Summer 2015 - Les Dames d`Escoffier International
Transcription
Summer 2015 - Les Dames d`Escoffier International
SUMMER 2015 Gone to Market The Roles and Responsibilities of Dames in the Grocery Industry ALSO INSIDE GEORGES AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER REVOLUTIONIZED THE CANONS O F C L A S S I C A L F R E N C H C U I S I N E A N D E L E V AT E D T H E S T AT U S O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N A L C H E F. H I S L E G A C Y C O N T I N U E S … Michel Escoffier and Mary Chamberlin at a Monterey Chapter celebration for Grande Dame Julia Child’s birthday. Karen MitchamStoeckley’s Cotes de Agneau Maison d'Or (lamb cooked in the Provençal style); a recipe from her cookbook that she served for a special dinner (page 15). Photo by Curt Dennison. Michel Escoffier and Lori Willis examine a poster of the Escoffier Museum. Photo by Curt Dennison. from the editor SUMMER 2 O 1 5 In This Issue F E ATU R ES 4 The Fabulous Four 6Gone to Market 12 Escoffier: Looking Back on a Legacy 5 Doin' the Charleston 1 16 Global Culinary Initiative 18 Wente: California's First Family of Chardonnay 25 San Antonio Celebrates D E PA RT MEN T S 0 Chapter News 2 26 Member Milestones 31 Submission Guidelines LDEI: Past, Present, and Future Understanding the past is one of the most powerful tools we have for shaping the future. On pages 12 to 14, pay homage to the achievements of Master Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier. During the fabulous “Edible London” trip Dames participated in last year, an afternoon tea was arranged at the Savoy Hotel. Executive Chef James Pare guided us on a tour through the kitchens, sharing a history of the hotel and Escoffier. Chef Pare and his team spent months pouring over the hotel archives and records at Musee Escoffier in his efforts to incorporate Escoffier’s dishes into the Savoy’s menus. We all wanted to know more about Escoffier…this feature is a place to begin. Exciting news: The London Chapter will host Edible London, Part 2 in 2016. Watch for further details. Groceries, of necessity, are part of every woman’s life but in the feature story, “Gone to Market,” pages 6 to 10, nine enterprising Dames have turned food into a career. New York Dame Karen Page, author of The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, writes, “The average American feels it’s easier to figure out income taxes than how to eat healthy… the proven connection between nutrition and wellness can’t be ignored. LDEI President Lori Willis says “Grocers have an emotional connection with our customers because we provide the healthy food that they need to live a quality life. They see us almost daily and look to us for more than just food; for education, information, and advice.” Our deserving 2015 Grande Dame nominees are presented on pages 4 to 5. Don’t miss the fabulous chapter stories shared by Atlanta, San Antonio, and Hawaii. Charleston has been busy planning the 2015 Annual Conference. It will be an extraordinary opportunity for personal enrichment, with productive sessions, engaging speakers, and time for fun. There is no place like beautiful Charleston! You will find it to be uniquely hospitable with splendid architecture, charming town gardens, balmy autumn weather, and history as rich as biscuits ‘n sausage gravy. Charleston has a lively beverage history as well, and the food is flavorful, unforgettable, and smoking hot! —Susan Fuller Slack (Charleston) 2 Les Dames d’Escoffier International PResident's Message 2015 LDEI Board of Directors Let’s Giv’em Something to Talk About! The mission of the LDEI Board is to foster the growth and success of the organization by supporting the development of new and existing chapters and by implementing program initiatives. It provides leadership, guidance, education, connectivity, and effective communication among LDEI members. Greetings ladies! It is my pleasure to provide you with information and updates as we take full advantage of the beautiful days of summer. We’ve been in contact with the team at the USA Pavilion in Milan where the theme, “American Food 2.0” has come to life. The lineup includes renowned experts charged with starting a worldwide conversation that unites people around the topic of food. We will try to keep you posted on developments via social media but encourage you to take a look at the program posted on-line. In the meantime, the Expo has reminded me how LDEI might keep our own “conversation” going. I get excited when I hear of a Dame who, in a speech, video, or news article, finds a way to mention LDEI. That small courtesy goes a long way and I have tried to remember to talk about our organization or share news about one of our members at least once a day. I find myself talking not only about my own chapter but about the exciting things happening in LDEI chapters across the entire globe. As we go about our work or summer travels, let’s find ways to “talk Dames.” I will start by talking about recent highlights from your LDEI Board. I am always amazed at the amount of work that comes from these Board volunteers and how, even with an eighthour time difference when traveling, CBL Bev Schaffer is willing to set her alarm for a conference call! With that level of dedication, you won’t be surprised to hear that we are taking a team approach to new chapter development this year and are in talks with several potential new chapters. Armed with her newly-updated handbook, Secretary Sharon Olson is working to ensure a strong representation of leaders to help share information, answer questions, and directly extend an invitation to qualifying, potential members. I have made a couple of these trips myself, along with Dames Nathalie Dupree and CiCi Williamson. While every Dame can be a great advocate, few can “talk Dames” better than those two ladies! Unless, of course, it’s our PR and Social Media team! Second VP Hayley Matson-Mathes is generating quite a lot to talk about, and we ask that you make sure you are following the team on Facebook and Twitter. Recent posts have also included information about our award programs, and CiCi Williamson reports that judges have chosen the winners in LDEI's M.F.K. Fisher Awards S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 President Lori Willis Director of Communications Schnuck Markets, Inc. 11420 Lackland Rd. Ballwin, MO 63146-3559 (314) 994-4602 | lwillis@schnucks.com First Vice President Maria Gomez-LAURENS Manager, Hospitality, HelmsBriscoe 11241 Avenida del Gato San Diego, CA 92126 (858) 633-7515 | mgomez@helmsbriscoe.com contest (see ldei.org). Based on the caliber of nominees, the Grande Dame award is a guaranteed highlight of Conference 2015. And, we have received a tremendous response to the Legacy Award Program. I thank Co-Chairs Sue Robison and Alison Awerbach, The Julia Child Foundation, and all LDEI partners who give of their time and talents to make this program possible. The development team led by First VP Maria Gomez and Greg Jewell of AEC just reported an additional four partner agreements; planning has already begun for their participation in Charleston! Now, that’s something to talk about! Please reach out and thank all confirmed partners you see on our social media blasts and on the full list that is building at LDEI.org. Remember, it’s never too late to share ideas for additional new partners. Partnering with LDEI offers value that every company who connects with our mission and vision deserves to know about. Finally, all roads lead to Charleston, S.C. (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1) where Conference CoChairs Jennifer Goldman and Paige Crone are preparing to call in final details to the Board’s June meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thanks to the hospitality of our host chapter, we look forward to a great meeting, a strong conference planning session, and organizational networking with our Minnesota Dames. I am sure it will give us even more wonderful things to talk about! Lori Willis President, Les Dames d’Escoffier International Second Vice President Ann Stratte Owner, My Personal Chef 100 Severn Avenue, #506 Annapolis, MD 21403-2622 (410) 903-2682 | annstratte@aol.com Third Vice President Hayley Jo Matson-Mathes Owner/Culinary Consultant 2333 Kapiolani Blvd #3516 Honolulu, HI 96826 (808) 941-9088 | hayleymm@hawaii.rr.com Secretary Sharon M. Olson Executive Director, Culinary Visions® Panel 345 North Canal Street, Apt. 1407 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 280-4573 | sharon@culinaryvisions.org Treasurer Stacy Zeigler Director of Sales, Bold American Events 2929 Surrey Lane Atlanta, GA 30341 (678) 302-3232 | szeigler@boldamerican.com Chapter Board Liaisons Deborah Mintcheff Project & Ckbk Editor/Food Writer/Copy Editor/ Recipe Devel/Co-Active Life Coach Live Forward Coaching 129 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021-5000 (212) 879-0383 | deborah.mintcheff@verizon.net Deborah Orrill Culinary Consultant 64 Vanguard Way Dallas, TX 75243 (214) 343-0124 | deborrill@gmail.com Bev Shaffer Corporate Chef, Vitamix World Headquarters 3433 Blake Road Seville, OH 44273 (440) 781-7202 | bev.foodwithattitude@gmail.com Immediate Past President Beth Allen Founder/President, Beth Allen Associates Inc 347 W 22nd Street, Suite #9 New York, NY 10011-4683 (212) 206-1138 | baaincny@aol.com Executive Director Greg Jewell President, AEC Management Resources P.O. Box 4961 Louisville, KY 40204 (502) 456-1851 x1 | info@ldei.org 3 The Fabulous Role Models for Our Time Four fabulous Dames have each been nominated by a chapter for the prestigious, 2015 Grande Dame Award. The honor is bestowed every two years by Les Dames d’Escoffier International in recognition of extraordinary and unusual contributions in the fields of food, fine wine and other beverages, nutrition, the art of the table, and related areas. You can’t help but be inspired as you read the bios of these exceptional women. Their accomplishments motivate others to succeed in their chosen professions, whether it’s marketing, farming, teaching, or being a chef. You know their names: Pat Mozersky (San Antonio), Dolores Snyder (Dallas), Julie Miller Jones (Minnesota), and, Joan Nathan (Washington). The success of LDEI as an organization results from efforts of women like these. Speaking of names—I was conjuring up descriptive words for the fabulous four when, inexplicably, anagrams came to mind. An anagram is the rearrangement of letters in a name to come up with another word. In the Middle Ages, both scientist and sage used the “word game” to discover hidden meanings and deep insights. Curious to try, I chose the letters from the four nominee’s Dolores SNYDER (Dallas) A founder and active member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Dolores Snyder is an international authority on the art of English tea. Her culinary journey began in the early 1970s, when she lived in London for three years and studied cooking at Le Cordon Bleu, in Italy, Hong Kong, and the Dieppe Cookery School in France. In 1976, Dolores returned to the United States and 4 opened the Gourmet Cookery School in the Dallas area. While her primary focus was culinary training classes, her love of tea and its rituals never diminished. She has taught the art of English tea for more than 25 years. In 2004, she published Tea Time Entertaining, a collec- names. From an alphabet soup of 50 letters, I conjured up: Dame, leader, mentor, diplomat, journalist, president, talented, star, smart, kind, loyal, pretty, jolly, and student. Regretfully, ”C” wasn’t available for chef, culinary, or cuisinier. I also came up with mysterious, spouse, mother, sisterhood, and hot mama—well, you get the idea! Certainly, these qualities, and many more, characterize the nominees as role models that embody the spirit of LDEI. They are ALL winners, but the selection of one as our newest Grande Dame will add a final grace note. She will become LDEI’s 13th Grande Dame—a very lucky number indeed, given the high number of stellar qualities my secret world of anagrams revealed! Susan Fuller Slack (Charleston) tion of tea themes and recipes with table settings, tea etiquette, tea accouterments, and the history of afternoon tea. She also has lectured about tea aboard the Queen Mary 2. Dolores’ work has been featured in many magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Mail on Sunday (London), Food Arts, and Southern Living. She directed a cooking and wine tour to France for Neiman Marcus and was the food expert on an Earthwatch expedition to China. In 1984, Dolores founded the Dallas Chapter of Les Dames, one of the five originating chapters required to create the international organization. In 1986, she was a founding member of the James Beard Foundation. Dolores served as the president of LDEI from 1989-1991 and participated actively on the board for nine years. She also has served as president of the Dallas Chapter. Dolores Snyder has been a transformative presence in the culinary world for decades. Her leadership, dedication, and persistence in the advancement of the culinary arts is unparalleled. Les Dames d’Escoffier International Julie Joan MILLER JONES NATHAN (Washington) Joan Nathan has received the highest accolades in the world of food. In 2001, she was honored for her many accomplishments as an inductee into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America. She writes regularly for newspapers and magazines and is the author of 11 cookbooks, including Jewish Cooking in America, which won a James Beard Award and the IACP/ Julia Child Cookbook of the Year Award in 1994. Her book The New American Cooking won a Beard award in 2005, and An American Folklife Cookbook won the R.T. French Tastemaker Award (precursor to the James Beard Awards) in 1985. Joan is currently writing her 11th cookbook, King Solomon’s Table: The Roots and Routes of Jewish Cooking, to be published by Alfred Knopf. Joan’s culinary talents also translate to television. Her PBS series Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan was nominated in 2000 for the James Beard Award for Best National Television Food Show. Joan joined LDEI’s Wash- (Minnesota) ington Chapter in 1981 as a charter member. In the chapter’s early years, she took an active role in the organization‘s leadership, helped start the scholarship fund and now is helping with the Women in the Culinary Arts program. She has hosted numerous dinners at her home through the years. Joan also sits on the board of directors of the nonprofit Martha’s Table. She’s an advisory board member of The World Central Kitchen and cofounder and organizer of Sips & Suppers, a two-day fundraising event that supports Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen. These nonprofit organizations are dedicated to education, training, and hunger relief for low-income families in the Washington area. Among numerous awards, Joan also has received an honorary doctorate from The Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership; a Golda Award