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April 5, 2017
Dear Sister Dames,

This year's James Beard Foundation nominations feature FOUR FABULOUS Washington, D.C. Dames in addition to the already announced Nora Pouillon who is the winner of the JBF 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. Please join me congratulating Amy Brandwein of Centrolina , nominated for Best Chef Mid Atlantic; Bonnie Benwick with Joe Yonan of the Washington Post  for Food Coverage in a General Interest Publication, Pati Jinich of Pati's Mexican Table for Television Program in studio or on location, and Robert and Polly Wiedmaier  of Marcel's by Robert Wiedmaier,  for Outstanding Service. 

There are a lot of activities going on so mark your calendars. You should have received your invitation to the Green Tables breakfast at Chaia on April 11 at 9 a.m. There are a few places left and you must RSVP on Eventbrite (click here), even though there is no charge. Password is Green Tables.  Don't miss this opportunity for Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon to lead our first in a series of breakfast meetings designed to be provocative and helpful as we look for ways to improve our community.

And don't forget to sign up for this most important Spring General Membership Meeting on May 6 at Nora's Restaurant. Nora will be opening up her kitchen especially for us on a Saturday for a lovely spring luncheon to follow. Come meet the new members and catch up with your sister Dames.  Click here to RSVP for the meeting and click here to RSVP for the luncheon.

As always, it is an honor and a privilege to serve as your president. Any concerns, questions or comments, please email me annstratte@aol.com or call at 410-903-2682.

Salut,
 
Ann Stratte
President
Les Dames d'Escoffier International, Washington, D.C., Chapter
Secretary, LDEI
GREEN TABLES INAUGURAL BREAKFAST
 


DAMES ONLY
Please join us at  the Inaugural Green Tables Breakfast featuring a discussion with Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon, co-owners of Chaia, advocates for local sourcing and founders of the Farm to Taco movement.
DATE:  April 11, 2017
TIME: 9 a.m. to  11 a.m.
PLACE:  Chaia, 3207 Grace St NW (Georgetown )Washington, DC  20007
PRICE: FREE
MENU: Breakfast  Tacos, Juice, Coffee and Tea generously donated by Chaia
RSVP:  Click here to register for your free ticket on Eventbrite!
Password:   Green Tables
  
SPRING GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 
 
DATE:  Saturday, May 6
PLACE: Restaurant Nora
TIME: Registration 11:00 am; Meeting 11:30 am; Luncheon 12:45 pm
PRICE:  $55 per person (includes 3 course luncheon, with wine and tips)
RSVP:  To register for the meeting click here.  To register for the luncheon, click here.   To avoid Eventbrite fees,  you may also send a check for $55 payable to to Les Dames d'Escoffier  to Robin Kurtzman, 7512 Granada Drive, Bethesda, MD  20817.
PROXY: Attendance, in person, at one General Membership Meeting per fiscal year is a requirement of membership.  If you cannot attend the Spring General Membership Meeting, you may ask an attending Dame to serve as your proxy. Click here for your proxy form.  Email or send the proxy to Robin Kurtzman BEFORE the Spring General Membership Meeting to Kurtzman4@comcast.net. The instructions are on the form. 
LUNCHEON MENU:
Starters 
Asparagus Soup, Creme Fraiche, Crispy Leeks; or
Baby Lettuces, Strawberries, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Entrées
Pan Seared Sustainable Salmon, Curry Aioli, Black Beluga Lentils, Carrots, Chard; or
Crispy Amish Chicken Schnitzel, Lingonberry Jam,  Potato and Green Bean Salads; or
Ricotta Ravioli, Spinach Sauce, Spring Onion, Tomato, Zucchini 
Desserts
Strawberry Lemon Tart, Whipped Cream, Strawberry Sauce; or
Austrian Chocolate Almond Cake, Whipped Cream
Wine, Coffee and Tea
 
GET WELL WISHES
 
Carol Cutler is at home after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. She would welcome calls and good wishes.
 
