Message from the President
Dear Sister Dames,
What a fabulous, inaugural Culinary Women in Words (thanks, Polly Wiedmaier!) this past Sunday afternoon! It was lovely to see so many of you there, whether participating as authors, volunteering, or in attendance. It was a gracious, fresh, and tasty event. A bonus is that our chapter netted $1400 and our authors sold a boat load of books. Thank you to Ann Stratte for coming up with the idea to host Culinary Women in Words at her hair salon and to Salon ILO owner Terry Bell for generously offering us the space! It was a highlight of the weekend! A debt of gratitude goes to Julie Peterson, as well, for securing all of the delicious wines from LA Cetto and International Spirits and Wines. Yum! Many commented on how inventive and fun the shampoo-bowl ice buckets were. Thanks to all our Dame authors and volunteers. This truly was an event that took a village!
Big thank you goes to Karen Vartan for hosting our holiday potluck at her lovely home. So many of you have expressed appreciation that we have chances to gather in such convivial settings and visit with each other.
Good news! We have selected a candidate to take our administrative position. We are finalizing negotiations and hope to have her on board learning the ropes within the week.
LDEI founder Carol Brock honored us with her attendance at Culinary Women in Words on her 91st birthday! She was accompanied in her travels by Joan Carris (NYC). What an inspiration Carol is! I am always struck by how Carol behaves as just a regular member. She loves being a Dame and is clearly invigorated by each chapter's activities and what each member brings to the table. Her eyes lit up as she was introduced to individual members and she glowed when we sang Happy Birthday!
Here's to Carol! May we all enjoy 91 years of good physical and mental health and find continual delight in being part of our special LDEI sisterhood.
Happy holidays,
Drew Faulkner
President
[email protected]
|
NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT
January will ring in our New Member Recruitment season! It is time to focus on finding exceptional colleagues who will bring new talents, ideas and energies to enrich our organization in 2015-16 and beyond. We ask you to recommend and sponsor highly qualified individuals who will be welcome additions and enthusiastic contributors to Les Dames d'Escoffier DC Chapter, whose philosophies align with our mission and who are willing to participate in activities to help achieve it. All skills sets are needed and the ability to think out-the-box is encouraged. Requirements for membership include, but are not limited to, a minimum of five years as a distinguished professional in the food, beverage or hospitality industry.
Prospective new member recommendations from member sponsors are due January 31, 2015. Sponsoring is an important and fulfilling responsibility that is critical to the success of our chapter. Sponsors are required to do the following:
* Inform qualified prospective new members about the organization
(mission, goals, activities, requirements) and assess their interest in
becoming contributing members of Les Dames. If they express interest in becoming a Dame,
* Submit nomination(s) to Theresa Morrison [email protected] by January 31, 2015
* Assist the candidate in completing the application for submission by March 15, 2015.
http://www.lesdamesdc.org/uploads/3/0/2/4/30247931/2014_lde-dc_membership_application.pdf
* If your nominee is put forth to the board and accepted for membership, attend the Spring Membership Meeting to introduce her to your sister Dames.
|
We will be publishing reports from Dames who attended the Boston Conference during the next few issues.
LDEI Conference 2014 - Boston
Report by Theresa Morrison (12-15-14)
Keynote Speaker Session: Creating Strategies for Success in Business and in Life
For the full presentation, log-in to Members Section on LDEI.org , click "Podcasts" and scroll through the list Keynote speaker, Allison Rimm, is an award-winning educator, consultant, coach, strategic planning expert and author of The Joy of Strategy: A Business Plan for Life. A business plan for your life allows you to live with integrity; what you do reflects who you are and what you value.
Soul-satisfying success uses your gifts, talents and passions in ways that make a difference in the world, giving you a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Focus your efforts and attentions on doing what matters most to you.
The SIX Ps: Purpose + Presence + Priorities + Perseverance + Plan + Performance = Success + Joy
A strategic plan is a map.
- name what you want to accomplish
- create a vision of what success looks like for you
- make a plan for getting from where you are to where you want to be
▪ Mission - what are you here to accomplish
▪ Vision - the destination on the map. Define what success looks like for you. Enjoy the journey.