from the American Jewish Congress and a Silver Spoon Award from Food Arts Magazine. Pat MOZERSKY (San Antonio) In her remarkable culinary career, Pat Mozersky has done it all: She’s a past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a food writer and cookbook author, a cooking school director, and the chairperson of noteworthy food events on the local and national level. Pat was a founding member of the San Antonio Chapter of LDEI, where she served as president from 1996 to 2001. In addition to serving as presiS U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 dent of LDEI International in 2005-2006, she was secretary in 2000-2002, first vice president in 2004-2005, and immediate past president from 2005-2006. As a food journalist, Pat wrote the Chefs’ Secrets column for 23 years for the San Antonio Express-News. She was food editor of San Antonio Woman magazine from 2005-2013 and Julie Miller Jones’ credentials are many—distinguished scholar and professor emerita at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota; scientific advisor, resource and spokesperson for government agencies, businesses, and other entities. Julie is also a scientific reviewer, textbook author, public speaker, and an active member of many professional organizations. But even more, Julie possesses a friendly, down-to-earth personality and generous spirit. She has been an engaged, committed member of the Minnesota Chapter since 1997 and served as president in 2013. She hosts chapter meetings at her home and enthusiastically accepts invitations to speak at the chapter’s gatherings. Julie’s professional accomplishments could fill several pages. She is active in the American Association of Cereal Chemists International, where she served as president and board chair, and in the Institute of Food Technologists, where she served as president food writer for San Antonio Taste magazine from 2010-2011. She was co-editor of LDEI’s cookbook, Cooking with Les Dames D’Escoffier, and she wrote two cookbooks, The Hungry Traveler: Italy, and What’s Cooking, San Antonio? A student of classic French, Italian, and Thai cooking for three decades, Pat founded and directed Ma Maison Cooking School from 1987-1995. She also developed and starred in a daily half-hour cooking show in 1996-1997—What’s Cooking, San Antonio? Pat co-chaired LDEI’s and IACP’s annual conferences in San Antonio and was a charter of the National Nutrition Division. Julie is also active in the Association of Family/Consumer Science; in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and the American Society of Nutrition. Julie was chair of the Joint Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Maryland. She speaks to professional audiences and consumer groups at least four times a month, making more than 275 local, national, and international appearances. Her areas of expertise include dietary fiber, whole grains, food safety issues, dietary guidelines, and nutrition truths and myths. “For all she’s accomplished, she is very humble and always willing to donate her time to a program for our chapter,” says Cindy Jurgensen. Joan Donatelle adds, “It is an honor to have her in our group. Every time I talk to her I learn something.” member and co-chair of the New World Wine and Food Festival for nine years. She was named Woman of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A native of Canada, Pat received her degree from the University of Manitoba. She and her husband, David, have been married for 50 years. They have two sons. Through her classes, articles, columns, and TV shows, Pat has had a profound effect on generations of South Texans. A tireless worker for Les Dames locally and internationally, Pat’s culinary legacy is unmatched regionally. 5 Gone to Market The Roles and Responsibilities of Dames in the Grocery Industry At the turn of the 20th century, women played an important role in the development of American food traditions and food businesses, often running neighborhood groceries from a front room in their home. In The American Kitchen Magazine in 1900, progressive writer/teacher Anna Barrows wonders whether grocers “suspect that women may yet monopolize their business.” Anna found the average grocery boy, “somewhat aggravating—not knowing pastry flour from bread flour, or a molasses jug from the kerosene can.” She said grocer’s wives and daughters were already making decisions and doing the work, “and the cooking school graduate has tried her wings by store exhibits, so why shouldn’t they manage the store?” It was a man’s world! Although femalefriendly, the grocery business was dominated by businessmen. Around 1900, the Retail Grocers’ Advocate considered women owners (usually widows) to be unprogressive. Female clerks were said to offer advantages men could not: a pleasant attitude; willingness to wait on customers; and the ability to dispense recipes and culinary advice. A businessman offers a word of warning—“one woman is enough; employing more would be disruptive from all the chatting and laughter.” Women have come a LONG way in grocery retailing, yet there is room for growth. At least 36 Dames affiliated with the grocery industry perform a myriad of jobs including: product development manager, project coordinator, cooking school director, global cheese buyer, dietitian, chef, baker, grocery magazine editor, marketing supervisor, and director of consumer affairs. Exhibiting intelligence, creativity, and compassion, they stand on the shoulders of those who came before—women who worked their way up the ladder, one rung at a time. You’ll meet nine dynamic Dames in this article. Grocery retailing is a highly competitive industry, yet LDEI President Lori Willis believes business diversity benefits Dames and chapters. She says, “The LDEI mission is one that calls for the suspension of competing interests for the time it takes to make a difference for others. We have found that this type of teamwork strengthens our ability to accomplish our goals.” Grocery stores are rapidly evolving in the age of advanced technology, social media, apps, and soon—smart shelves. Today’s supermarkets, some the length of a battleship, are becoming “socializing spaces” offering lifestyle activities. Consider this: grocery stores with shifting walls that convert into a restaurant by night and farmers market by day. It’s an exciting time to be a Dame in the grocery world! Susan Fuller Slack Special thanks to the Dame-writers who collaborated with me and who conducted interviews: Ann Stratte and CiCi Williamson (Washington), and Dottie Koteski (Philadelphia). Dames in the Grocery Business Meredith Beeman (Austin) Central Market Cooking School Manager Cindy Chambers (Nashville) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Senior Culinary Instructor The authors of this story compiled a list of 28 Dames who work in the grocery industry, but were not interviewed. We regret that, due to space limitations, additional Dames could not be featured. Erika Bongort (Austin) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Cheese Monger/Chef Instructor Certified Cheese Professional Nichole Clark (Cleveland) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Associate Store Team Leader (those not interviewed) 6 Karen Cassady (Dallas) H-E-B/Central Market Manager of seven Cooking Schools Patricia Cobe (Chicago) Restaurant Business Magazine CSP Business Media Les Dames d’Escoffier International LORI WILLIS (St. Louis) Merijoy Lantz Rucker (Nashville) Communications/Special Projects Schnuck Markets, Inc. Director of Salud! Cooking School Whole Foods Market Women's work is never done, but it’s bringing their voices to the table. Lori Willis, LDEI’s dynamic 25th president, is a communications expert in grocery retailing. In 2001, she joined Schnuck Markets, a family-owned company based in St. Louis with 100 stores in five states. She established a communications office, providing expertise in strategic communications; crisis communications; labor/governmental relations; audio/visual production; and trade events. A company spokesperson, Lori merged business acumen with content creation to produce SchnuckTV internal television network. Lori served as communications advisor for The Greater St. Louis Food Employers Council and recently, was tapped to spearhead coordination of a special project, Feeding St. Louis. In a culture of collaboration, she works to meet the special needs of St. Louis families, and help them find the strength to move forward and flourish. Lori affirms, “I enjoy working for a company that is committed to charitable giving and helping to eliminate hunger in our community.” “The food industry has gone through many recent changes,” says Lori. “We continue to adjust to new food legislation, including food labeling and food safety guidelines, as well as the ever-changing needs of a public becoming increasingly knowledgeable about food and beverages. It’s our job, and our privilege, to provide food and beverage education for our customers and teammates.” There is an integral link between food and health. Lori admits it’s a challenge for some customers to change to healthy eating habits. She says, “With the popularity of the Food Network and shows like Dr. Oz, grocers have cheated the learning curve. Customers are becoming more aware of how to eat healthy and look for help in their grocery store. We provide food and nutrition information through our food education program, our chefs, registered dietitians, and pharmacists.” Lori says Schnuck is rising to the occasion by growing private brands across all categories; sourcing globally; and increasing organic, natural, and gluten-free foods. She reports a growing interest in authentic, international foods and renewed interest in home cooking. Lori reveals that grocers enjoy an especially close bond with their customers. “There is a greater level of trust and an emotional connection that develops over food buying. The cooking process almost gives the neighborhood grocer a seat at the family table. With that bond, comes great enjoyment and great responsibility.” A woman’s work is never done, but it seems less like work and more like fun when you’re with empowering, remarkable women like Lori. In 2008, she played a key role in forming the St. Louis Chapter, and is a past president. As the Director of Salud! cooking school in Nashville, Merijoy Lantz Rucker has always said, “No matter how great displays are or how fantastic the food is—if no one knows how to prepare it—it will sit on the shelves.” Classes allow individuals to taste and see items that they might not have tried or might be anxious about preparing. Customarily, students leave the class and go directly into the store and purchase the ingredients they used. Merijoy believes the future will have a different type of cooking student. It appears that students are not so much interested in cooking items that are showstopper recipes as they are cooking healthy for their families. Today’s students want to know the very basics of cooking whether it is how to mash potatoes or make a chocolate cake. Cooking schools conveniently available and open to the public, such as ours, have a great opportunity to appeal to these new cooks. Merijoy says she is proud that the cooking school is able to incorporate all types of students in its classes, and sometimes, it is more than a school. She has met many people and organizations who have inspired her with their work and energized her to do more. This includes: dinners to benefit Walden’s Puddle—a wildlife rescue organization; Visitation Hospital Foundation who built and maintain a hospital in Haiti for mothers and children; hosting students from Youth Villages; and regularly providing classes for the Wounded Warriors Project. Salud! has an active calendar By Susan Slack with classes available five to six days a week. The director plans and coordinates the schedule for content, teaching schedules, and assembles class content for over 50 classes. In addition, she schedules large private events, many for businesses in the area, and private classes and/or team building classes, which range from 12 to 75 hands-on students. Merijoy believes she is a better teacher because of her position. Whether it is shopping, prepping for a class, or enjoying a great meal together, she knows that the school offers the best products available for health, taste, and appearance. However, on a humorous note, she confesses, “It is rather handy to be able to go downstairs in case you forgot the milk.” The most valuable lesson she learned in her career was that “we underestimate our abilities—we can do so much more than we realize and be successful at it.” Merijoy is a person who has a strong interest in promoting everything Southern and the heritage that is part of that, including, the Rucker heirloom peas from her garden which are always in her home freezer. By Dottie Koteski (Philadelphia) Cathy Cochran-Lewis Janice Cox, RD, LD Tiffany Cunningham Sandra Dych (Austin) (Minnesota) (Austin) (Philadelphia) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Global Marketing, Programs Coordinator S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Lunds & Byerlys Corporate Dietitian Whole Foods Market, Inc. National Specialty Administrative Assistant Certified Cheese Professional Whole Foods Market, Inc. Director of Food Product Demonstration 7 Dabney Gough (Hawaii) Cathy Strange (Austin) Global Cheese Buyer Whole Foods Market, Inc. Say “fromage” to Cathy Strange and you’ll get not only a smile but also an education on “coagulated, compressed, and usually ripened, curd of milk separated from the whey”—that is to say “cheese.” As Global Cheese Buyer for Whole Foods Market, with over 410 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Cathy leads a group of talented regional coordinators for the world’s leader in the natural food category. Responsible for purchasing cheese and specialty products—like olives, pasta and meats, she interfaces with internal distribution centers to facilitate getting products to their stores. Cathy travels the world to discover and encourage the world’s great cheesemakers. She helps small producers sustain a profitable business, and also helps to advance the artisanal food movement and to investigate the world’s emergent food trends. Her palate and expertise have been solicited to serve as judge for the American Cheese Society competition, the World Cheese Championships, the U.S. Cheese Championships, the World Cheese Awards, and the British Cheese Awards. Cathy has been recognized by two of the world’s greatest cheesemaking countries. She is the only American and non-Italian ever to receive the “Coltellinod’Oro” from the Consor- Susan Davidson (Seattle) Davidson/Freundlich, Co., Inc., President Publishes Restaurant Briefing 8 tium of Parmigiano Reggiano and has been awarded the French Order of Agricultural Merit. Currently she serves as New World President (representing Mexico, Canada, the United States and Australia) of the distinguished international