LOG-IN INFORMATION

How to Log-in to ldei.org. Members only:
User ID: email address listed in LDEI database
Password:  If you have not logged in before, you will need to contact the LDEI office for your password, which you can change at any time.
info@ldei.com or 502-456-1851 x4
How to Log-in to the Les Dames DC Chapter website, www.lesdamesdc.org:
Password: ldedc2014 (for Members-only section)
HURRAH!
 
James Beard Foundation's Award Nominations are in and DC Dames dominate!  Amy Brandweinchef-owner of Centrolina, has been nominated for Best Chef Mid Atlantic; Bonnie Benwickdeputy food editor, with Joe Yonan, food editor, The Washington Post, have been nominated for Food Coverage in a General Interest Publication;  Pati Jinich, host of Pati's Mexican Table television show has been  nominated  for Television Program in studio or on location; and, Robert and Polly Wiedmaier, owners of Marcel's by Robert Wiedmaier,  have been nominated for Outstanding Service. 

Lisa Cherkasky styled the March 2017 cover of Baltimore Magazine for its 50 Best Restaurants with Gunther & Co. food as her subject.

Nancy Hart and partner Jerry Trice won a spot for their restaurant Gunther & Co in Baltimore Magazine's March 2017 issue's Best Restaurant as well as the magazine's cover shot for the 50 Best Restaurants in Baltimore issue. http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2017/2/27/50-best-restaurants-in-baltimore 

Joan Nathan was profiled in The Washington Post on March 24 in anticipation of her new book King Solomon's Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World, released yesterday by Alfred A. Knopf. 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/who-connects-jewish-cooking-the-world-over-the-whirlwind-named-joan-nathan/2017/03/24/476cde28-0da4-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html?utm_term=.e2b033e9be60

Nora Pouillon will be awarded the 2017 Women and the Green Economy (WAGE) ® Leadership Award on May 9, by Earth Day Network during its 2017 Climate Leadership Gala at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The 2017 Gala will bring together over 350 leaders of industry, government and the NGO community to celebrate achievements and lead the path to a post-carbon future. The WAGE award is in recognition of Nora's leadership in promoting healthy sustainable food and lifestyles.

Vickie Reh is publishing her first book, The Wine Table, with Skyhorse Publishing. The tentative release date is March 2018.  The book will feature details of her visits to eat, drink and cook with 19 French and Italian winemakers and include regional information on wine and food, recipes from winemakers and many photos.

Paula Shoyer's article, Now, Passover & Pie Belong Together, appeared in the March 29 edition of The Washington Post Food Section and was picked up by a number of other publications including Chicago's NorthWest Herald.

DAMES NEWS
 
What a wonderful Les Dames Easter Egg Roll Brunch at Ris on March 25! The group enjoyed a delicious egg-centric menu from recipes prepared previously by White House chefs. Cecilia Glembocki, who has organized and orchestrated the White House Easter Egg Roll for the past 35 years, shared so much history about the only annual public event held on the White House lawn. Many thanks go to Ris Lacoste and her talented staff for creating a beautiful luncheon. 


Laurie Bell and Cecilia Glembocki.



 
Dames gathered at Gunther & Co. in Baltimore on Tuesday, April 4 to lend their support to Nancy Hart and her partner Jerry Tice at a Chefs Cycle, No Kid Hungry fundraiser.  http://chefscycle.org/  The event offered sample tastes from an elite line-up of Baltimore chefs, drinks served by top local mixologists and, of course, an impressive array of silent auction items. On May 16 to 18, Nancy and Jerry will participate in a 300-mile fundraising endurance event starting in Santa Rosa California with 250 other award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community to fight hunger outside the kitchen. The goal is to raise $2 million which translates to 20 million meals for kids.

 
l-r: In front, Nancy Hart and Drew Faulkner.  In back, Kari Barrett,
Theresa MorrisonKatherine Newell Smith. 
 
