Dear Sister Dames,
Thank you for giving me your continued support as President for the past two years. I truly appreciate the honor and will continue to support Les Dames DC.
Special thanks goes to Jenn Crovato of 1310 Kitchen & Bar for hosting our Spring General Membership Meeting. We had great times and great food. Please visit her to support our local Dames.
If you missed LDEI President Ann Stratte's email message on May 31, you may not know that LDEI Founder Carol Brock was hospitalized a few weeks ago. She is recovering well and beginning to regain her strength. Let us keep Carol in our prayers for a speedy recovery. If you wish to send her a card: Carol Brock, c/o Ozanam Hall of Queens, Room 1004, 42-41 201 Street, Bayside, NY 11361.
It seems fitting, now, to share a bit of LDEI history with you. This is adapted from a Dames history article written by Katherine Newell Smith in 2008.
In 1973, Carol Brock, then the Sunday food editor for the New York Daily News, received the charter for the New York branch of Boston's Les Amis d'Escoffier Society, named for the renowned chef Auguste Escoffier. She had heard about its sister group, Les Dames des Amis Escoffier, comprising the wives of the dining society members. The difference was that the women raised money for good causes. So, Carol's idea was to organize the first-ever professional group of women in the food and wine industries.
"I was a member of Women Home Economists in Business," Carol said. "And I saw what networking and monthly meetings could do. It was empowering but I wanted to offer more and, frankly, to do it better than the men. And I wanted it to be ladylike and do it with elegance."
Carol's first challenge was to find 50 members in New York. Women in management in our industries then were scarce. It took Carol three years to gather enough names, taking blank 3"x 5" cards to every food event and asking for names of outstanding women in the field.
She formed a task force of five of those women to help fine-tune the concept: Mary Lyons, marketing and communications director, Foods and Wines from France; Elayne Kleeman, who created the first U.S. wine auction at Heublein; Helene Bennett, executive director, Wine and Food Society; Beverly Barbour, international marketing and public relations, and Ella Elvin, food editor, New York Daily News.
Initially, the group planned to form an association to provide education and networking opportunities. Even then, they decided to form an international organization as soon as there were five chapters.
On November 8, 1976, Les Dames d'Escoffier/ New York held its first gala and investiture at the French Consulate. Dames welcomed 50 food-and-wine professionals as new members. Halston designed the serviettes; Tiffany designed the silver napkin rings/bracelets as well as the original LDE logo. (The present wheat-and-grape logo, commissioned by the Washington, D.C. chapter in 1982, was adopted by LDEI in 1991.) Photographs of the group were taken on the grand staircase. Elegant, indeed.
Early on, LDE/NY began to hold Op Eds: Operation Education, with monthly speakers. When a renowned person came through town, a breakfast was scheduled.
"In the first or second year," Carol recalled," Dame Frances Low arranged for three internships aboard a cruise ship for young female culinary students. Sara Moulton was one of those recipients." Thus, providing women with internships and scholarship support was incorporated into Dames' mission.
By 1984, the requisite five chapters needed for an international organization was achieved: New York (1976), Washington, D.C. (1981). Chicago (1982), Dallas (1984) and Philadelphia (1984). Over the next two years, the chapter presidents created the framework for what became Les Dames d'Escoffier International. On October 27, 1986, LDEI was officially launched at a gala dinner in the lobby of the New York Daily News, next to the world's largest indoor globe. It was an appropriate backdrop to commemorate the growing 225-member organization.
Now, 33 years later, with over 2,400 distinguished members from various disciplines in 42 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Mexico and France, Carol's original vision for Dames has expanded. LDEI has established a Grand Dame award to recognize influential women in our fields, the MFK Fisher distinguished writer award and the Legacy Award, which offers one-week intensive work/study opportunities to deserving women. Our Green Tables Garden-to-Table Initiative and Global Culinary Initiative have helped energize our chapters. Many chapter activities now include public education programs as well as scholarships, grants and internships. Most chapters have added more community service as well.
