. The event was made possible by sponsors including Harold Import Company, Cooks Warehouse, Jura, Le Creuset, Shun, and the LDEI Atlanta Chapter. Guests celebrated Georgia’s rising stars in culinary and hospitality while enjoying appetizers, beer, and wine. They met the scholarship recipients, mingled with the housewares industry, and took part in an exciting raffle.

Les Dames d'Escoffier Atlanta Chapter Potluck and 2025 Board Induction Ceremony. The Atlanta Chapter Dames. Photos: Les Dames Atlanta.

AUSTIN

by Chrissy Grundy

LDEI’s Austin Chapter gathered for their monthly Happy Hour, which was hosted by Dames Danya Declusin of Cape Bottle Room and Carla Crownover. The event was organized by Traci Velebil, the chapter’s first vice president. The monthly Happy Hours bring our members together to connect in a casual atmosphere while supporting a Dame-owned business.

Amazing cookies, Dames, and FUN at Austin’s holiday cookie exchange! Thanks to Dame Carla Crownover, our wonderful host.

Photos: Ha Lam.

BOSTON

by Lara Zelman

The 2024 year ended with two delicious meals. In November we gathered at Dame Jen Ziskin’s restaurant, La Morra. Dames enjoyed delicious Northern Italian cuisine along with a carefully curated wine selection. We welcomed the holiday season with dinner at the Dame-owned Inn at Hastings Park (@innhastingspark) in Lexington, Massachusetts. The evening started with seasonal cocktails, mocktails, wine, and cheery holiday tunes from The Locals, an award-winning, local barbershop quartet. We welcomed 2025 in style! Only the Boston Dames could look at a snowy landscape and think, "Let's throw a picnic!" A Winter Picnic was a fun theme for our Annual Yankee Swap at The Country Club. Members swapped delicious, homemade food items and handmade crafts! Thanks to Dames Kristin LaCount, Alicia Lapriore, and Carina Le at The Country Club for an always warm welcome.

Boston Dames welcomed 2025 at their Annual Yankee Swap at The Country Club!

BRITISH COLUMBIA

by JoAnne Lauzer

In October we launched our first InReach event of the season in Dame Linda Seiffert’s beautiful kitchen space at Snow Cap Enterprises in Burnaby, BC. Dames Meeru Dhalwala and Susan Mendelson catered a delicious meal, followed by the screening of This is Not Your Butter Chicken, an original docuseries by past scholarship recipient Shiva Reddy. Dame Leeann Froese, Shiva’s mentor, moderated the discussion afterwards.

Our 2024 Annual Dinner and Induction was held in November at L’Abattoir restaurant in Vancouver. Thirteen new Dames, representing many facets of BC’s vibrant food and beverage industry, were inducted. With bubbles and great food, lively conversations and many laughs were shared as new and previous Dames became better acquainted. Dame Cassandra Anderton organized an incredible evening. New Dames received their medals and an awesome swag bag filled with low-cal products donated by various Dames.

Scholarship recipients who received the Sustainable Meat and Seafood Scholarship were hosted by co-sponsor Two Rivers Meats to learn animal butchery and at Dame Jenice Yu’s F.I.S.H, where halibut dissection covered fin to tail fish butchery.

British Columbia Chapter 2025 Inductees. Photo: Christine McAvoy.

CLEVELAND

by Debbie Pappadakes

We started the new year off on a positive note, coming together for a night of community service at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Eleven Dames teamed up on a chilly evening to help pack 4,727 pounds of frozen food boxes to be distributed to the regional community. The evening was coordinated by Dame Melissa McClelland.

Cleveland Dames volunteering at Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

GREATER MADISON

by Allison Pfaff Harris

In late January, the Greater Madison Chapter was hosted by Dames Nicole Bujewski and Susan Parenti at The Book Kitchen (thebookkitchenmp.com) in Mineral Point, where the group enjoyed friendship while feasting on a delicious potluck spread. Smørrebrød, gourmet sandwiches, tiramisu, and grapefruit rosemary cake were just a sampling of the dishes that graced the table.

The Greater Madison Chapter at The Book Kitchen. The potluck included gourmet sandwiches, Swedish meatballs with Gjetost gravy, and Grapefruit Rosemary Cake from Madison Sourdough.

Photos: Suzzette Metcalfe and Marilyn Olk.