CALLING FOR FUTURE TV GUESTS

WETA is launching a new restaurant/food series called "Check, Please!"  Its producers would like to extend an early invitation to our chapter's members to participate in the application process to appear on the show.   "Check, Please!"  is based on a series  airing in several other metropolitan PBS markets, including Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami. The show consists of a host and a rotating panel of "guest reviewers."  In each half-hour episode, three guests each choose their favorite dining spot...then the other two guests visit those restaurants under total anonymity. After trying each other's restaurants, the guests come on the show to discuss, dispute and celebrate their dining experiences.  "Check, Please!" celebrates the rich diversity of our region's dining scene in a way that involves the entire community. If you would like to apply to be a guest reviewer on the show, please fill out the online application here:  weta.org/checkplease

Suggestions of all kinds of eateries are welcome, from fine dining to your favorite mom and pop diner or hidden gem. DC, MD and VA are all included.  Marie Ostrosky is working with the show that is making its debut in this market.  Here is the link: weta.org/checkplease

PROGRAMS

GREEN TABLES BREAKFAST
DATE: Tuesday, April 11
TIME: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
PLACE: Chaia,  3207 Grace Street, NW Washington DC 20007 
PRICE:  Free
MENU:  Coffee, juice and Breakfast Tacos
RSVP:   Tickets are free, but please register on Eventbrite by clicking here.  

SONGKRAN, THAI NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
A Global Culinary Initiatives dinner with Amy Riolo.  
Songkran, means "Festival of Pouring Water." Thai people believe that by pouring water during this time anything bad in our lives will be flushed away and we will be blessed in the New Year. In keeping with this tradition, guests at Bangkok Joe's may perform the ancient Songkran ceremony to restore their spirits. Enjoy a family style Thai special menu designed by Chef/Owner Aulie Bunyarataphan to promote longevity and good health.  The menu will also feature rare items that are not commonly offered in America.
DATE:  Thursday, April 13
TIME:  6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
PLACE: Bangkok Joe's, 3000 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007
PRICE:  $60 for Dames; $70 non-members (non-member's price includes a $10.00 tax-exempt donation for LDEI-DC scholarships).
RSVP:  Click here to buy your tickets on Eventbrite!
PARKING: Garage and Street Parking

DAMES WHO READ - BOOK CLUB - DAMES ONLY
DATE:  Monday, May 1
TIME:  7:00 p.m.
PLACE:  At the home of Katherine Newell Smith, 5525 Devon Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
PRICE:  Free. Host provides food and drink
RSVP:  Please let Katherine know you will be coming at kns4pr@erols.com
BOOK SELECTION:  Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver.

MOUNT VERNON: GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON'S BOUNTIFUL GARDENS AND TABLE
Join us for a VIP tour of the Mount Vernon estate and museums with a special emphasis on 18th-century food production and gardening. Learn how the first First Family grew, prepared, and served its food. See service, cooking implements, and tableware owned by the Washington's. Horticulturalist Dean Norton also will lead the group on a tour of the grounds including the "gardens of necessity," root cellar and the plantings established by the Washington's. The group will enjoy lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn followed by a tour, demonstrations and tasting at George Washington's Gristmill and Distillery.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 2017
TIME:  9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
PLACE: George Washington's Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
(703) 780-2000;
www.mountvernon.org 
PRICE:  $65 Dames, $75 non-Dames
RSVP: Click here to purchase your tickets on Eventbrite!
RESERVATION/CANCELLATION DATE:  May 4, 2017
METRO: None
PARKING: Free in Mount Vernon's lots
George Washington's Mount Vernon is located roughly 15
miles south of Washington, D.C. and 8 miles south of Alexandria, Virginia, on the Potomac River, at the southern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
NOTE: More information will be sent to you after you register. 
MENU:
Starters 
Homemade Skillet Cornbread with vanilla bean honey butter, 
The Inn's Famous Virginia Peanut & Chestnut Soup 
Entrées (Choice of)
Shrimp & Grits: George Washington's Gristmill Grits with Jumbo Shrimp Sautéed in White Wine with Shallots, Garlic, Tomato, and Basil;  Beef Short Ribs with pan sauce served with Redskin Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables;  Roasted Rosemary Chicken (herbs from GW's Estate), served with Potatoes and Vegetables; or Vegetable Lasagna 
Dessert 
Colonial Bread Pudding and  Coffee, Tea, or Soda