Beyond all the money we have raised and the public services we have performed, Carol's true gift has been the opportunity to form lasting, significant bonds between members. We know who we can count on for support, personally and professionally. We just need to ask.
When Green Tables was created, Carol said, "I find it tremendously exciting. It is wonderful what we are doing with children. I never thought of that aspect for our organization."
Indeed, LDEI and its member chapters continue to build on Carol's dream, enthusiasm and perseverance and, no doubt, do so better than the guys.
Your membership with LDEI is a prestigious one and one to be proud of, but more importantly it is for us to remember our history and mission. It is for us to remember that we are here to support each other and other women in the industry. Only by supporting each other can we grow together.
I hope you will check our chapter calendar to see what events are planned for the rest of the year and into next year. Each member must attend at least one chapter event each year.
Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or concerns.
Janet Yu
President Les Dames d'Escoffier International, Washington, D.C. Chapter |
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Join us for our annual summer potluck social. DATE: Sunday, July 21 TIME: 5:00 p.m. (3:00-4:45p.m. joint board meeting with incoming and outgoing board members) PLACE: At the home of Katherine Newell Smith, 5525 Devon Road, Bethesda, MD 20817. Tel. (301) 907-7590 Ample street parking. METRO DIRECTIONS: Bethesda metro station, take bus #36 towards Bradley Boulevard/Connelly School and get off at the Bradley Boulevard and Cornish Road stop (5 minute ride). Walk one block along Bradley towards Devon Road, turn right, house is 5th on left with periwinkle blue door. RSVP: STAY TUNED, we will set up a sign up genius for the food and beverages. We ask that you bring your favorite al fresco dining dish. |
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Chef/Owners Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Ruth Gresser, Pizza Paradiso, and Danielle Harris were guests on WAMU's The Kojo Nnamdi Show June 6, for his program "Three Local Chefs On Owning Food Companies, Mentorship And Engaging With D.C." and Bettina Stern was a call in questioner.
Kristen Hartke's lovely story "To Commemorate a Loved One's Death, Some Turn to the Comfort and Memories of Food" appeared in the June 3 edition of The Washington Post 's Food section.
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We so appreciate the generous new-member goody bag donations. What a treasure trove of treats! Drew Faulkner contributed six bottles of port; Edee Hogan sent chocolates; Laurie Bell gave tea; Ann Stratte put in the LDEI hard-copy directory; Golnaz Feiz presented wine; Eileen Dykes added a cookbook for each; Karen Vartan donated sweets; Julia Rutland supplied can cozies; Stacey Adams offered cookies; we had additional gifts from Chobani, Hendrick's, and Vitamix and Wegman's provided the bags to hold it all. THANK YOU!
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CiCi Williamson and the program committee would like to plan a Downtown Abbey event with the British Embassy; so, she needs a contact there. Can anyone help? Please contact CiCi Williamson at Ciciwmson@aol.com
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If you have not already done so, please renew your Les Dames d'Escoffier dues for the 2019-20 membership year which begins July 1! Please make your payments by June 30 to avoid a $25 late payment fee.
We so appreciate your support of your Dames chapter this past year. We trust you've taken some time to attend some of the informative and inspiring public programs and Dames-only social gatherings, work on committees and get to know your sister Dames a bit better.
As you renew your membership, we hope you will also renew your commitment to be involved. Your extraordinary wealth of knowledge, talents and connections will be put to good use to help create and organize engaging education programs and raise funds to support our grants and scholarships.
We look forward to working with you, the women leaders in the DC region's food, hospitality and beverage industries.
Please take time now to renew your LDEI dues for the 2019-20 membership year which begins July 1. The deadline for payment is June 30, 2019. Dues received after this date will be charged a $25.00 late fee, no exceptions. Members whose dues are not received by July 31, 2019 will not be eligible for membership in 2019-20, will be removed from LDEI and Chapter directories/email lists, and will need to reapply for membership. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Janet Yu at Janet4Hollywood@aol.com before the designated deadline.
TOTAL: $185.00 ($100.00 Washington, DC Chapter Dues and $85.00 LDEI Dues)
You may pay your dues in either of two ways:
1) use Eventbrite to pay on-line with a credit card.