▪ Guiding principles - core values that guide your actions; are going to like that person who looks back you?
Then get practical. Determine your critical success factors, the things that you need to make your vision a reality.
▪ SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) - what you have to work with or work around.
▪ Goals - tangible, effective ways to spend your limited time. What is most important to you?
▪ Perform a Time and Emotion Study - mindfulness to spend your limited time on your priorities. Clear the clutter and make room for what matters.
▪ Successful Strategies - sift through strategies and select tools and techniques most likely to help you fulfill your mission.
▪ Get Going: Your Simplementation Plan - just start one small step at a time, momentum will follow.
Time is your most precious commodity. Think carefully how you use it.
|
Stacey Adams' Tastings Gourmet Market in Annapolis has been voted by Bay Weekly readers as Best Cheese Shop in the area in the December 24th issue.
Amy Brandwein for being the honored commencement speaker to the graduating class of Fall 2014 at L'Academie de Cuisine on Friday, December 19. Amy is a 2001 L'Academie graduate and has gone on to an esteemed career as a chef.
Lisa Cherkasky for styling the December 23 cover of The Washington Post Magazine.
Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon on signing a lease at Georgetown's 3207 Grace Street, NW for their first brick-and- mortar Chaia taco shop. Scheduled to open in Spring 2015, the shop will serve a larger selection of the artisanal, vegetarian tacos that made them so successful at the Dupont Circle and White House Freshfarm Markets over the past two years.
Ann Harvey Yonkers for being presented with the Downtown Person of the Year Award by DowntownDC business improvement district on December 4 ceremony at the Carnegie Library. The award recognizes an individual who has made a positive and significant contribution to downtown D.C. Through FreshFarm Markets, Ann has played a major role in the BID's Healthy Communities #healthy247 initiative, by providing healthful food options to residents, workers and visitors and influencing local restaurants' fare.
|
DAMES NEWS
Culinary Women in Words
Kudos all-round for an event that resonated in the community. Pre-event, it was picked up by several leading sites (blogs, online magazines, etc) which helped to raise awareness of Les Dames as well as its members. While the holiday book party is primarily a celebration of member achievements, the sale of tickets along with donations raised a gross of $1,775 toward scholarship and grants. Thanks go to our incredible group of authors for their talents, commitment and providing really tasty bites. An extra thanks to Bonnie Benwick who coordinated all of the food with the authors and was a great resource for how this should come together. We had 32 Dames who participated. What great camaraderie and teamwork!
A special thank you to the Culinary Women in Words sponsors who were particularly generous: Terry Bell provided his lively location, Salon ILO. Because of his excitement, Patisserie Poupon brought a large Bouche de No�l for all to enjoy Through Julie Peterson, LA Cetto and International Spirits and Wines donated top-shelf festive wines. We encourage our members to support the sponsors.
Les Dames founder, Carol Brock, and Joan Carris (NYC) made the trip from New York City to attend. Turns out, it was Carol's 91st birthday. What an honor that she chose to spend her day with us!
| Top row l-r: Nancy Baggett, Nancy Piho, Carla Hall and Cathy Barrow, Aviva Goldfarb. Middle row: Katherine Tallmadge, Sheilah Kaufman, Ellen Kassoff Gray. (photos Monica Bhide) Dominica Marchetti, Bonnie Benwick (photo Linda Roth). Third row: Amy Riolo and Monica Bhide. Group pix, back row, l-r: Drew Faulkner, Joan Carris, Theresa Morrison, Annie Boutin King, Karri Barrett, Susan James. Front l-r: Ann Stratte, Carol Brock, Winnie Steingard. |
|
JOB OPS
FIOLA, FIOLA MARA and CASA LUCA Restaurants
Do you believe in the time honored standards of hospitality, service and genuine care for guests? Our growing family of restaurants is full of opportunity, hard work, challenges and professional development! We are looking for a talented fine dining chef de cuisine, sous chefs, pastry sous chefs, restaurant managers, bartenders and captains. Email your resume to [email protected]. Specify the position in the subject line.