Guilde des Fromagers de SaintUguzon, the most celebrated association of cheese mongers and specialists in France. Cathy’s career has taken her from kids to “kids”—as in goat cheese. Before joining Whole Foods Market in 1990, she was a certified K-12 teacher. “I moved into sports administration and by chance into the restaurant business with friends when my mother became ill. The passion for individuals around food was and is inspiring. That led me to work with Wellspring Grocery, a small company in North Carolina that was acquired by Whole Foods Market,” said Cathy. Some of the projects of which she is most proud are the education initiative to establish a profession for Whole Foods Market’s cheese mongers through the Certified Cheese Professional program, the trust with their producer partners, the quality of the products for which she’s responsible, and support for traditional production of products—helping individuals make a living through food and agriculture. Says the Austin Chapter’s past president regarding upcoming trends, “Venues in stores will continue to evolve and include breweries. I think there may be award-winning restaurants within a retail environment in the future. Transparency and traceability will also be refined. I am able to say, ‘I have been to our farms that produce the milk for our great cheeses,’ but how do we get this message to the consumer? It will happen so easily that in 10 years, it will be an expectation for all markets. Respect for agriculture will evolve and become a part of understanding food at a higher level for all, not just food professionals. Younger consumers are demanding and knowledgeable, which is great news for all of us in the food industry!” By CiCi Williamson Joan Donatelle (Minnesota) Lund Food Holdings, Inc. Cooking School Director, Culinary Expert Marketing Supervisor Whole Foods Market, Inc. "The emphasis and celebration of innovation that creates excitement" is one of many reasons Dabney Gough absolutely loves working for Whole Foods Market Kailua, located on the beautiful Windward Coast of Oahu. As a marketing team leader, Dabney does all of the marketing for one of the three Hawaii locations of this well-known national chain of stores. Reporting to the store team leader, her job is to coordinate events inside and outside the store, create and nurture community partnerships, lead a team of graphic designers and demo specialists, and work on special projects. After a stint working for the Gap, Dabney followed her true passion into the world of food. Her culinary career began with writing cookbooks and as a catering and marketing manager for BiRite Market in San Francisco. When she moved to Hawaii she worked with Alan Wong, which led her to her current position with Whole Foods Market. The location of her store, Hawaii, gives added incentive to use and promote local products. Whole Foods Market supports local producers and Dabney's store has created the ‘ONO Awards, honoring “delicious” and exceptional products made in Hawaii. Quarterly events for local producers are coordinated and panel discussions take place to exchange ideas on how to better serve the public. Dabney enjoys the "creative freedom and latitude" that she is given, enabling her to dream up "crazy ideas and forge partnerships" with purveyors in the area. This is a win-win for everyone involved, especially the shoppers. The store's customer base is a diverse mix of families, singles, and seniors, as well as a very large Japanese contingency. All of these factors give added fuel to Dabney's imaginative ideas that are employed throughout the store. Another mission of the Whole Foods Market is to work closely with the community. Dabney says the health of their customers is of primary concern and the store continues to educate shoppers. School tours and cooking classes are popular and serve to empower customers to eat healthy. Current trends in the supermarket industry, according to Dabney, include local sourcing, integrity, transparency, gluten-free, and unique offerings like vinyl records. Yes, you heard it here first, vinyl records! By Ann Stratte Susannah FrishmanPhillips (Austin) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Marketing Editor/Global Communications. Erica Hanchey, CCS (San Antonio) H-E-B Central Market Product Development Manager Theresa Kereakes (Nashville) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Store Baker Les Dames d’Escoffier International Elin Hansen (Minnesota) Joan Driggs (Chicago) Category Coordinator, Deli & Bakery Lund Food Holdings, Inc. Editorial Director: Progressive Grocer and Progressive Grocery Independent Stagnito Business Information The great-great-granddaughter of a renowned Icelandic merchant, Elin Hansen, says she is "proud to carry on in the family business." For the past eleven years, Elin's adopted family business has been Lunds & Byerlys, a small upscale chain of 27 stores in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. As a Category Coordinator for Deli and Bakery in the chain’s corporate office, Lund Food Holdings, Inc. (LFHI), Elin works closely with the buyers to promote products of interest at the store level. This is accomplished through special pricing and promotions, display activity and product demonstrations. A self-proclaimed “food enthusiast," it is safe to say that Elin loves her job. She is charged with carrying forward the company philosophy of promoting locally sourced foods. Visiting the deli of a Lunds or Byerly’s store, you will find a plethora of local artisan cheeses and charcuterie. Most every day, you will be able to sample a number of specially selected items chosen by Elin. She is "constantly on the lookout for new products and delights in watching them become successful." It is a goal of Lunds & Byerlys to assist the community towards healthy purchases. A recently launched program, Nourish, has all store departments working with LFHI’s dietitian Janice Cox (Minnesota) to prepare and sample in-store healthy recipes for the consumers. In addition to her daily responsibilities, Elin recently had the lead on a project to revamp the composed salad options for the stores. Elin sees Lunds & Byerlys "moving towards the model of a one-stop shop, whether in store or online." One of her department’s focuses is “figuring out the millennials and how to cater to them." Fortunately this generation “is more interested in cooking on a stovetop than a microwave." Becoming a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier was in the cards for Elin. After college, she had the opportunity to be an editorial intern (stagiaire) at Chateau du Fey with Grande Dame Anne Willan (Los Angeles/Orange County) for six months, working under the guidance of Virginia Willis (Atlanta). After completing a kitchen stage at a Michelin one star as part of her training, Elin remained in France an additional year working as a private chef in Paris. Yes, Elin, your great-greatgrandfather would have been proud! By Ann Stratte Editorial Director Joan Driggs oversees the iconic Progressive Grocer media brand that includes print publications, digital media, industry events, webinars, roundtables, and more. Progressive Grocer Independent, published six times yearly, focuses on the unique needs of independent retailers. Called the “voice of the retail food industry,” Progressive Grocer has been around for more than 90 years. Joan says, “The magazine is dedicated to helping grocery retailers compete at the highest level. The good news is that everyone eats, but today consumers are getting their food from a myriad of sources…competition for the food dollar is fierce. Progressive Grocer is committed to delivering research, tools, and strategies that enable retailers to build and maintain valuable relationships with shoppers.” Joan points out that trade publishing has evolved into numerous moving parts: traditional monthly print magazines; digital editions; newsletters; supporting events; daily digital newsletters; and website content. Joan credits her “tremendously talented team,” for their role in successfully executing all projects and deliverables. Progressive Grocer hosts a number of annual conferences and awards including the Retail Dietitian Symposium, Connected Consumer Summit, and Multicultural 360 Summit. “Our Top Women in Grocery Awards are a huge endeavor, and we host an elegant event to honor our winners,” says Joan. “We are very much a part of the industry we support and strive to stay ahead of what’s next in grocery retail.” Every supermarket wants to carve out a particular niche or emphasis—how it defines itself and what it’s known for. Joan believes the one-size-fits-all mentality is long gone. “Now, it’s all about differentiation…For retailers, the challenge is creating loyalty among shoppers. Joan says of her career path, “There was a time in my career when I felt like more of a meanderer than a climber.” Early on she moved from radio, to satellite broadcasting, to the bottom of the masthead of a food trade magazine. Following a couple of magazine start-ups, Joan reconnected in 2013 with former boss Harry Stagnito at an industry event. She made the switch to his new company, Stagnito Business Information, to begin her current position. The new Chicago Dame reveals, “I’ve had some great experiences…Most people in the industry truly want to serve…I consider myself tremendously lucky to be in a position where I am continually learning and it feels good to be making valuable contributions to the industry. In her spare time, Joan is a consumer of books, wine, and theater. She loves traveling and spending time with family and friends. By Susan Slack Nancy Lazara (Seattle) Metropolitan Markets Director, Private Brands Mary Martini (San Antonio) H-E-B Central Market Cooking School Manager Peg Lee (Houston) H-E-B Central Market Event Liasion/Manager; Retired Cooking School Director Nancy Maurer (Minnesota) Lund Food Holdings, Inc. Chef, Recipe Developer/tester S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Marianne Moore (St Louis) Dierbergs’ Markets, Inc. Creative Director, Culinary Program Barbara Ridenhour Kavita Patel (New York) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Regional Marketing Director Katie Rowe (Austin) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Senior Editor––Integrated Media Team (St. Louis) Dierbergs’ Markets, Inc. Director of Consumer Affairs 9 Linda Flannery (Cleveland) Marilyn Markel (Charleston) Specialty Department Manager Earth Fare Culinary Director Southern Season In her teen years, Linda Flannery developed a new philosophy after discovering food has a positive effect on one’s well-being. She realized nutrition fosters not only your own good health, but that of family, friends, and community. She said, “I whole-heartedly wanted the best for everyone and proclaimed myself “Ambassador of Good Food,” campaigning in a variety of food-based businesses.” The journey ultimately led to her position at Earth Fare, a specialty supermarket devoted to helping customers sustain a healthy life style. Linda is a Specialty Department Manager with an emphasis on artisan cheese, fine wine, craft beer, and organic and Direct Trade Coffee. Linda’s food philosophy reflects that of Earth Fare—known for what they don’t offer: additives like high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors. Linda says laughingly, "My team—all foodies and nearly all women—have cohered into a companionable group that sets the bar high, and can work and talk at the same time!" Linda’s responsibilities include ordering and managing finances, as well as cutting, wrapping, and shelving of packaged cheese. She oversees levels of self-service products like bulk coffee, beans, olives, and frozen, filled pastas. Linda says, “Periodically a new store manager-in-training will spend about a week with me to become familiar with the functions that this 'business within a business' need to implement for success." Linda is vitalized by the vast array of sense-pleasing, colorful, aromatic tastes and textures she is surrounded with. “A great way to spend the day is collaborating on menus, recipes, and taste experiences,” she notes. “It is a delight to watch a customer’s face light up with pleasure with a sip or bite of something unfamiliar—and they trust enough to try.” Linda challenges herself to maximum efficiency of movement—at times, trying to beat the clock. She says to visualize the process, “I get an image of dancing a lively dance while juggling. One must constantly assess and prioritize.” Linda visits food trade shows, gourmet stores, and cheese shops, noting merchandising and positive customer service strategies. She says future trends have buzzwords like traditional, old world, artisan, homemade, and natural. Linda and others who work hard to bring non-fabricated food back to the grocery isles experience public support. “Shopping becomes a symbiotic relationship between those that sell and those who buy," says Linda. “If we all work together. there will be less packaging to end up in the landfill.” Marilyn Markel is the culinary director for Southern Season—a premier destination for specialty foods. About 15 years ago, Marilyn changed careers to pursue her passion for food. Her professional cooking career began at Central Market in Plano, Texas, where she was assistant cooking school manager and a culinary teacher. After two years, she moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to establish CLASS—Culinary Lessons at Southern Season. Marilyn says, “When the company decided to expand, it seemed a natural fit for me to relocate to Charleston because it’s such a great food community.” Now Marilyn is responsible for three Southern Season cooking schools: the flagship store in Chapel Hill; a Mount Pleasant location near downtown Charleston; and another in Richmond, Virginia. The 40,000-square-foot Charleston food emporium includes a worldclass wine selection, 380 types of artisan cheese, a bakery, deli, housewares, restaurant, and cooking school. Additional services like cooking classes, daily tastings, wine events, and celebrity chef appearances add value to the shopper’s in-store experience; help create personal relationships; and provide information about what the store has to offer. The large cooking school, with marble counter tops and a Viking kitchen, seats 48 guests at long tables; the open kitchen is roomy enough for 16 for hands-on classes. Demos are projected on TV screens overhead. Marilyn’s responsibilities include coordinating staff, planning classes and events, and arranging for cookbook signings and visiting chefs. She teaches many classes herself through demonstrations or the By Susan Slack Charlotte Samuel (San Antonio) H-E-B Central Market Culinary Nutritionist 10 Claire Sullivan (Hawaii) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Hawaii Coordinator, Purchasing & Public Affairs Merrilyn Tauscher (Minnesota) Lunds & Byerlys FoodE Expert/Product Development hands-on approach. Marilyn provides an