THE EXOTIC ART OF BLENDING SPICES 
Join Simran Sethi, culinary director for Choolaah Indian BBQ in Fairfax, VA, for a lesson in the art of blending spices, or masalas, and a demonstration of the craft of making and baking naan in a tandoor oven. You will be greeted with Choolaah chai, mango lassi or non-dairy mint ginger lemonade as you tour the restaurant and view its contemporary art collection. (Each restaurant has commissioned original pieces)  Ms. Sethi will then guide you through the art of blending spices to create savory, sweet, hot or mild masalas and how to use them. Your own personal spice blend will be yours to take home.  Afterwards, Choolaah's bakers will demonstrate how to make naan and bake it on the clay walls of one of the four large tandoor ovens heated to 700 degrees. (Choolaah is a variation of chulha, the Hindi term for oven) A couple of volunteer bakers will have the opportunity to make their maiden naans.You will also see the cooks grill skewers of seasoned salmon, chicken, vegetables and even paneer (Indian cheese) in the tandoors and use to create delicious Indian dishes as well salads and wraps. You will enjoy tasting a variety of dishes using the balanced masalas and sauces specially developed by Ms. Sethi for the restaurant. Freshly baked naan and refreshing beverages will accompany the meal.
DATE: Saturday, May 13
TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Choolaah Indian BBQ in the Mosaic District, 2911 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 (Choolaah is located next to the Angelika Movie Theater building on District Ave.)  (http://mosaicdistrict.com/dine/choolaah-indian-bbq/)
PRICE: $25 Dames, $35 non-Dames (includes breakfast beverages, lunch with beverages, the workshop and a packet of your own spice blend,  50 % of your proceeds will go to Les Dames DC)
RSVP:  More details coming or www.lesdamesdc.org
PARKING: Free parking is available at Mosaic on the street, in the marked public parking structures. Metro: Dunn-Loring, take 2A bus to Lee Hwy and Gallows (3 min), walk 10 minutes to restaurant.   

TOUR AND LUNCH AT ATWATER'S BIG KITCHEN IN BALTIMORE
There is nothing like a peek behind the scenes of a production facility to understand how a culinary business creates new recipes and prepares food for multiple locations. Join us as we step inside the "Big Kitchen" (BK) of Baltimore's famed Atwater's to learn a few of the secrets behind its outstanding reputation for consistent, delicious, traditional foods and culinary products.  
Our tour will be conducted by the BK's production manager Nona Nielsen-Parker. She will show us how the facility develops new recipes (including Good Food Award winning Green Goddess salad dressing and Red Berry Rose jam) and produces Atwater's breads, pastries, ice cream, soup, jam and cheese. The tour will be followed by lunch and include current and seasonal menu favorites
Our speaker will be owner Ned Atwater, one of the leaders in establishing Baltimore's farm-to-table movement 17 years ago. What began as a very small business has grown into six thriving restaurants in Baltimore and participation in over 15 farmer's markets in the Baltimore/DC metro area. 
DATE: Saturday, May 20, 2017
TIME: 11 a.m. TO  1:30 p.m.
PLACE:  Atwater's, 2905 Whittington Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
PRICE: $25 Dames, $35 non-Dames
RSVP:  More details coming or www.lesdamesdc.org
PARKING: The BK is located just off Route 95, south of the inner harbor. there is plenty of free parking. 
MENU:  
Upon Arrival
Lemon Bites*
Cheese* & Crackers*
Lunch Buffet
Creamy Asparagus Soup* garnished with Cous Cous and Black Garlic *
Atwater's Famous Chicken Salad and our Homemade Bread *
Big Kitchen Salad Greens* with Yellow Beets*, Asparagus* and Pistachios, 3 Potato Salad*
Dessert
Ice Cream Sandwiches*, Cookies*
Beverages
Iced Tea, Wine, Waters, Thyme* infused Lemonade
 *denotes items grown and/or made at Atwater's