Special: Fit Relationships, a financial literacy education and employment coaching program for low-income individuals, would like to make its graduates available to Les Dames d' Escoffier members seeking employees at all levels. Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), FIT provides training in housekeeping, construction, dishwasher, receptionist, truck driver, logistics, supply chain management, food preparation, administration and book keeping skills and helps match its graduates with potential employers. It also provides ongoing job coaching to help ensure their success in their new job. If you have job opportunities, please contact Julio Rodriguez, Fit Relationships Project Director at 703-831-8300, ext 451. Diane Feffer Neas is a member of FIT Relationships' advisory board.
|
PROGRAMS
A TOUCH OF THE HEART: THE ART OF DIM SUM
"Dim Sum" means a touch of the heart. Dame Janet Yu, chef/owner of Hollywood East Caf�, will talk about the history of dim sum and demonstrate the art of making dim sum. We will then enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant, known for serving some of the best dim sum in our area.
DATE: Saturday, January 10, 2015
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
PLACE: Hollywood East Caf�, 11160 Viers Mill Rd, Wheaton, MD 20902
(Located inside the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center-near Door #12).
PRICE: TBD
RSVP: For reservations, more information or questions : www.lesdamesdc.org OR 202-973-2168
DAMES WHO READ ABOUT FOOD BOOK: Cod: A biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky, 1997. DATE: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 PLACE: Katherine Newell Smith's home, 5525 Devon Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 TIME: 7:00 p.m. PRICE: FREE, Book-focused refreshments will be served. FOOD: OUR GLOBAL KITCHEN. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY MUSEUM TOUR AND BRUNCH Explore the complex food system that brings what we eat from farm to fork on a docent-led tour of this fascinating exhibit. After the tour, Kaitlin Yarnall, Executive Editor, Cartography, Graphics and Art for the National Geographic Society, and director of the Future of Food initiative, will give us a behind the scenes look at how the NGS developed its food series and the editorial process behind the initiative. She will join us at a brunch at Kellari Taverna, an elegant, nearby restaurant. DATE: Saturday, January 24, 2015 TIME: 10:30 a.m. tour. Brunch following. PLACE: National Geographic Society Museum (17th and M Sts.) 1145 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Brunch: Kellari Taverna 1700 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 PRICE: $45 for members; $55 for non-members.(Includes museum exhibit ticket, brunch, tax, and gratuity). Brunch includes three course choices: appetizer, main course, dessert and unlimited cocktail or non-alcoholic drink. See brunch menu at www.kellaridc.com RSVP: For reservations, more information or questions:www.lesdamesdc.org OR 202-973-2168 WOMEN IN THE ARTS D'ESCOFFIER - FUNDRAISER
Women in the Arts of Escoffier
Plans are progressing. Potential sponsors are being approached and details attended to.
Contact Theresa Morrison [email protected] to join the planning committee. MORE TO COME....
|
OF INTEREST
Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 5:00-10:00 pm Sips & Suppers , VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. This annual fundraiser supports Martha's Table and DC Central Kitchen, two leading nonprofits that combat hunger and poverty in our nation's capital. Honorary chairs Jos� Andr�s, Alice Waters, and Joan Nathan are the hosts. Volunteers with significant fine-dining experience are needed to staff each of the 30 Suppers in private homes across the region. Each of these small dinners will be prepared by two well-known chefs. Volunteers are needed to fill the roles of General Manager, Server, Kitchen Help, and Wine Expert/Sommelier. To volunteer, please complete the questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/snsvolunteers2015.
Event information: www.sipsandsuppers.org
Contact: [email protected]
Women Chefs - the Art Show - WANTED: Woman chef's to be muses for professional artists in preparation for a juried and invitational Women Chefs - the Art Show (working title) at the Strathmore Mansion, September 5th to November 8th 2015. Susan Callahan created the idea and Debra Moser is working with Susan to organize this special event. Thus far, the following chefs have agreed to be paired with artists. We could use an additional 12 female chefs:
Carla Hall
Nora Poullion
Beverly Bates
Ruth Gresser
Susan Wallace
Janis Mclean
Lynn Foster
Janet Yu
Nongkran Daks
Kate Jansen
Tracy O'Grady
Nona Nielson-Parker
Laurie Alleman-Weber
Michelle Houser
Mary Howley
Marianne Ali
Sue McWilliams
Elise Welland
Sarah Dwyer
The chefs and artists will coordinate their own schedules. The artists may work from a series of photographs or from meetings and interviews. Susan and Debra aim to make this a comfortable and rewarding experience for everyone! The entire Strathmore Mansion to fill with wonderful images of women chefs.