exceptional, personalized experience for each guest and chef. Known for her attention to detail, Marilyn has established her reputation as a top cooking school instructor, inspiring countless home chefs. A member of IACP, she also writes food articles for magazines. In 2013 and 2015, she served as a judge for the James Beard Foundation Cookbook Awards. Marilyn says, “What I love best is the diversity—we cook something different almost every day. We offer healthy classes; a recent offering was meals under 500 calories. I love writing recipes and exploring new flavor combinations.” Marilyn especially likes working with children, local farmers, and with visiting Dames who teach classes. On August 1, Grande Dame Nathalie Dupree (Charleston) will offer a brunch class at 11 a.m. Sarah Graham (Charleston) was Marilyn’s assistant manager when the store first opened. Marilyn adds, “I learn so much from my own staff and visiting chefs.” Southern Season promotes “enthusiasm for great food, passion for the art of entertaining, and a belief in Southern hospitality.” Marilyn concludes, “There are more budding foodies today and that trend will continue. It’s now cool to be into food.” By Susan Slack Karen Vanarsdel (Nashville) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Culinary Instructor Juliette Webb (Nashville) Whole Foods Market, Inc. Culinary Educator/Food Stylist Les Dames d’Escoffier International Lynn Logg (Philadelphia) Corporate Chef Wakefern Food Corporation-ShopRite As Corporate Chef of Wakefern Food Corporation-ShopRite, each year Lynn Logg devotes time on a project that she is most proud of doing. ShopRite is a big supporter of the New York City Food & Wine Festival and as such, hosts “The Grand Tasting-ShopRite” event. Lynn manages all the menus and logistics for the tasting, which is held over three days and attended by approximately 12,000. She states, “It’s an incredible effort, supported by her wonderfully talented culinary team.” Her initial responsibility at ShopRite was the management of hands-on cooking classes in 40 stores, which provided value to customers and stores. These hands-on programs, presented by a chef and a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), have become a win-win situation. Presently, they have around 115 RDs who develop their own community-based programs, which focus on the company-wide nutrition/health and wellness initiatives. Lynn’s scope of responsibility has been enlarged and enriched to include the development of the company’s corporate catering program which entails: financial growth, menu development, program development, marketing, and training. The company envisions that their new “go to market” strategy will lead to more success and that the next big deliverable for its membership will be a catering training program and onsite catering coordinators at retail. The goal is to build a team in the stores to focus on catering sales. The best advice Lynn received was from a sous chef whom she worked with very early in her career. “He told me that you need to walk before you run when it comes to cooking.” Learning that there is a process and a need to master the basics was great advice that Lynn applied in culinary school and during her kitchen years in both in-and-off premises catering, and when she moved into management positions for a family owned, high-end gourmet retail marketer. Along the way, with promotions and extensive experiences in the field, she accepted new roles and acquired additional knowledge and perspectives in the distribution segments, including those as a brands manager. One of Lynn’s personal goals is to develop a culinary curriculum in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America or another youth organization. She hopes to give their members the skills they need to shop for healthy ingredients and prepare affordable good-for-you meals for themselves and their families. Lynn is on the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter as its corresponding secretary; she became a member in 2012. By Dottie Koteski S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 L-R: Satomi Goo, Dabney Gough, Dorothy Colby, and a Whole Foods assistant. L-R: Hawaii Dames Soleil Fusha, Lori Wong, Dianne Vicheinrut, Kay Tokunaga, and Hayley Matson-Mathes. Kathi Saks prepares for a pesto demonstration. L-R: Pamela Boyar and Jan Yap—chair of Hawaii’s Food Day project. Cheryl To, the owner of PacifiKool (ginger syrup), demonstrates refreshing drinks made from ginger. Photos by Hayley Matson-Mathes Food, Fitness, and Fun in Hawaii By Jan Yap (Hawaii) All around the demonstration tables little hands held up tiny cups. The kindergarteners shouted, "More green smoothies please!" and "This was my best day at school." Another child, after eating a new food said, "I've never tasted ulu [breadfruit] before!" As part of the Green Tables Initiative, the Hawaii Chapter ushered in Food Day 2014 with a Food, Fitness, and Fun Day, on October 17 at King Liholiho Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Out on the field, PE teachers moved students through parachute games, obstacle courses, aerobics, and relays. Inside, Dames shared food samples based on produce the kids had grown in their class garden beds (and hoped to grow again). The Dames taught the students how to cook, eat, and enjoy fruits and vegetables. An ulu tree hanging with fruit in the school courtyard inspired Chef Matt Young and Dianne Vicheinrut, general manager of Hula Grill, Waikiki to create baked ulu fries with cilantro-coconut dipping sauce. Chefs Kathi Saks and Jenny Johnson added sundried tomatoes to basil and spinach for a delicious pesto spread, which Dorothy Colby served atop Kathy Matsunaga’s Sweet Revenge focaccia. Culinary consultants Kay Tokunaga, Soleil Fusha, and Lori Wong guided students as they squeezed honey-mustard, ranch and green goddess dressings onto miniature lettuce and tomatoes. "I didn't know you could make your own salad dressing," commented a child. There was an embarrassment of healthy drinks. Students couldn't get enough of Cheryl To's refreshing Pacifickool ginger drinks. Farmers’ market organizer Pamela Boyer, and Liholiho's wellness teacher Jan Yap had dueling Vitamixes of green smoothies whirling as they competed to whip up the next batch for the hungry children. Dames showed the students how to take curly kale and dinosaur kale, then add spinach and banana to make breakfast. For dessert, Whole Foods Marketing Director Dabney Gough added local mangoes and papaya to sweetened chia seed pudding. Satomi Goo of the Tea Chest helped pass out the pudding. The kids loved it! In addition to the talented chefs, many more hands came together to make Food Day a success: food purveyors and Possie Badham and Tish Uyehara supplied specialty ingredients for the tastings, and Hayley Matson-Mathes, current LDEI Third Vice President, volunteered as official photographer. Jocelyn McCann's generous donation of her restaurant kitchen at Eat Honolulu gave the Dames time and space to do food prep. The event was partially funded by singer Jack Johnson's Kokua Hawaii Foundation in appreciation for a Food Day publicity table hosted by the Dames at his Honolulu summer concert. Jack also provided a stipend for Chef Matt Young through Chef's in the School—part of their garden and nutrition school initiative, Aina in Schools. Food, Fun and Fitness 2014 was a hit! The kids at Liholiho School, from kindergarten to fifth grade, fearlessly ate tomatoes and joyfully sampled cilantro while building good eating habits and creating tasty memories. 11 Escoffier Master Chef Escoffier with Eugène Herbodeau and personnel in kitchen of the London Carlton Hotel. Looking Back on a Legacy By Susan Slack (Charleston) In 1835, French historian Alexis de Tocqueville took note of the American propensity to form associations. He wrote, “Individual powers working in concert could accomplish more than when working in isolation.” Les Dames d’ Escoffier International’s collective accomplishments are making history, and it is vital to record them through written documentation in the Quarterly magazine. Our historical records measure LDEI’s growth and development, and they are informative and educational to our members, our communities, and to historians. The Quarterly archive dates back to 2001 and is housed at www.ldei.com—an invaluable repository of LDEI records. From time-totime, a review of past issues helps us understand that we are part of a still-unfolding story and something larger than ourselves. A look back at the fall 2006 issue reveals a terrific six-page article, “Focus on Auguste Escoffier,” by Barbara Tober (New York). Known as the “King of Chefs and Chef of Kings,” he is the namesake of Les Dames d'Escoffier International. In her article, Barbara addressed the significance of Escoffier’s influence on LDEI and affirmed, “To celebrate the Great Man is a worthy goal for our organization.” Carol Mighton Haddix (Chicago) reported on the “enlightened” Escoffier panel discussion that highlighted the Chicago Chapter’s 25th anniversary celebration. You can read meaningful narratives from several Dames on their con- nection to Escoffier including: Annie Boutin-King (Washington), Dolores Snyder (Dallas), and Betty Fussell (New York). Former Quarterly Editor June Hayes (San Antonio) covered Escoffier’s cookbooks, still referenced today, and how they were influential to Dames. Jane Mengenhauser (Washington) reviewed The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine —an entertaining tale about outdoorsman Steven Rinella’s walk-on-the-wild-side to assemble esoteric wild game for a classic, 45-course Escoffier feast. Barbara’s excellent feature is as relevant today as it was nine years ago, and if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend pulling it up at the LDEI archive. Escoffier chats with protégé Eugène Herbodeau—the Carlton Hotel's cuisine de chef after Escoffier's 1920 retirement. Herbodeau and Chef Paul Thalamas were Ecoffier's literary executors and co-wrote his biography. Lithograph of the chic Café Riche kitchens in Paris, 1865, which resemble the famous Parisian Restaurant du Petit Moulin Rouge where Escoffier worked after apprenticeship. 12 Les Dames d’Escoffier International Surtout Fait Simple; Keep it Simple! The contributions of Georges Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935 are as relevant today as they were 100 years ago. A visionary, he restructured the professional hotel kitchen and simplified the canons of haute cuisine. Subsequent to service in the FrancoPrussian War as chef de cuisine at Rhine Army Headquarters, Escoffier directed the kitchens of Europe’s greatest luxury hotels during the Belle Époque, e.g., Hôtel Ritz Paris, and London’s Savoy, and Carlton. Organization was also Escoffier’s métier; he restructured the brigade de cuisine system, basing it on militarystyle hierarchy with a top-to-bottom chain of command. Culinary tasks were codified and delegated to specialists within stations, like an assembly line. Escoffier’s kitchens resembled a well-run military unit with discipline, teamwork, professionalism, and grace under fire. Fine restaurants still adapt these principles for their kitchen production systems. Escoffier ran a tight ship, banning smoking and alcohol. His grandfather taught him the importance of savoir vivre; in turn, he required good manners, cleanliness, and pride in appearance from his brigade. According to his greatgrandson Michel Escoffier, "He introduced the hat and neckerchief to prevent sweat drops from dropping into the preparation." Escoffier phased out extravagant French service (à la français), rooted in medieval tradition. For each course of a formal meal (usually two or three), a large assemblage of dishes was arranged over the table at once time. A maître-d’hôtel organized the event; cooks were back-of-the-house players in a secondary role. Escoffier came to prefer Russian service (à la russe) with eight to ten courses (of one or two dishes), served in sequential order. A waiter passed each course, placing a portion of food on the diner’s plate. Or individual plates might be filled and served from the kitchen. Flamboyant table displays and excessive food garnishes were out. Escoffier elevated menu writing to a fine art. The 19th century restaurant reviewer Nathaniel Newnham-Davis wrote, “…had he [Escoffier] been a man of the pen and not a man of the spoon, he would have been a poet.” Escoffier considered the menu, always in French, “a summary of the cook's work and programme for the gourmand." With hotelier César Ritz, he introduced prix fixe and à la carte menus—a novelty in luxury hotels at the time. Escoffier’s improvements meant less complicated menus, faster meal service, and lighter dishes reflecting his favorite guiding principle: surtout fait simples—“above all, keep it simple.” Did you know that August Escoffier is credited for creating a steak sauce, the olive pit remover, and a potato slicer? Monsieur Dario dell' Antonia, former President of Musée Escoffier de l’Art Culinaire, shared these facts with BC Dame Cate Simpson in an interview in the winter Quarterly 2007, page 12. The Quarterly editor would like to thank Lori Willis, Mary Chamberlin, the Escoffier Foundation and Museum, Sarah Larson (Triumph Education), and the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts for photos and other contributions. S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Musée Escoffier de L'Art Culinaire August Escoffier’s birthplace in Villeneuve-Loubet on the French Riviera is now a museum dedicated to his life and career. It houses a library, culinary artifacts including sugar and chocolate sculptures, culinary equipment, and priceless ephemera like the room-size collection of rare Escoffier menus, many beautifully illustrated. They are a rich resource for learning about Europe’s social and cultural history. Michel Escoffier is President of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation and the Escoffier museum. Escoffier’s kitchen: decorated chaud-froid presentation. In the brigade system, he separated the garde manger station from the hot line. He identified guard manger’s basic cold sauces and named many garnitures used in cold food presentation. In 1914, Escoffier samples Christmas puddings before sending them to the French soldiers during World War 1. Chef Escoffier consults with kitchen staff. To Monsieur Escoffier: A handwritten note of thanks from Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba in 1914 for creating Pêche Melba. He created Melba Toast for her (when she was dieting) and Pêche Melba (for the times she was not). The same year Escoffier forms a committee to assist families of chefs sent to war. 13 Escoffier The Legacy Continues Every autumn, LDEI chapters host a whirlwind month of dinners and celebrations honoring Escoffier’s October 28th birthday, his life, and achievements. The London Chapter is busy planning a 2015 Escoffier dinner at the historic Institute of Directors. It