OF INTEREST
 
Women in WWI, Thursday, April 13. 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., National Museum of American HistoryCoulter Performance Plaza, 1 West, 1300 Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C.  Let's hear it for the powerful women of history.  conversation, food, drink and activities. To mark the centennial of the United States' entry into World War I, the National Museum of American History After Hours is dedicated to the women who served in the war and their lasting impact.The Great War was a pivotal time in world history that was also a pivotal moment for women's history as droves of American women donned uniforms, volunteered, or worked in the military and civilian organizations throughout the war. At home and abroad, these fearless, intelligent, and talented ladies pushed the boundaries of traditional roles and expectations of women. Their actions ultimately helped pave the way for woman's suffrage. Join in as After Hours spends the evening exploring the expanding roles of women, the continued limitations they faced, and the lasting results of their efforts. Activities for the night include:
  • A discussion with experts, historians, and museum curators
  • Curator-led tours of new World War I displays at the museum
  • Rarely-seen objects, posters, and artifacts out of storage
  • French, English, German, and US canteen-inspired drink stations
  • World War I reenactors 
  • Thematic era-inspired appetizers (no rationing though, we promise!)
  • Hands-on activities 
  • Doughnuts! 
Price: $40. 
 
LDE-DC Instagram               
  

Please add Instagram to your social media accounts http://instagram.com/lesdamesdc# @LesDamesDC

 

Editor's Note:  
 
ENTRE NEWS is published on the first and  third Wednesday of each month.  It is on hiatus during the month of August. 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.   Please submit your HURRAH to kns4pr@erols.com in a succinct 75 words of less.
 
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.  Its function is not to promote products, cooking classes, culinary trips, etc., rather to alert members to public programs that might be of professional interest, especially if Dames are featured.   We request OF INTEREST entries to be no longer than 150 words. Less is always better.
 
JOB OPPS can open Dames networks to employment opportunities.
 
Send information to Entre News Editor Katherine Newell Smith kns4pr@erols.com  
 
Thank you for you continued interest and participation.

Katherine Newell Smith
Editor, Entre News  

In this Issue
 
Social Media Connections

 

Connect with Sister Dames

Like us on Facebook
LesDamesDC 

Follow us on Twitter
@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.


Like us on Facebook   View our profile on LinkedIn
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.

 

Grants/Mentoring:

Jessica Botta 

jessica.botta@gmail.com

Scholarships: 

 Green Tables: 

Danielle Turner

 chefdanielle@greattastepcs.com 

 Programs:

Laurie Bell

laurie@greatfallsteagarden.com

Global Culinary Initiatives:

Amy Riolo

amy@amyriolo.com 

Public Relations:

Vacant

 Development and Philanthropy:

Susan James

slsjames@att.net

 

 

 

Entre News Update:
Please submit your Entre News information in a brief, concise statement to Katherine Newell Smith at kns4pr@erols.com.
 
Board Meeting Minutes
To view the latest approved board meeting minutes, go to www.lesdamesdc.org and

click on the Members Only tab  and enter the password.  Click on  the dropdown menu for LDE-DC Board and  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. 

Members-Only Section 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 the Members Only 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, Polly Wiedmaier, at lesdamesdc.list@gmail.com  

 

Once you log in under Members Only, you will see a revised menu where you can find:

  • past and current Entre News issues posted under the Entre News Archives tab.
  • archives of past chapter activities in the LDE-DC Dame Only Events menu along with upcoming events.
  • helpful files including chapter letterhead, name tag template, LDEI logos and tax-exempt certificates under Documents and Forms.
  • our chapter's standing rules, bylaws and membership roster under Bylaws, Roster & Minutes.  
  • A roster of Dames that can be printed out.
Quick Links
  

Member Milestones - Share your professional news with Dames in all Chapters in our LDEI Quarterly.   Shout, don't whisper, about your accomplishments. We all want a chance to say "Bravo!"

Submit your news to:
MemberMilestones@aol.com - Edited by - Edited by Dorothy Koteski (Phil)
LDEI Quarterly Deadlines:
The deadline for sending in Member Milestones and Chapter News for the SUMMER issue of the LDEI Quarterly is  April 10, 2017. Archived Quarterly magazines 
are available online.  If you are not receiving hard copies of Quarterly, please check your online contact information at 
www.ldei.org  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.
Les Dames d'Escoffier DC, www.lesdamesdc.org, Washington, DC 20013-1617
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