HAWAII

by Hayley Matson Mathes

Our chapter gathered January 19 at Dame Holly Hadsell’s home for a woodfired pizza party. Dames shared their favorite pizza toppings and salads. The celebration kicked off a series of events for our chapter’s 25th anniversary.

Hawaii Dames Pizza Party. Hawaii Dames celebrate 25

Photos: Hayley MatsonMathes.

LONDON

by Kate Howell

London held a sold-out event to celebrate International Women’s Day with a stellar line-up of female hospitality powerhouses. A panel comprised of Sabrina Gidda, Michelle Trusselle, April Partridge, and Dame Sally Abé came together to discuss the topic of Leading the Charge: Top Chefs Shaping the Future of Women in the Kitchen. The event was hosted by renowned food journalist Dame Sheila Dillon whose work has shaped key conversations in food and farming. Dames Give Back: Cathy Sloman and Stephanie Teekaram (New York Chapter) continued LDE London’s volunteering initiative by spending a day helping at food support charity Cooking Champions. Founded by Dame Clare Donovan, the charity offers a special, safe space where recipients in that corner of North London can learn and not feel shame when they receive food support. Stephanie cooked with the community kitchen team, while Cathy demonstrated to food bank recipients how they could use the ingredients on offer. Stephanie and Cathy found the warmth and kindness of the staff and volunteers an inspiration, as was the pleasure clearly brought to the charity’s users.

The stellar line up for the panel event.

Dames Stephanie Teekaram, Cathy Sloman, and Clare Donovan.

MINNESOTA

by Lauren Voight

Chef/Dame Jo Seddon welcomed members to her cozy Minneapolis restaurant, Gia, on a chilly January evening. We were greeted with glasses of Prosecco or a non-alcoholic option alongside roasted nuts and fromscratch crackers.

For the first course, we chose between Mozzarella di Bufala with Roasted Red Peppers, Tomato, Squash, and Oregano or an Endive and Pink Grapefruit Salad with Pecorino, Hazelnuts, and Chive Vinaigrette. The main course choices featured Strozzapreti Pasta with Duck Braised in White Wine, Porcini, and Cipollini or Seared Bronzino with Lemon, Capers, Parsley, and Potato-Fennel Gratin. Dessert was a shared platter of Chocolate Budino, Hazelnut Truffles, Almond Biscotti, and Amaretti. Between courses, Jo shared Gia’s story— how she and her business partner Lisa created a welcoming Italian neighborhood spot, now beloved by regulars, families, and friends. Having first cooked for our chapter a few years ago, Jo’s talent was evident. Gia recently celebrated one year of being open, and we are grateful to have the restaurant in our culinary community!

Dolce at Gia.

MONTEREY BAY

by Helaine Tregenza

We were delighted to host the LDEI International Board of Directors on February 8 for a lovely evening of hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and wine. The evening honored the friendship and common goals between the Monterey Chapter and International Board. The delicious menu was created and presented by Dame/Chefs Sarda Desmond and Analuisa Bejar. Wines were donated by Dames Dawn Galante and Lygia Chappellet and served by Sommelier/Dames Roxanne Langer and Tamara Carver. The Monterey Chapter was especially proud to introduce their Scholarship recipient, Ana Perez Santiago, who worked alongside the chefs in the kitchen.

Chapter hosts LDEI Board: Front row: Sharon Bacon, Carol Hilburn, Helaine Tregenza, Marilyn Freundlich, Stephanie Jaeger, Barb Piers, Rachel Mueller, and Kari Bernardi. Back row: Sarda Desmond, Kate Nakfoor, Tamara Carver, Charlotte Muia, Analuisa Bejar, Carolyn Walter, Charlyne Brown, Sheila Crye, Roxanne Langer, Kate Howell, Anastasia Nickerson, and Anita Lau.

L to R: LDEI President Stephanie Jaeger, Ana Perez Santiago, Chef Sarda Desmond and Monterey Chapter President Rachel Mueller. Photos: Helaine Tregenza.

SACRAMENTO

by Debra Barrington

What does it take to build a brand and create community? Nearly 60 people attended LDEI Sacramento’s WOMEN IN BUSINESS Speakers Series event, featuring a panel discussion on that topic. Held November 20 at Milagro Centre in Carmichael, four Sacramento Dames shared their businessorigin stories and insights into building their own successful brands—while staying sane.