is owned by the Crown Estate and is a landmark of London’s great Georgian Heritage. Sue Carter (London) says it’s located almost directly across from where the Carlton Hotel once stood. This is where Escoffier first added Pêche Melba to a menu. More news from Sue: London’s newest honorary member, Chef Kim Woodward, has been appointed head chef at the Savoy Hotel. “She is the first woman chef in the history of the Savoy Hotel to reach such a position, thus breaking the Pyrex ceiling!” Exciting, indeed! Escoffier’s great-grandson, London resident Michel Escoffier, stays actively involved with many of LDEI’s events. Born in Paris, he is a former telecommunications executive who spent years in Tunisia and Morocco with the World Bank and the United Nations. His extensive travels fostered an acute awareness of the legacy left by his great-grandfather, which led him to work with partners to develop a multimedia professional culinary education program. LDEI President Lori Willis said, “August Escoffier’s commitment to lifelong learning and teaching influenced some of the greatest names in culinary history and helped shape the way we imagine our family recipes today.” Michel follows in his footsteps by mentoring and providing support to future culinarians. In April 2010, he entered into an historic affiliation with the Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum, and with Triumph Higher Education Group who launched the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and the Escoffier Online International Culinary Academy. Michel is also active with other nonprofits bearing the Escoffier name—Les Dis- ciples d’Escoffier worldwide, and Les Amis d’Escoffier. For his ongoing contributions, he was inducted into ACF’s American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame. Auguste Escoffier’s influence endures, in part, to his masterwork Le Guide Culinaire (1903), a repository of classical techniques, 5,000 recipes penned in chef's narrative shorthand, and invaluable historical information. Escoffier trained over 2,000 chefs and he wanted Le Guide to be a useful kitchen “tool.” As you peruse Escoffier’s seminal work, you’ll soon realize the path to learning has just begun In 1996, Michel published an account of his great-grandfather’s life: Auguste Escoffier: Memories of My Life by Auguste Escoffier (John Wiley & Sons). Laurence Habert Escoffier, Michel’s late wife, translated it into English. The Monterey Chapter holds her memory in high regard, voting yearly to maintain her posthumous membership. Mary Chamberlin (Monterey) graciously provided copies of the memoir for chapters during the St. Louis Conference. From Escoffier to Today: St. Louis Celebrates! The St. Louis Chapter hosted a special dinner last October at the Restaurant at the Cheshire for 55 members of the food community. Guests of honor were restaurateur/Executive Chef Karen Mitcham-Stoeckley (St. Louis), coauthor of A Culinary Legacy from Escoffier to Today, and Michel Escoffier, historian and museum curator. Executive Chef Rex Hale prepared a five-course Escoffier meal St Louis Chapter Escoffier dinner at Restaurant at the Cheshire: L-R Front Row: Michel Escoffier and Karen MitchamStoeckley. Back Row: Chef Rex Hale and LDEI President Lori Willis. Photo by Curt Dennison. Michel Escoffier with culinary students. Photo: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Art. honoring Michel’s great grandfather and Karen’s journey in discovering her own very special connection. When she was 18, Karen discovered a dusty recipe ledger— written in French— in a handmade trunk in the family’s attic. The recipes belonged to her paternal grandfather, Axel M. Blumensaadt, who traveled from Denmark to France to study French cuisine when he was 16-years-old. Fast-forward fifty years—Karen was ready to translate the recipes and write a cookbook so she moved to a medieval village in Provence for six months. It was a place she loved and had visited many times. There she met Executive Chef Max Callegari who, with great enthusiasm, became her co-author. As they translated the recipes, Max began to suspect that young Alex had studied with 19th century Master Chef Auguste Escoffier. In the quest for proof, Karen met with Michel Escoffier who confirmed the theory after careful investigation. Karen’s grandfather had been a culinary student of Michel’s great grandfather! Michel gave his stamp of approval by offering to write the book’s foreward. The Provençal recipes from Culinary Legacy are translated and updated for today’s chefs. The book transcends time, connecting the 100-year-old recipes of a young Escoffier-trained chef of the late 1800s to the culinary endeavors of his granddaughter, a classically trained chef of Provence in the 21st century. Karen Mitcham-Stoeckley’s special dinner in Louisana, Missouri, celebrated the April launch of her new cookbook. Michel Escoffier, Dames, journalists, and collegues gathered around a handmade red oak table for a multicourse meal. As they dined, guests listen to music from Provence, and Michel shared family history and his views of culinary arts then and now. Karen’s Pine Nut Tart. Photos by Curt Dennison. 14 Les Dames d’Escoffier International Devany Vickery-Davidson Devany Vickery-Davidson Charleston Church. Wisteria Bridge. (L-R): Charleston Chapter President Jennifer Goldman and Conference Chair Paige Canaday Crone Carla Hall Keynote Speaker It is fitting and proper that Les Dames d’Escoffier gather for their annual conference in the “Culinary Capital of the South.” Established in 1670, the port city of Charleston has been a mecca of luxury goods. The good life was celebrated with all that was legal and much that was illegal—bringing us to our Prohibition-era theme of Doin’ the Charleston! With the Charleston Chapter’s refrain of “come early, stay late,” much has been planned with this calendar in mind. Take a front row seat and explore all the treasures this historic peninsula has to offer. Optional pre-conference tours include travel to America’s only tea garden and working plantation in the Lower Forty-Eight. Or cast your net with waterman Mark Marhefka of Abundant Seafood and shrimper Cindy Tarvin for a Shem Creek sustainable seafood experience. Bring your green thumb to GrowFood Carolina and tour DirtWorks incubator farm, or if history is your muse, travel back in time and tour McCrady’s Restaurant—still serving after 227 years. McCrady’s historianin-residence will feed your passion for the past with an insider’s look at a 1740s kitchen and the HeywardWashington House (guess who slept there?). For those Dames NOT attending the Leadership Forum, a full-day seminar takes place at the 18th century rice plantation home of the Middleton family. A scholarly discussion of Carolina Gold Rice will be led by Dr. David Shields, Professor of Southern Letters, and Glenn Roberts—a visionary and heirloom-grain cultivator. Read more about the event on the back cover of this Quarterly issue. Explore the Gullah/ Geechee heritage, unique to South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, with native tour guide Alfonso Brown—author of The History Press bestseller, A Gullah Guide To Charleston. Gather together as the opening reception sets the stage for Autumn Affair, the annual fundraiser of the Charleston Chapter that takes place at Lowndes Grove Plantation. Majestically set along the banks of S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 the Ashley River, Lowndes Grove is an original King’s Grant property and only surviving plantation on the Charleston Peninsula. This optional event celebrates the local food and wine culture with a silent auction designated for scholarship funds. LDEI President Lori Willis, on Friday morning, officially opens our conference with a “Hootie Hoo” to Dame Carla Hall, co-host of “The Chew,” and a “Top Chef ” competitor, entrepreneur, author, and passionate health and wellness advocate. Then gather your toolkit for two days, which will be saturated with History, Hospitality and How-To. Friday ends with a classic Lowcountry Boil and Pig Roast at Brittlebank Park where the Ashley River flows to meet the Cooper River on their journey to the Atlantic Ocean. Rise and shine as we gather for the Green Tables Breakfast and breakout sessions aligned with the 3H’s of Doin’ the Charleston. Lunch not only restores but the Legacy Awards Luncheon celebrates that which we do best: honor LDEI’s investment in tomorrow’s leadership by educating, mentoring, and informing for today. Then it’s off to the salons for reinventions and brand building; changing landscapes in craft beverages and social media; and conversations grounded in the Southern region—the place, the people, and the food. On Saturday evening, it’s time for the Dames who soar to become the flappers who roar as we celebrate during our Roaring Twenties-fashioned, Grande Dame Awards Dinner and Banquet. Come Sunday morning, no worries—we won’t leave you high and dry! If you stay a while longer, we’ll arrange a proper send-off of Bloody Marys and Biscuits sweetened by the warm embrace of Charleston-hospitality and your sister Dames. Paige Crone, Chair Jennifer Goldman, President Deidre Schipani, Advisory Committee Susan Slack, Plantation Tour By Ann Stratte (Washington) Carla Hall will be the keynote speaker for the Charleston conference. Carla is a co-host of ABC’s popular lifestyle series “The Chew,” seated alongside restaurateurs and “Iron Chef America” stars Mario Batali and Michael Symon; entertaining expert Clinton Kelly; and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz. Carla is best known as a competitor on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” where she won over audiences with her fun catch phrase, “Hootie Hoo” and her philosophy to always cook with love. Carla’s approach to cooking blends her classic French training and Southern upbringing for a twist on traditional favorites. She is committed to health and balance in everyday living. Carla has been a member of the Washington Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier since 2000, and she is also a member of the New York Chapter. 15 ry a n li u C n ia d n I f o g An Evenin ge n a h c x E l a r u lt u C d n Education a argret organized ughout the world, M Archna ro th s ce en native Chef n (Atl an ta ) the event with Indian regional cuisines and B y Su za nn e B row of r to s uc til str Becker, an in are 65 varieties of len of Atlanta. Did you know there of Bhojanic restaurants e ink th th u of r yo ne en ow wh d, An short presentation indigenous to India? d Indian ssador Kumar gave a un ba aro Am ed ap dr ly nt ga wed by a fashbeautiful saris ele e history of India follo ends of Mrs. be surprised to th uld on wo u yo are s ce d four fri women, chan ling to certain parts ion show that include ve tra en wh s—who ht sig in find none women’s Kumar—all from different region in le ro nt rta po im e traditional atof India. Saris play an traditional d and talked about th of ele es od typ m r he ot are nd. fashion, but there gant, tire from their homela ltural exchange porlwar kameez––an ele cu al, , on attire such as the sha ion ati dit uc After the ed er slacks. Food, tra es were able to fully m Da , long, brocade tunic ov d ing an en , ev e ion th reg of to n tio ion reg m of regional and culture differ fro d new insights into the the sumptuous array ate eci pr ap ine ga es all portions of the the Atlanta Dam nes. They arranged sm dia during their isi In cu of dites tas d an rs, mpartmentalized, tra history, flavo prepared dishes in co itiative (GCI) event: est In ici sp ary e th lin th Cu wi al ob ng rti Gl recent uth, East, tional Indian plates––sta So , rth No e th m rt. fro gu cool flavor of yo “Culinary Heritage and ending with the India.” a’s and West Regions of di e Brown is a former ed an evening of In Editor’s note: Suzann nt and founding The Dames experienc me of Indian Ambaseside the ho LDEI international pr ary Initiative. culinary heritage at ar and his m Ku lin it Cu Aj al ral ob ne Gl Ge chair of the sador and Consul an who has ari lin cu A ar. m Ku wife, Margret audial dinners for global presented education THIS PAGE: L-R: Margret Kumar shows Stacy Zeigler, Dale DeSena, and Sandra Bank how to fill small puris––thin, crisp hollow puffs. Ashley Mitchell displays her meal. To enjoy the taste and flavor of each dish, Indian food is best served in separate sections. Ashley Mitchell, Angie Mosier, and Nancy Erickson fill their nine-compartment dinner plates with Indian specialties. OPPOSITE PAGE: Murukku––savory, crunchy Indian snacks. Ambassador Kumar, Margret Kumar, Chef Archna Becker, and Suzanne Brown at the Atlanta GCI cultural event. Dames enjoy the display of beautiful Indian garments. Dames and guests sample the addictive Indian appetizers and snacks. A variety of pulses, including beans, lentils and peas. Photos by Travis S. Taylor, Atlanta Out of Africa: Foodways of the Gullah-Geechee Culture By Susan Slack (Charleston) The Global Culinary Initiative helps Dames to explore global cultures and food customs and to examine how these influences take on culinary relevance in our own countries,” says Global Culinary Initiative Chair Sandy Hu (San Francisco). “In Charleston we'll have a unique opportunity to trace West and Central African foodways through the extraordinary contributions of slaves.” The Gullah-Geechee peoples—called Gullah in the Carolinas and Geechee in Georgia and Northern Florida—are one of the oldest, surviving African cultures in the U.S. Their enslaved ancestors, of various ethnic groups, were brought from Africa to work on coastal plantations and the Sea Islands—a cluster of barrier islands along the Eastern coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Through isolation, their diverse traditions blended into a hybrid AfricanAmerican culture with strong African characteristics evident today. South Caro16 Charleston artist Jonathan Green. Chef Matthew Raiford. Chef Kevin Mitchell. Photo by Jonathan Boncek. lina’s rice-based economy made it one of the richest colonies in the eighteenth century; Charleston was one of the wealthiest cities and the most fashionable. Slave chefs and cooks played an important role in shaping Lowcountry cuisine, infusing it with African ingredients and preparation methods. This session looks at the building blocks of Gullah-Geechee cuisine: Caribbean influences, cooking techniques; seasonings; African heritage foods like benne (sesame), field peas, and okra; and abundant local ingredients like seafood and grits. Our expert panel members have deep, abiding connections to Gullah-Geechee culinary traditions. Jonathan Green, a nationally acclaimed and awarded professional artist, begins the conversation with an overview of the historical connection the GullahGeechee have to West Africa. Jonathan was raised in a small Lowcountry community near the S.C. Sea Islands where his grandparents were independent rice farmers. He graduated with a degree