Press the green "tickets" button to begin the process.
Please use the password: lesdames2019
made payable to Les Dames D'Escoffier, and send to:
Claire Gill, DC Chapter Treasurer
8155 Douglas Fir Drive
Lorton, VA 22079
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March 28, 2020 may seem like a long way off but not for planning another Women in Gastronomy Celebrating Food! symposium. We are actively seeking Dames who are willing to lead breakout sessions. There will be four hands-on kitchen sessions with 24 attendee participants in each and 12 additional breakout sessions (demos, panels, lectures, etc). Please forward your ideas for sessions and your willingness to formulate and coordinate a session to co-chairs Eileen Dykes at eileendykes@gmail.com and Laurie Bell at Laurie@greatfallsteagarden.com.
There is great name recognition surrounding this event and it is a good way for you to be highlighted in all of our PR materials. It is an excellent opportunity for you to share your expertise and help LDE-DC fulfill its mission of community outreach and education.
We also ask for a sister Dame to volunteer as an additional symposium co-chair so there will be some continuity in planning future Celebrating Food! symposiums.
Thank you for your consideration and dedication to our Les Dames d'Escoffier Washington, DC chapter!
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DAMES WHO READ - DAMES ONLY BOOK CLUB
Our Dames-only book club is open to all members. We meet every six weeks on a Monday evening. The host chooses the book, usually available in the library and in paperback, and provides refreshments. It is a convivial group. If you wish to join, contact Eileen Dykes at eileendykes@gmail.com or any of the upcoming hosts (see below). If you are interested in hosting, please let Eileen know. If you have a book you would like to read and discuss, also let Eileen know. Otherwise, we are sure other members can offer some ideas! DATE: Monday, June 24
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: The home of Drew Faulkner, 7407 Honeywell Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814
BOOK SELECTION: The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone
PRICE: Free. The host provides refreshments.
Upcoming Meetings:
MOORENKO'S ICE CREAM FACTORY TOUR AND TASTING
Tour Moorenko's ice cream factory, help make ice cream, learn about the process and the industry and take home a pint! If you haven't yet tried Susan Soorenko's ice cream, you need to join her and learn how she got started in this industry.
DATE: Saturday, July 20
TIME: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: 8810 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. This is at the factory, not at the store
PRICE: $25 Dames, $30 non-members (includes a $5 tax-exempt donation to LDEI Scholarships)
RSVP: Click here to purchase your tickets on Eventbrite!
GLENSTONE MUSEUM - DAMES ONLY
Gail Forman has nabbed hard-to-get tickets to visit the new Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD. Limited to 15. Once you reserve your place, Gail will get back to you with ticket and entry information. The group will begin with a Dutch-treat lunch at Glenstone's informal café-- soup, salads, sandwiches -- where Brian Patterson, formerly of L'Academie de Cuisine, is the chef. Afterwards, you can visit all areas of the private museum, which encompasses two buildings, several outdoor sculptures and more than 230 acres of landscape. It is an amazing place.
DATE: Saturday, September 7
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
PRICE: $5 to cover reservations and LDE-DC administration fee.
Please register today to secure your spot. Space for this event is limited to 15 people so sign up today! If all spots are full, you can put your name on the waitlist. No refunds so please make sure you can attend before registering.
RSVP: Click here to register or put your name on the waitlist. The password is dames4ever all lower case.
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DAMES NEWS
Our 2019 Spring General Membership meeting was held June 8 at Jenn Crovato's 1310 Kitchen & Bar at the Georgetown Inn. Jenn welcomed with some bubbly and breakfast nibbles and, after the meeting, a sumptuous brunch buffet. Janet Yu included a motivational guest speaker, Alicia Chin Greer, to begin our meeting. She relayed a moving story of her experience with a brave woman who wore a burqa, that occurred during Greer's deployment in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army, and of the silent but powerful bond they formed when Greer showed her a sign of support. Afterwards, we held our business meeting, making a strategic change in our budgeting cycle to report our operations budget during the Spring General Membership Meeting and our aspirational, or programmatic and fundraising budget, during the Autumn General Membership Meeting.