|
ENTRE NEWS is published on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Deadline for HURRAH! and other news is the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Please send a BRIEF paragraph with your professional and personal news that you would like your sister Dames to know about in HURRAH! HURRAH! is not meant as an advertising opportunity for a cooking class or event, rather it offers a shout out to members for recent accomplishments and honors. OF INTEREST offers Dames a chance to let their sister chapter members know about events they are involved in that might be of interest to a majority of the membership. OF INTEREST entries can be NO LONGER than 75 words. Less is always better. JOB OPPS can open Dames networks to employment opportunities. Send information to EN Editor Katherine Newell Smith [email protected] Thank you for you continued interest and participation. Katherine Newell Smith Editor, Entre News |
|
Social Media Connections
Connect with Sister Dames
LesDamesDC
@LesDamesDC
| @LesDamesDC |
We need ALL members who have FB, Twitter and Instagram accounts to follow and actively re-tweet our members' tweets to spread the great news about our activities and programs!
Connect with Les Dames d'Escoffier International
Please share news, events and updates. Join the LDEI members-only LinkedIn Group to stay connected with other Dames.
| |
Join a Committee.... You were invited to join Dames because of your talents and achievements and you promised to be part of our chapter's committee work; so, now it is time to Get Involved!
Our committees offer the perfect opportunity to get to know your sister Dames, share your skills and to give back to the community through service. Every committee needs dedicated participants. Please contact the committee chairs and offer your time and skills, now.
| |
Please submit your Entre News information in a brief, concise statement to Katherine Newell Smith at [email protected] .
|
To view the latest approved board meeting minutes, go to www.lesdamesdc.org and
click on the Members Only tab and again on Member Login Page. Log in. Once you are logged in, click on the Bylaws, Roster & Minutes tab. You will see a link to the board meeting minutes. During each monthly board meeting, the board approves the previous month's minutes and they are then posted to our website.
|
It is easy to find chapter documents and resources, our event archives and past editions of Entre News.
We now have a single password that all Dames must use to access this section of the website. The password is ldedc2014. Please do not share this password with anyone outside of the Chapter.
If you are having trouble logging into the website please contact our Communications Officer, Stacey Adams, at [email protected]
Once you log in under Members Only, you will see a revised toolbar where you can find:
- past and current Entre News issues posted under the Chapter Events tab.
- archives of past chapter activities in the Chapter Events dropdown menu along with upcoming events.
- helpful files including chapter letterhead, name tag template, LDEI logos and tax-exempt certificates under Documents & Forms.
- our chapter's standing rules, bylaws and membership roster under About Us/Governance
|
Member Milestones - Share your professional news with Dames in all Chapters in our LDEI Quarterly. Submit your news to:
[email protected] - Edited by - Edited by Dolores Koteski (Phil)LDEI Quarterly Deadlines: The deadline for sending in Member Milestones and Chapter News for the SPRING issue of the LDEI Quarterly is January 10, 2015. You can see archived Quarterly magazines online at www.ldei.org under the Our Members tab. If you are not receiving hard copies of Quarterly, please check your online contact information. If it is correct, please contact Greg Jewell to make sure you are on the mailing list.
Milestone Submission:
PROVIDE DAME'S NAME and CHAPTER. Submit up to 50 words about honors or important business-related activities to appear in the LDEI Quarterly. You may email a quality headshot to accompany your news. Press releases and cookbook covers are not accepted. Entries received after the deadline may appear in a following issue.
Quarterly Guidelines:
Photography/Images-Electronic images must be properly focused, in color with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (TIFF or JPEG). Cell phone photos are acceptable if they meet resolution requirements. Do not send photos taken off the internet or embedded with text in Word files or PDF files. Identify individuals in photos from left to right in the message of your email. Include photo credits, if required. CAPTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR PUBLICATION.
|
|
|