Elise Bauer, Janet Zeller, Bobbin Mulvaney, and Liz Mishler each offered hard-won advice. Elise, the founder of SimplyRecipes. com, shared, “To be successful, you have to scale.” That means not trying to do everything yourself; allow others to help your business grow.

Janet, the co-founder of Soil Born Farms, reminded the audience, “No is a complete answer,” and “It’s OK to ask for help.” Know your limits; it’s good for your health.

Restaurateur Bobbin Mulvaney, co-owner of Mulvaney’s B&L, also served as moderator. She noted, “Your business doesn’t have to have your name in it, but it does have to have your heart in it.”

Liz Mishler, also a restaurateur and the evening’s host, talked about the importance of team training in creating a brand and community that draws in loyal, repeat customers. “I train servers to treat customers like they are their friends.”

From left, Dames Elise Bauer, Liz Mishler, and Janet Zeller share some secrets to branding success at LDEI Sacramento's Women in Business Speaker Series.

Photo: Courtesy of LDEI Sacramento.

SAN ANTONIO

by Elise Russ Dame Carole Ocker hosted our amazing annual Word of Mouth book gathering. The featured book was Ina Garten’s Be Ready When the Luck Happens with members and guests preparing Ina’s recipes for our potluck dinner. The food was amazing, with four women taking home prizes for favorite dishes, which were Coconut Cupcakes, Icebox Mocha Cake, Basil Frittata, and Cheddar-Dill Scones. We had great audience participation and a lively discussion about Ina, her book, and balancing being a successful businesswoman with other areas of our lives. These events are not to be missed, so make plans for the February gathering next year.

SAN FRANCISCO AND SONOMA CHAPTERS

The CIA at Copia’s Flavors of Film Series presented a special screening of The Goddesses of Food on Saturday, March 15 in collaboration with LDEI’s San Francisco and Sonoma Chapters and Villa Albertine, consulate general of France in San Francisco. The event celebrated Women’s History Month and highlighted the impact of female chefs in the culinary world. Kara Nielsen (San Francisco Chapter President) moderated a panel discussion with Suzette Gresham (San Francisco), Executive Chef/owner of two Michelin-starred Acquerello; Kim Alter (San Francisco), chef/owner of Nightbird; and Liza Hinman (Sonoma Chapter President), chef/owner of The Spinster Sisters. The dinner menu was curated by the three chef panelists and San Francisco Dame/ Chef Deborah Mullin of the CIA at Copia. (@ciaatcopia)

SEATTLE

by Christina Lehman

Members gathered at Macrina Bakery & Cafe in Sodo this January for a program focused on sustainability and community connections. A special thanks to Macrina for hosting and to the incredible team, including Dames Katarina Du Charme and Sam Stout, for crafting a creative, sustainable menu that minimized food waste. The menu featured: Cheddar Crackers with Cream Cheese Spread flavored with citrus and dried cranberries (made from surplus cheddar); Cornetti Cups with Prosciutto, Mustard, and Gruyère (using leftover cornetti dough); Caesar Salad with roasted chicken, romaine, kale, Parmesan, and garlic croutons (croutons from day-old bread); Cinnamon Sugar Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce and Raspberries (repurposed, unsold cinnamon brioche). Katarina and Sam did an excellent job demonstrating how food waste can spark creativity. Thanks also to Dame Emma Birdsall for her help with cleanup and last-minute tasks! It was a great opportunity to come together, learn about the Seattle Food Waste Prevention Discovery Project, and enjoy a thoughtful, sustainable meal.

Les Dames Seattle members enjoy a delicious meal inspired by reducing food waste. Photos: Dame Alice Gautsch Foreman.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

by Lori Gardner

Super-gracious host Debbie Moser welcomed 24 Dames to her beautiful home for our annual Winter Potluck. Fantastic food and camaraderie were enjoyed by everyone. A lively group of Dames Who Dine came together on January 9 at Corso Italian in Arlington, Virginia, for a Lambrusco wine tasting and rustic Italian feast. Attendees learned about the fascinating world of Lambrusco, an ancient sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna that's experiencing a welldeserved revival. The tasting was followed by a tasty, communal dinner.

D.C. Dames at our Winter Potluck.

D.C. Dames Who Dine (and enjoy a Lambrusco tasting).