Meet our new board. It begins is duties July 1, at the start of our 2019-20 fiscal year.
L-r Diane Neas, Carole Sugarman, Olga Boikess, Drew Faulkner, Jill Collins,
Julia Rutland, Stacey Adams, Lori Gardner and Janet Yu
President-elect Stacey Adams introduced and welcomed our new members.
L-r: Sheryl Cottrell Hoehner, Kimberly Lapinski, Sandra Kay Miller, Linda Davis, Taueret Thomas, and Stacey Adams. Erinn Tucker (not pictured) was unable attend.
President-elect Stacey Adams, second from right, introduced and thanked our host, Jenn Crovato.
L-r Olga Boikess, Drew Faulkner, Jill Collins, Jenn Crovato, Janet Yu, Stacey Adams, and Lori Gardner
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Friday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. The Harvey Girls and Meals for Rail Passengers. Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West at The National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Ave N.W., Washington, D.C. Taking another look at how railroads transformed travel and food production in the American West, guest chef Sarah Lohman will explore the history of the Harvey Girls Working as hostesses at restaurants along the rail lines in the Southwest. Chef Lohman will discuss how they represented and contributed to important shifts in the region's economic and cultural landscape. Their complex story was emblazoned in the American imagination when Judy Garland starred in The Harvey Girls (1946), bringing to life the bustling tourism industry in New Mexico. Join us as we dig into the food history behind this film, while also discussing broader changes in American transportation and tourism history. After the demonstration, Lohman will sign copies of her book, Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine. This program is in collaboration with the museum's American Enterprise exhibition.
Saturday, July 27, Story District's BREAKING BREAD : Stories by Celebrity Chefs and Industry Insiders at Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Participating chefs include:
Ashish Alfred - Chef and Owner of Duck Duck Goose
Cathy Barrow - Author (Pie Squared and Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Practical Pantry)
Carla Hall - The Chew, Top Chef, Good Morning America, Author (Soul Food: Everyday & Celebration)
Kwame Onwauchi - Top Chef, Author (Notes from a Young Black Chef), Exec Chef at Kith and Kin, and (just announced) winner of James Beard Award Rising Star Chef
Jermaine Stone - Founder and CEO of Cru Luv Selections and Host of Wine and Hip Hop podcast
Joe Yonan - The Washington Post Food Editor
November 7. SAVE THE DATE. SMITHSONIAN FOOD HISTORY GALA. The National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Ave N.W., Washington, D.C.
Join us for a black-tie celebration in support of the programs, exhibitions, and research of the Smithsonian Food History Project
at the National Museum of American History featuring the fifth annual presentation of the Julia Child Award to José Andrés by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy andthe Culinary Arts. Tickets on sale now: s.si.edu/FoodGala
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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.
Thank you for you continued interest and participation.
Katherine Newell Smith
Founding Editor, Entre News
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Social Media Connections
Connect with Sister Dames
 LesDamesDC
 @LesDamesDC
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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.
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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.
2018-2019 Committee Chairs
Membership - Dames Who Dine:
Karen Lippold
Membership - Engagement:
Lori Gardner
Grants:
Jessica Botta
Scholarships:
Nona Nielsen Parker
Green Tables:
Susan Lutz
Programs:
Eileen Dykes
Global Culinary Initiatives:
Amy Riolo
Public Relations:
Summer Whitford
summer@foodandwinediva.com
Development:
TBA
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Julia Rutland
Financial Officer
Claire Gill
Communications Officer
OPEN - TBA
Directors
Laurie Bell
(Programs)
Karen Lippold
(Dames Who Dine)
Susan Lutz
(Green Tables)
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Please submit your Entre News information in a brief, concise statement to Katherine Newell Smith at kns4pr@erols.com. |
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.
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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 at lesdamesdc.list@gmail.com
Under Member Login, 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.
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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:
The deadline for sending in Member Milestones and Chapter News for the AUTUMN issue of the LDEI Quarterly is August 1. 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.
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. |
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