Members Only Events
Upcoming Events:
Philly x D.C. Dames’ Tour de Fork- Wednesday, October 22
On Wednesday, October 22, the Philly chapter is hitting the road to join us for a day in D.C., and you’re invited to come along for the ride! In the afternoon, Dame Paula Johnson, a curator at the National Museum of American History, will lead a guided visit to Julia Child’s kitchen. (Johnson will be available to sign books; bring your own or purchase in the museum shop.) Later, chef and Dame Johanna Hellrigl will host the group for a meal at Ama, her Northern Italian restaurant in the Navy Yard. Hellrigl will share the inspiration and background of the dishes, which will be served family-style. This is a Dames-only event.
Museum tours will be offered at 2 PM and 3:30 PM, and last 60 to 80 minutes. Dinner will be at 5:30 PM and will end promptly at 7:30 PM. Please share any dietary restrictions with your registration.
Reel Tasty & Dames Who Read 2025
Our foodie film and book discussions are great ways to gather informally with members for interesting, spirited conversations. If you have questions about Reel Tasty, contact Gail Forman at gailforman@comcast.net. Questions about Dames Who Read, contact Eileen Dykes at eileendykes@gmail.com. Please consider hosting either a book or movie discussion; Gail and Eileen have lists of suitable movies and books to aid with your selection. All discussions take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Reel Tasty is via Zoom; Dames Who Read is a hybrid of Zoom and in-person.
Dames Who Read, October 20: 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Ever dream of living in Burgundy? The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah will take you there. The book is as rich and complex as a fine French Burgundy—the perfect read for mystery lovers, history buffs, wine drinkers, Francophiles, and anyone interested in visiting the French wine country from a comfortable chair at home. Discussion moderated by Laurie Bell. Please RSVP to Eileen Dykes at eileendykes@gmail.com if you are planning to join the meeting. Of course, last-minute drop-ins are always welcome. Zoom link.
Past Events:
Summer Potluck
Mark your calendar to attend our summer potluck. This is an informal gathering of Dames where we showcase our culinary talent; meet and mingle; enjoy the beautiful home of Linda Roth; make new friends and connect with old. We hold two potluck events per year and they are a treasured opportunity to gather.
Register below and sign up to bring a dish. Your dish should be designed to feed 6-8 people. Signing up for one appetizer, for instance, assumes that quantity. If cooking isn’t your jam, bring a store-bought goodie or beverage.
Dames Who Dine + Karaoke
What better way to celebrate fall than with a mouthwatering Chinese buffet and feisty singalongs? Join Dames Who Dine on September 17th at 7pm for a fun, tasty evening at Nosh Grillhouse/East Dumpling House! You won't want to miss this one. We'll be enjoying a buffet style meal and show off our singing skills with karaoke (singing is optional, of course).
Cost: $46.95 includes dinner and gratuity. Beverages will be sold separately. This event is for Dames only. Seating is limited, so register soon!
Location: Nosh Grillhouse/East Dumpling House, 12 N Washington Street, Ste 7G, Rockville, MD. Parking on-site.
Dames Volunteer Day at Lederer Gardens, Washington, DC
The Green Tables Committee organized a successful outing on Wednesday, June 11, when seven Dames joined community members at Lederer Gardens. Under the skillful direction of Josh Singer, Community Gardens Specialist for the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, they helped harvest kale, Swiss chard, herbs and flowers; weed, tie up squash and cucumber vines; prepare the garden beds, and repot plants for an upcoming plant giveaway. The festive atmosphere was marked by a cooking demonstration, a bite of lunch, and a tour. Located at 4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, Lederer Gardens welcomes volunteers on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Dames Who Dine, Wednesday
We were thrilled to attend a Dames-only dinner at one of Baltimore's most coveted eateries Alma Cocina Latina. Alma Cocina Latina is not just a restaurant with deeply imaginative, exquisitely crafted food, it is a space that transports you into Venezuelan culture.
Dame Irena Stein, Alma's founder, has created a beautiful space that envelopes you in an oasis of green and wafts of tempting aroma. She and Chef Hector Romero have thoughtfully and generously curated a very special menu served in a private setting with dedicated servers...just for us.
Sip, Savor & Socialize
Guests enjoyed a fun and delicious evening on May 20 at the National Press Club with prosecco, light bites, passed canapes and a brief discussion and sampling of cachaca, a Brazilian distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. Peter Banks, founder and CEO of Cachacier, spoke about the spirit while attendees sipped two drinks made with it–Rabo de Galo (aged cachaca, sweet vermouth and bitters) and a Caipirinha Fizz (cachaca, lime juice, simple syrup and club soda). Thanks to Michelle Licht, Director of Events at The National Press Club, for hosting the event.
Volunteer Day at DC Central Kitchen
On April 10, about a dozen Dames swelled the ranks of daily volunteers at DC Central Kitchen’s busy Klein Center for Jobs and Justice at Buzzard Point. Mel Gold, who has served as DCCK’s director of marketing and communications for the past four years, co-directed the Dame volunteers on a pre-shift tour of the kitchens, training spaces, and resource center.
Tasks given to Dames, which were focused on creating meals for DC schools, included chopping a mountain of onions, scrambling huge trays of just-steamed eggs; prepping trays of croissants; mixing mega bowls of sweet potato hash; filling containers of salads and dressings, and more.
Bringing It to the Table 2025: A Day of Connection, Conversation, and Culinary Inspiration
On March 8, 2025, Les Dames d’Escoffier Washington, D.C. Regional Chapter proudly hosted its biennial symposium, Bringing It to the Table. The event brought together a vibrant community of food, beverage, and hospitality professionals for a day of learning, networking, and celebrating the impact women have had on the industry. Held at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University, the symposium drew an engaged crowd of chefs, restaurateurs, writers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and food lovers from across the region.
The day featured thought-provoking panel discussions and interactive workshops—all led by the DMV’s most dynamic women in the industry. Topics ranged from the future of low- and no-alcohol beverages and bread making at home to navigating workforce challenges and advancing gut health. For the first time, the symposium included Table Talks over lunch—intimate, engaging conversations between attendees and speakers, paired with a menu crafted from original recipes by members of our chapter.