from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1982, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 1996. The book, Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green, was published in the same year. Head of the nonprofit Lowcountry Rice Culture Project, Jonathan’s humanitarian and civic contributions are extensive. He explores the history of Carolina Gold Rice in the exhibition, Unenslaved: Rice Culture Paintings. Jonathan sees the world through the eyes of an artist, splashing images with bold, vivid colors and intricate patterns. Writer Pat Conroy writes in Gullah Images, “The Gullah people depicted in Jonathan Green's world look like they got dressed while staring at rainbows.” CheFarmer Matthew Raiford grew up eating Reezy Peezy (Sea Island red peas and rice), Tomato Pilau, and Hoppin’ Les Dames d’Escoffier International Leveraging Brock Circle Helps Differentiate LDEI from Other Organizations By Lori Willis (St. Louis) John—heritage dishes that descended from African slave kitchens. The Coastal Georgia chef/farmer will discuss agricultural contributions of Africans in the Lowcountry and share his culinary expertise on various components of Gullah-Geechee cooking from “the roots up.” Matthew is a proponent of the seed-to-table movement; his mantra is, “fresh, organic, and local.” He and his sister, Althea Raiford, are the sixth generation to own certified, organic Gillard Farm. Located near Brunswick, it was established by their third great-grandfather in 1874. The siblings are testing strains of Carolina Gold Rice and the original southern peanut—introduced by Africans to North America in the 1700s. Mathew graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and has a certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC Santa Cruz and The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. The culinary training of Chef Kevin E. Mitchell, CEC, BCA, CFSE, ACE, began in his grandmothS U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 er’s kitchen cleaning collards, spinach, and kale; it was completed at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, where he earned two degrees. Kevin is chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston within Trident Technical College. His work embraces delicate French cuisine, yet reveals sumptuous soul food flair. Kevin discussion will include the development of Charleston’s Gullah cuisine, its influences, ingredients and dishes. “Trident Tech has an enduring interest in Gullah culture,” says Marion Sullivan (Charleston). In 2009, Kevin ran a test kitchen at the college for Chef Charlotte Jenkins’ acclaimed cookbook, Gullah Cuisine. In April, he was chef-coordinator for Nat Fuller’s Feast, the illustrious re-creation of an 1865 Charleston banquet hosted by African-American chef Nat Fuller at his restaurant, The Bachelor’s Retreat. It was the first occasion to bring black and white patrons together to break bread and celebrate the Civil War’s end. The Board convened an ad hoc panel of Brock Circle members to brainstorm concepts as a first step in determining where Brock Circle funds could be invested in keeping with the mission to enhance conference education and beyond to the benefit of the greater membership. Carol Brock (New York); Patty Erd (Chicago); Mary Ellen Griffin (New York); Suzanne Brown (Atlanta); and Alice G. Forman (Seattle) joined me with Immediate Past President Beth Allen (New York) to weigh in on the issue. We came up with some very promising ideas. The brainstorm gave rise to a strong interest in branding, public relations, and social media centered around Annual Conference, professional development, workshops, and demonstrations. The ideas include: earned education credit at colleges and universities, new chapter development, greater leveraging of our heritage programs (Legacy, M.F.K. Fisher, Global Culinary Initiative, Green Tables) and more. Some ideas can and, in some cases, are being addressed within the normal operating budget. Others seem perfect for the fund, but will likely take some time. But, our diligence will pay off. As Past President Suzanne Brown said, “Objectives, strategies, and tactics for the Brock Circle funds will give us the tools needed to better market and differentiate LDEI from other culinary organizations”. In keeping with the trust placed in the Board to manage the fund, we are working very carefully and deliberately to determine where the money is best spent and where it can do the most good—for the most people. Currently, we are looking into partnerships for professional development among our members and educational opportunities that will add meaningful experiences at Conference, which can be shared across the entire membership. At some point, we will reach out to the full Brock Circle membership for their thoughts. In the meantime, if you are a member and would like to weigh in with ideas, please email me at lwillis@schnucks.com with the subject line, “BC BIG IDEA.” As a reminder, current guidelines dictate that we spend only 40 percent of funds collected annually. That amount varies greatly and is slowly growing over time. I am pleased to report that Brock Circle currently has 44 members (including chapters); it is strong and growing. If you, or your chapter, hope to join us in creating lasting legacies through the Brock Circle, please access the Brock Circle information online at LDEI.org or call Greg Jewell and request a form. We thank all of our current members and for those who have not yet made the decision to join, please know that the more the fund grows, the more we increase our opportunities to connect and make a difference. 17 Fifth generation winemaker, Karl D. Wente. First varietally labeled Chardonnay in America: Wente Bros Pinot Chardonnay 1936. Dame Carolyn Wente with her family. Photo by Sam Harnack 18 Where would Chardonnay be today without the Wente family? No other California winemaking family has had a greater impact on the wine world than the Wente family headed by founder Carl H. Wente. Their singular focus on producing world-class wines and their willingness to share their knowledge with their neighbors, helped make Chardonnay the world’s best-selling wine. The family’s connection with Chardonnay began more than 130 years ago when second generation winegrower Ernest Wente persuaded his father Carl H. Wente to import cuttings from the vine nursery at the University of Montpellier in France. Around the same time, Ernest Wente also sourced budwood from the Gier Vineyard in Pleasanton. He planted these two sources in his family’s Livermore Valley vineyard, and over the next 30-40 years, selected vines that showed the most favorable traits, which he replanted to establish the Wente clone of Chardonnay. After the repeal of the National Prohibition Act (Volstead Act) in 1933, Herman and Ernest Wente released the nation’s first varietally labeled Chardonnay, a 1936 vintage from these early plantings. Over the succeeding years, Ernest continued to upgrade the Wente planting, establishing a name as owner of the finest Chardonnay vineyards in California. In the 1940s and ’50s, winegrowers throughout the state, such as Stony Hill vineyard, selected cuttings from Ernest. In 1960, things really exploded for the Wente family. The Guide Michelin, the renowned French wine and food publication, reprinted a Los Angeles Times review that called Wente Chardonnay the finest white wine in America, equal to the great white wines of France. This helped establish the Wente Family as “California’s First Family of Chardonnay.” Today, Carl H. Wente’s great-great-grandson and fifth generation winemaker, Karl D. Wente, continues to pay homage to his family legacy by producing classic and elegant styles of Chardonnay from the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. And as California’s First Family of Chardonnay, Wente Vineyards celebrates National Chardonnay Day every year in May. Open to the public, this year’s event on May 21 will draw consumers from Livermore Valley and the surrounding Bay Area to the winery to taste the portfolio of Wente Chardonnays and toast to the number one selling wine varietal in the U.S. Les Dames d’Escoffier International Chardonnay grapes from estate vineyards. Founder Carl H. Wente. Fifth generation winegrower, Karl D. Wente examines the Chardonnay vines. “Chardonnay really is an amazing grape that grows well throughout many regions in California, each with its own distinct regional characteristics,” says Karl Wente. “In fact, it is perhaps the grape where the winemaker has the most influence in defining style.” On National Chardonnay Day, Wente Vineyards will highlight four different styles of Chardonnay. The Nth Degree Chardonnay, is crafted from select blocks which receive the utmost care and attention and are farmed to “the S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Nth degree.” It is a full-bodied Chardonnay with aromas of ripe apple, apricot, and nutmeg. Small Lot Eric’s Chardonnay, named after Karl’s father, is fermented and aged in stainless steel and does not undergo malolactic fermentation to create a great balance between fruit and acidity. The Morning Fog Chardonnay, named for the morning coastal fog pushed by Pacific wind streams into the bowl of the San Francisco Bay, offers tropical fruit that is balanced by vanilla and a touch of toasty oak. The Riva Ranch Single Vineyard Chardonnay comes from the single vineyard Riva Ranch in Arroyo Seco and is a beautifully rich, yet balanced style of Chardonnay. “As California’s First Family of Chardonnay, we have a long history of working with other wineries that have been using the Wente clone since we developed it,” says Carolyn Wente, fourth generation winegrower and CEO. I think my great-grandfather would be proud to see my family’s continued commitment to passing on what we inherited to the next generation.” 19 chapter NEws Janet Burgess (LA/OC) Atlanta | Austin | Birmingham | Boston | British Columbia, Canada | Charleston | Chicago Cleveland/Northeast Ohio | Colorado | Dallas | Hawaii | Houston | Kansas City/Heart of America London, England | Los Angeles/Orange County | Miami | MINNESOTA | Monterey Bay Area | NASHVILLE New York | Northeast | Palm Springs | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio | San Diego San Francisco | Seattle | St. Louis | Washington ATLA NTA Gayle Skelton It has been quite an exciting first quarter for our Atlanta Chapter. We kicked the year off in January with our annual Culinary Futures event, hosted at AmericasMart. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, savored delicious tastings by some of Atlanta's finest chefs, and raised more than $20,000 toward our scholarships to further the education of high school culinary students. L-R: Atlanta Dames Barb Pires (Secretary), Tamie Cook (VP Philanthropy), Holly Chute (VP Programs), Shelley Pedersen, CPCE (Past President), Gloria Smiley (Treasurer) and Gayle Skelton, CPCE (President), inducted at the January chapter meeting. Jordan Fessehaie, 2014 Aspiring Culinarian Award Scholarship Recipient, and Dame Mary Moore at Culinary Futures, which raised $20,000 toward the scholarship.Photos by Mr. Travis S. Taylor, Atlanta Later in January, we celebrated our first chapter meeting of 2015 with a New Year of Food, Friends, and Learning. The Georgian Club provided a gorgeous setting as we recognized the service of our outgoing board and committee members, and welcomed our new leadership. In February, Dames were in full force at the Georgia Organics 18th Annual Conference & Expo. Mary Moore, Cook's Warehouse; Rebecca Lang, Southern Living; and Tamie Cook, Tamie Cook Culinary Productions, LLC, led the culinary sessions and were featured on the Georgia Organics blog The Daily Dirt. For our March chapter meeting, 10th Anniversary Dinner & a Movie, Cathy Conway and Jenn Robbins of Avalon Catering provided a lovely film-inspired French meal. Synchronicity Theater, founded by four women, was the perfect venue to screen our feature film The Cheese Nun. It is the story of Mother Noella Marcellino, O.S.B., an American Benedictine nun who earned her doctorate in microbiology and studied cheese in France on a Fulbright Scholarship. Birmingham Martha Johnston Birmingham Dames took a bike ride through the historic Norwood neighborhood in downtown Birmingham on March 15. After working up an appetite, everyone gathered at Little Savannah Restaurant for a potluck brunch hosted by Maureen Holt. The Champagne was chilled and the chips nice and crispy when Pardis Stitt hosted fellow Dames at Café Bottega on March 16 for a visit with Martine Saunier (San Francisco) of Martine's Wines. She 20 shared stories from her life growing up in France, living in California, starting a wine importing company and everything in between. There was no doubt as to why she is the subject of two documentaries: A Year in Burgundy and A Year in Champagne, which was released in early March. Taste testing and photography Martine Saunier (San Francisco) joins the Birmingham Dames for have begun. We are partnerChampagne at Café Bottega. ing with The Community Birmingham Dames Gia McCollisFood Bank of Central Alabama ter (L) and Jan Gautro (R) welcome to produce a pamphlet to be Martine Saunier. distributed to Food Bank clients focused on kid-friendly snacks and main dishes children can prepare during the summer when school lunches aren’t available. The goal is to distribute it in the last backpack distribution of this school year according to committee members Brooke Bell, Jan Gautro, Ana Kelly, Angela Schmidt, Becky Stayner, Susan Swagler, and Rachel West. During Food Media South, Birmingham Dames held a pop-up event at Alabama Booksmith on February 27 to welcome Charleston Grand Dame Nathalie Dupree and her co-author Cynthia Grubart. Gena Berry (Atlanta) also joined in the meet 'n greet CH ARL E S TO N Susan Slack The Charleston Chapter celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of two members—Grande Dame Nathalie Dupree and Marion B. Sullivan. As role models and mentors, they share their gifts and talents in ways too numerous to mention. Nathalie, the doyenne of Southern cooking, was recently inducted into Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America during the James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. One of five inductees this year, she joins a cadre of the most accomplished and influential culinary professionals in the country. Nathalie is busy working on her next book, which will be a memoir. Dame Marion was awarded The Laura Hewitt Culinary Legend Award for contributions to the food culture and foodways of the American South. She was honored during the Opening Ceremonies of the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, hosted by the Honorable Joseph P Riley––Charleston's mayor––and Dame Gillian Zetter, the festival's Executive Director. "In her typical generous fashion," remarked Deidre Schipani, "Marion praised those who came before, paving the way for excellence and recognition of the Southern cooking canon: Chefs Donald Barickman, Frank Lee, and Louis Osteen.” In a toast to the festival, Marion noted, "it is in its teenage years when anything can happen." Les Dames d’Escoffier International On March 9, members visited the new Cleveland Culinary Launch Kitchen, an incubator for culinary businesses, located at the Western Reserve School of Cooking downtown. They toured the shared commercial kitchen, equipped and licensed for myriad culinary purposes, such as catering, bottling, and frozen food products. Dames enjoyed a light family-style meal and cooking demo by owner Catherine St. John. On April 14, Cleveland Dames will speak as part of the women's series at Felice Urban Cafe. They will introduce guests to LDEI and its educational and philanthropic mission and share stories of their own women-owned businesses. Dames Shara Bohach, Carol Hacker, Paula Hershman, Beth Knorr, and Marilou Suszko will speak at the event. Dallas Jennifer Brightman Moschel Twenty-four new Charleston Dames, Back row, L-R: Melissa Clegg, Tanya Gurrieri, Carly Paume, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, Katherine Frankstone, Marie Stitt, Kerry Marhefka, Jenny DiBenedetto, Lisa Burnett, Cappie Peete, Kelly Franz, Kim Alexander, Emma Lesesne-Booth, Vonda Freeman, Kate Connor, Jen Kulick. Seated in front, L-R: Mary Zapatka, Stephanie Barna, Lisa Brophy, Kim Ortego. Not pictured: Liz Bacon, Beth Price, Amalia Scatena, Gina Stouffer. Photo: Devany Vickery-Davidson. Local Dames gather at the Charleston Food + Wine Festival, Front Row: Libba Osborne, Donna Gustafson, Jennifer Goldman, Gillian Zettler, Paige Crone, Jeanne DeCamilla, Nicki Root. Middle Row: Celia Cerasoli, Paige Crone. Back Row, L-R: Lisa Buzzeli, Teresa Taylor, Andrea Limehouse, Patricia Agnew, Nathalie Dupree, Marion Sullivan, Deidre Schipani. Photo: Paige Crone. In March, the Charleston Board and membership committee welcomed 24 new members. The induction meeting was held April 14, followed by two orientation sessions for new members. Seventy-three Charleston Dames are working hard to plan the upcoming October conference. C h icago Julie Chernoff We've had a busy start to 2015! After a post-holiday potluck at the home of Programs Chair Portia Belloc Lowndes in mid-January, we've since read Ruth Reichl's Delicious! in our Dames Who Read book club. We enjoyed a book-themed dinner at Amy Morton's Found Restaurant and learned how to optimize social media at a program held at Barbara Glunz' boîte, The Glunz Tavern. We held a series of networking potlucks at the homes of Jeanne McInerney Lubeck, Suzanne Florek, and Rebecca Wheeler, and savored a special, All About Ramen, four-course, family-style dinner at Bill Kim's Belly Q. We look forward to welcoming our newest members at our Annual Meeting and Dinner at River Roast on June 15. C leveland Shara Bohach Cleveland Dames kicked off the year as the inaugural guests in the tasting room of Portside Distillery, Cleveland's newest craft beer and rum distillery on the East Bank of the Flats. Dames enjoyed a tour of the distillery, followed by a spirited rum and beer tasting. Cleveland Dames visit Portside Distillery, L-R: Paula Hershman, Jean Mackenzie, Elaine Cicora, Melanie Seal, Maggie Harrison, Joan Pistone, Marla Monzo-Holmes, Gloria Kemer, Marty Nagele, Carol Hacker, Linda Flannery, Shara Bohach, Cynthia Eakin, Beth Davis-Noragon, and Maria Isabella. Photo by Beth Segal S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Our Dames had a festive, post-holiday potluck party on January 11 at the home of Denise Glazer. Denise was so kind to open up her beautiful home to us, and the Dallas ladies arrived with all kinds of wonderful foods to share. By the way, there was also great wine! In March we met at the Green Grocer on Greenville Avenue to enjoy a variety of healthy-style juices and talk business. Then it was off to Luscher's Red Hots for some Texas-style Chicago grub! They serve the best sausages around, and our mouths are still watering! Chef-owner Brian Luscher is the husband of Dame Courtney Casson Luscher. In April we met at Tara Anderson's home for light snacks and to plan the remainder of 2015. Our fundraising committee is planning a late summer Jazz Brunch on August 30, which will be open to the public at 3015 Trinity Groves. Plans include a silent auction, action stations by our own chefs, and live jazz music. The Dallas Dames are thrilled to be working with a new style of event and look forward to showcasing all of the Dame talent in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. H AWAI I Hayley Matson-Mathes The Hawaii Chapter, in collaboration with Pastry Chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka of MW Restaurant in Honolulu, gathered March 9 for a fundraiser dinner to benefit the Good Eats Scholarship fund estabFront row, L-R: Chef Lee Anne Wong, Fern Yoshida, Dorothy Colby. Second row: Possie Badham, Elisabeth Iwata, Chef Nicole Anderson, partially obscured, Lori Wong, Hayley Matson-Mathes. Back row: Melanie Kosaka, Holly Hadsell El-Hajji, Chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka, and Satomi Goo. The dinner entrée was Chef Nicole Anderson’s Beer Braised Short Rib with Oxtail Jam. Childhood memories and nostalgia inspired Michelle Karr-Ueoka to create Kula Strawberry “Shave Ice.” 21 lished by Joan Namkoong. The dinner showcased Hawaii’s female farmers including Lesley Hill's Wailea Agricultural Group, which produces Heart of Palm. The fundraiser concept was the creation of Lee Anne Wong, executive chef /partner Koko Head Café, and also Chef Michelle. Nicole Anderson—Chef De Cuisine at Koko Head Café—joined them in the kitchen to prepare the multi-course course dinner. The scholarship’s goal is to nurture Hawaii’s future professionals planning to study agriculture or the culinary arts at a college or university in the continental United States, with hopes they will return to Hawaii to enhance the quality of food in the islands. The Hawaii Community Foundation administers the scholarship. HO U S TON LDEI Third Vice President Hayley Matson-Mathes (Hawaii) visited the Houston Chapter last fall during their Member Roundup, which was held at Shade, a restaurant owned by Dame Claire Smith. Hayley Matson-Mathes (wearing polka dots, back row) with Houston Dames.Hayley Matson-Mathes with Houston Dames at Shade restaurant. M IA MI Ellen Kanner The Miami Dames are in full bloom. On March 8, our Tropical Brunch at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden was a soldout success. Chaired by Morgan Nims, this year's theme gave farm-fresh a French twist. Thirty-two Dames volunteered their time and expertise for “Du Jardin a La Table.” Twenty-one restaurants, caterers, and companies with wines and spirits created a bright-flavored, sophisticated menu including zesty Bloody Marys, made-to-order omelets, potato pancakes with homemade gravlax, and irresistible pastries. Even better, the afternoon netted enough to fund one of our scholarships to a deserving woman entering the culinary field. April brought a month's worth of tasty events. On April 7, we partnered with Slow Food Miami to pres- Tropical Brunch Chair Dame ent food historian and author Nancy Morgan Nims. 22 Harmon Jenkins. Jo Anne Bander introduced Nancy and Carole Kotkin joined the author for a spirited conversation about her delicious new book Virgin Territory: Exploring the World of Olive Oil. On April 13, Green Tables Chair Claire Tomlin organized a field-fresh farmers’ market fundraiser benefiting the Dames at the new farmers’ market in downtown Miami. On April 18, we enjoyed a Dames’ appreciation afternoon tea prepared by none other than James Beard awardwinning chef Michelle Bernstein. Outreach Committee Chair Nancy Ancrum and Susan Brustman organized the elegant event, which took place at Seagrape, Michelle's much-acclaimed new restaurant. PAL M S PRI NGS Barbara Lowell L'Affaire Chocolate was an affair to remember for close to 100 members and fans of LDEI's Palm Springs Chapter on February 22. A sumptuous luncheon was served in the garden of the elegant La Spiga Ristorante where views of the San Jacinto mountains were surpassed only by the artistry on the plate. Following a delicious lunch with branzino and heirloom tomatoes, guests were invited to sample desserts from a 30-foot long table laden with decadent chocolate goodies. Sweets created and donated by some of the area's finest chefs and restaurants included everything from tiny, ganachecovered bonbons to intricate tarts and towers of mousse. A spirited live auction offered up original artwork, jewelry, trips, dinners, and sportsthemed outPutting final touches on the Palm Springs ings. Keynote speaker Diana Chapter’s sumptuous L’Affaire Chocolat buffet L-R: La Spiga owners Dame Connie Culvon Welanetz are, traro, her husband Chef Vince Cultraro, and Wentworth Dame Bonnie Barkley. donated and Palm Springs Dames, L-R: L’Affaire Chocolat Chair Janet Harris, Lisa Wherry, and Diana von signed a copy Welanetz Wentworth. of her book, Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook, for each guest. Best of all, the event raised more than $15,000 in scholarships. Two of last year's recipients, young women now both employed in the culinary industry, spoke warmly of Les Dames d'Escoffier and gave heartfelt thanks for the financial assistance they received. “This is why we do what we do,” said President Lisa Wherry. “We are women helping other women achieve their dreams.” Les Dames d’Escoffier International S an D iego Teresa Palzkill San Diego Chapter members are enjoying a variety of learning and networking events. Highlights include a January tour of White Labs to learn about the cultivation and production of yeast for use in beer and wine, followed by a scrumptious lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant. February provided a croissant-making class at Cardamom Bakery and Café. We welcomed students and instructors from Southwestern College culinary and baking programs as guests to this event. All present had the opportunity to participate in the process of making delicious almond croissants while enjoying a variety of Cardamom's delectable sweet and savory croissant specialties. In March Karen Contreras, owner of Urban Plantations, held a seminar for Dames and guests showing the best methods to create a kitchen garden. All in attendance Dame Mineko Moreno's San Diego sushi class. had the opportunity L-R: Carol Blomstrom, Kate McDevitt, Brenda Holto create their own lis, Mineko Moreno, Teddie Lewis (in red), Marie potted garden filled Kelly. Back: Michael McHugh of Festivities, Tracey Sturgis, Karen Contreras. with herbs and edible New Children's Museum Garden, L-R Front flowers to take home! Row: Karen Contreras, Teddie Lewis, Mineko In addition, Dames Moreno, Brenda Hollis, Teresa Palzkill. Back: Marie are networking at Kelley, Kate McDevitt, Dana Chaldekas, Carol Blomstrom, Mary Papoulias-Platis. monthly meet-ups held throughout San Diego County to facilitate member access. The opportunity to meet and develop both personal and professional relationships is invaluable. Amy Dibase, Executive Chef at Tidal Craft and Catch, graciously provided a beautiful venue overlooking Mission Bay for our annual dinner and winter board of director meetings. The chapter commitment to provide mentoring and financial support to women pursuing careers in the culinary field continues with the awarding of a scholarship to Jazmine Jackson as she continues her culinary education at the Art Institute, San Diego. Congratulations to Jazmine. S an FR A NC ISCO Fran Gage San Francisco Dames had a special treat at this year's Ancestral Pot Luck dinner, held on January 12, at Kikkoman's offices, courtesy of Helen Roberts. Many Dames from around the country, in town for the show, joined us. Although they didn't have kitchens to prepare dishes, they did share stories about family recipes. On January 31, our chapter co-sponsored a Green Tables Event at UC Davis called, Mead and Honey, a Beekeepers’ Feast. The multi-course dinner featured honey in its many flavor profiles. Ann Evans helped organize the event and designed the menu. In addition to some delicious food, the evening reminded all that bees play an important role in the pollination of many crops. S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 We had two events that focused on mentoring women in the culinary fields. The first was a dinner hosted by Co-President Tanya Holland at her restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen. Several Dames writers joined the five recipients of the Karola Saekel Craib Excellence in Food Journalism Fellowship for a lively discussion over the restaurant's signature dish, Chicken and Waffles. Second, Jerry Di Vecchio, aided by Barbara Haimes, spearheaded a new series of seminars with San Francisco Dames and students in the Culinary Program at City College of San Francisco. The first, held on February 20, featured chefs Emily Luchetti, Suzette Gresham, and Patty Unterman. Two more, one focused on food production, the other on community service, are scheduled. The students were very enthusiastic, asking lots of questions. S eattle Nicole Aloni Our January meeting was an open event with a mix of Dames and culinary colleagues. Seattle has long had a rich history as it relates to outstanding food and beverage, but it is only recently that distilling has been added to the local mix. With Jason Parks as our guide––the owner and distiller of Copperworks Distilling––we learned what sparked the recent boom in Seattle distilling while sampling some of Copperworks' wonderful craft spirits. They provided tours of the distilling space and snacks were provided by Pike Brewing and Cynthia Nims. The Seattle Wine and Food Experience (SWFE), the premier showcase for wine and food in the Northwest, was produced by Jamie Peha on February 22 at Seattle Center. Hundreds of attendees experienced a rollicking afternoon of food and wine highlight- Dame Jamie Peha, of Peha Promotions, produces the Seattle Wine and Food ed by a unique section Experience (SWFE). Dames Amy Muzykafeaturing Dame-run McGuire and Anne Nisbet at SWFE. businesses. SWFE is also one of the largest individual benefactors to Les Dames d’Escoffier Seattle, this year providing our chapter with a $15,000 donation. On March 23, there was a general membership meeting in which an entirely new process for inducting new members was put into place for the first time. Starting this year, our chapter adopted a more open, application-style process for becoming a member. We are proud to be making the process more transparent and look forward with much excitement to the five accomplished new members coming on board as a result: Kathleen Finn, Claudia Hogue, Alison Leber, Naomi Kakiuchi, and Sheri Wetherell. S T. L O UI S The St. Louis Chapter partnered with the 501c (3) non-profit EarthDance Organic Farm School to create a scholarship for farmers-in-training. Through hands-on education in the fields, market training, and classes from practicing farmers, apprentices learn the skills of organic agriculture. EarthDance is located on the historic Mueller Farm in Ferguson, Missouri. The farm 23 sustainably grows food, farmers, and community, one small farm at a time, through hands-on education and delicious experiences. In the aftermath of the recent unrest in Ferguson, the farm school focused its resources to provide healing help for the community. The chapter is thrilled and honored to announce that it has donated $5,000 toward the EarthDance Farm & Garden Apprenticeship Program. The generous contribution will help EarthDance grow future farmers––the local good food movement’s next crop of leaders and contributors. St. Louis Chapter President Cecily Hoffius, co-owner of Ces and Judy’s Catering, says the membership is excited for the opportunity to partner with EarthDance. “Several of our members volunteer at the farm. They brought us the idea that eventually developed into an opportunity for a scholarship to their part-time apprenticeship for people interested in learning about urban farming.” The members of Les Dames are not only donating funds to support the farmers-in-training, but their time and talent, too. The two organizations are teaming up for a series of on-farm Taste & Tour events that will introduce new supporters to the organization and promote EarthDance’s annual fundraiser, Farmers Formal. For more information, go to: www.earthdancefarms. org/ and www.earthdancefarms.org/what-we-do/grow-farmers/ WA SHINGTON Drew Faulkner Our chapter hosted a reception on March 28 for visiting Dames during the IACP Conference held in Washington March 27-30 at the Marriott Renaissance hotel. Chapter President Drew Faulkner and Katherine Newell Smith organized the reception. About 50 Dames from across the United States attended along with three potential new members who may start a North Carolina Chapter with the help of Nathalie Dupree (Charleston), LDEI board secretary Sharon Olson (Chicago), and CiCi Williamson. We had the generous and delicious support of wines from Amy Hoopes (San Francisco) of Wente Vineyards and the following Washington Dames: Theresa Morrison of Boutique Vineyards; flowers, regional cheeses, beef tenderloin and ham biscuits from Susan James and Alan James of Stonyman Gourmet Farmer; hand-crafted salamis from Debra Moser and Mitch Berliner of Meat Crafters; and hummus and pita from Gladys Abi-Nijm of Lebanese Taverna. Washington Dames at IACP, L-R: Chapter President Drew Faulkner, Katherine Newell Smith, Alan James, and Amy Riolo. L-R: Mitch Berliner, Debra Moser (Washington), Karen Levin (Chicago). L-R: Judith Fertig (Kansas City), Crystal Leach, Katherine Ackerman (Dallas), Catherine Lucas (Miami), Nancy Eisman (Los Angeles). Photos by CiCi Williamson in memoriam Jonell Nash (New York) By Michele Scicolone (New York) Jonell Nash, former food editor of Essence Magazine, teacher, and cookbook author, died after a short illness on February 27 at the age of 72. Born in Delhi, Louisiana, Jonell’s family moved to Detroit where she grew up. After receiving a home economics degree from Wayne State University, Jonell began teaching at Cody High School in Detroit. Later, she was hired by Co-ed magazine, published by Scholastic, and moved to New York City. Her next position was in the test kitchen at Woman’s Day and in 1984, she became the food editor of Essence Magazine where she remained until her retirement in 2008. 24 Thoughtful, gracious and kind, Jonell was also hardworking. She had a passion for quality cooking and baking, which she learned from her parents, and focused her efforts on teaching a generation of cooks that traditional African-American foods could be flavorful without being high in fat and sodium. Jonell was a trailblazer in the quest to reduce rates of childhood obesity, particularly among black and Hispanic youngsters who are at higher risk than whites. Her first book, Low-Fat Soul, was published in 1996. In it, she advised readers to, “boot the fat, boost the flavor,” by substituting smoked lean turkey and fish for bacon and ham hocks and by using lard and butter sparingly. Publisher’s Weekly wrote that her second book, Essence Brings You Great Cooking, was written with two purposes: to celebrate African American food traditions in all their diversity and to create a cookbook that would make nutritious home cooking appealing to the everyday cook. The reviewer stated that she had succeeded on both counts. A longtime member of Les Dames New York, Jonell had been active on many committees, including most recently Green Tables. She was also a generous benefactor, financing a scholarship in the name of Chef Edna Lewis. This scholarship is being renamed in honor of Jonell Nash. Contributions can be sent to Les Dames D’Escoffier New York, Attention: Susan Lowry, HMGT, 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please note on the check or money order, “In honor of the Jonell Nash Memorial Scholarship.” Les Dames d’Escoffier International San Antonio Celebrates Meals on Reels in Grand Style Tables cloaked in lavender and aubergine linens—radiant with candlelight and flowers—welcomed 185 guests to a historic venue, The St. Anthony Hotel for the chapter fundraiser, Meals on Reels, on February 26. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, cooking demonstrations, and a multi-course meal prepared by chapter members—the leading ladies of San Antonio’s culinary scene. The elegant menu featured Lobster Bisque; Grilled Quail with Rose Petal Sauce; Grapefruit and Pink Peppercorn Sorbet; and Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon. A Kerrygold cheese course was also served. Dessert included Chocolate Ganache on Crushed Pistachios with Floral Cream. Each course was paired with wine and a culinary-themed movie clip. Silent and live auctions fueled the festivities. The event generated a profit of $77,000, which will be used for scholarships, Green Tables, and other programs. Special thanks are extended to all the participants, to the food and beverage donors, and The St. Anthony Hotel and culinary staff. It was a dazzling event and by all accounts, a great success! This year the San Antonio Chapter (LDEISA), is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Elegant tables and swag brought glitz to the evening. Stepping out with Les Dames. Red Carpet Glam: LDEI's 2003 Grande Dame Rosemary Elton Kowalski, who shares the honor with Abigail Kirsch (New York). L-R: Double Feature—the mistresses of ceremonies. Ready for a close-up: Grilled Texas Quail in Rose Petal Sauce. Live and silent auctions brought in half the revenue for the evening. A special framed photo of Auguste Escoffier was among the auction items. An Oscar Performance! San Antonio’s Dames-chefs and Chef Michael Mata and his staff from the hotel did a superb job! S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 25 Member Milestones Birmingham Katherine Cobbs has developed 75 recipes for her new cookbook, Classic Southern Cooking, from the Editors of Garden & Gun (2015); it features contributions from many of the finest chefs in our region. www.katherinecobbs.com Annette Thompson was elected President of the Society of American Travel Writers at their Reykjavik, Iceland convention. Annette visited over 130 barbecue restaurants and chose to include about 75 of the state’s most storied joints in her Annette Thompson new book, Alabama Barbecue. It is being promoted by the Alabama Tourism Department. www.annettethompsontravel.com BOSTON Denise Herrera, VP of Operations for Burtons Grill, was recognized as a 2015 Women of Influence. In 2004, Herrera partnered to create Denise Herrera the contemporary American grill concept in her role of executive chef. She currently oversees all branches of operations and exemplifies what it is to be a successful woman in the restaurant industry. CHARLESTON Grande Dame Nathalie Dupree has been inducted into Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America. She was honored in Chicago on May 4 during the James Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart Beard Foundation Awards. Nathalie and Cynthia Graubart (Atlanta), both James Beard cookbook award winners, coauthored Mastering the Art of Southern Vegetables, released March 1 by Gibbs Smith. Marion B. Sullivan, a Charleston founding member, received the Charleston Wine + Food Festival's 2015 Laura Hewitt Culinary Legend Award in 26 Dottie Koteski (Philadelphia) March to salute her contributions to the culinary community. A faculty member of The Culinary Institute of Charleston, Marion was recipe editor for Heritage––Chef Sean Brock’s James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook. The Mansion on Turtle Creek Cookbook with Chef Dean Fearing. www.truetexascusine.com Marion B. Sullivan Nancie McDermott's latest cookbook, Simply VegNancie McDermott etarian Thai: 125 Real Thai Recipes debuted in the spring. The new edition of Real Vegetarian Thai, is mostly vegan and gluten-free, and introduces the “Meatless Mondays” generation to Thai cuisine’s delights. Nancie has book events around the south this summer, along with classes at Southern Season. www.nanciemcdermott.com CHICAGO Donna Battle Pierce, a 2015 recipient of a Harvard Nieman Foundation Visiting Fellowship, is researching historical black recipes and cooks for a cookbook about the Southern food that moved North during the Great Migration. Since spending January on campus, Donna returns to Harvard in July to complete research at the Schlesinger Library. http://skilletdiaries.com/ Colorado Carol Fenster promoted her latest gluten-free cookbook, 100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes, on the PBS-TV show, Carol Fenster Creative Living with Sheryl Borden. She demonstrated how to bake with coconut flour, prepare black quinoa, and make gazpacho without bread as a thickener. www.carolfenstercooks.com Dallas Dotty Griffith is co-authoring a cookbook with Houston chef and restaurateur Sylvia Casares. The Enchilada Queen Cookbook, A Tex-Mex Tour of the Rio Grande is scheduled for publication in fall 2016. Dotty is the author of nine other cookbooks, including editor of Tina Wasserman's newest book, EnDotty Griffith trée to Judaism for Families-Jewish Cooking and Kitchen Conversations with Children was a finalist at the IACP Cookbook Awards in the eBook category. This is the first interactive cookbook for children with adult recipes emphasizing sustainability and historical facts. It's also available in hard copy. Karol Wilson, a publicist and gourmet food writer for The Dallas Examiner will be doing a regular column for the Dallas magazine Modern Lifestyles. www.examiner.com/topic/dallas Liz Baron and husband, Jim, owners of Blue Mesa Grill and TNT/Tacos and Tequila, opened two new sites: the Quadrangle in Uptown, Dallas and the Mosaic in San Antonio. Their concept, which originated with TNT in Austin, centers on taco and tequila bars and a full menu offering of fresh ingredients. www.tacos-and-tequila.com Houston Marie LeNôtre, founder and director of the Culinary Institute Lenôtre, has written a new book, Appetites: A Memoir (Bright Sky Press), which shares Marie LeNôtre Marie’s childhood dreams and adolescent struggles, the pains and joys of love in France, and the way she made the famous culinary name of LeNôtre her own. Philadelphia Deanna Segrave-Daly, along with Dallas Dame Robin Plotkin and two other dietitian foodie bloggers, last fall held the first ever Blog Brûlée: “Setting Fire to Better Blogs” conference for twenty registered dietitians and healthy food bloggers. Planning is already underway for a 2015 Blog Brûlée event, which will provide further relationship building. New York Melanie Young published Fearless Fabulous You! Lessons Melanie Young Les Dames d’Escoffier International on Living Life on Your Terms. Melanie has earned certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. whole grains. She is a veteran journalist and food writer, and has contributed to Gourmet, Saveur, and Gastronomica. Northeast SAN ANTONIO Jamie Cruz of Springdell Farm was appointed to the American Farm Bureau Federation National Young Farmer & Rancher Committee. Members of the committee study farm and food policy issues and participate in leadership training exercises. Jamie Cruz Jenny Johnson is an Emmy Award winning executive producer, entertainment, and lifestyle television personality based in Boston––a Jenny Johnson Top 10 Market. This year Jenny started her own production company to create the “Dining Playbook” offering an inside guide to the best restaurants, nightlife, and celebrity chef interviews. Denise Landis launched the Cook’s Cook this year. She is the founder and publisher of the online magazine. Denise has been testing recipes for The New York Times for twenty years and is a contributor to the newspaper’s “Dining In/ Dining Out” section. Her current book is called Dinner for Eight. Dorie Greenspan’s newest publication, Baking Chez Moi, focuses on French home-baked desserts. The New York Times calls the award-winning author of nine cookbooks a “culinary guru.” Dorie is a special correspondent for Bon Appétit magazine and a frequent guest on National Public Radio's All Things Considered and The Splendid Table. Marty Gonzalez was awarded the Excellence in Service Award by the American Diabetes Association of San Antonio. In her 14 years of service to this chapter, she has served in many capacities including as fundraising chair, as community leadership board chair, and as a national committee Marty Gonzalez member. Denise Mazal, chef/ owner of Little Gretel Restaurant, was selected as 2014 Businesswoman of the Year by the Boerne, Texas, Chamber of Commerce. After 20 years in a retail Denise Mazal business, in 2009 she opened a restaurant that features her Czech, Austrian, and German heritage. Denise was recently nominated for the Best Chefs America Award. San Francisco Denise Landis Photo by Dame Eva Baughman. Dorie Greenspan Maria Speck Maria Speck shares Photo by Somerby Jones. classic, comforting recipes in her awardwinning, new cookbook titled Simply Ancient Grains. She makes cooking with ancient grains faster, more intuitive, and easier than ever before. Maria has a lifelong passion for S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 Amy Hoopes, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Sales for Wente Family Estates, was a recent honoree at the posh, Amy Hoopes 2015 Marketing Hall of Femme awards ceremony in New York City. Sponsored by Direct Marketing News, the event acknowledges and celebrates women’s progress in marketing. Andrea Nguyen shares secrets for making irresistible bahn mi in The Banh Mi Handbook—selected as one of the best cookbooks of 2014 by National Public Radio. The book presents traditional and modern recipes for the popular Viet sandwich. Published July 2014, the book is in its fourth printing. Vietworldkitchen.com Sara Wilson, managing partner of Market Hall Foods and president of Manicaretti Italian Food Imports, was inducted into the inaugural class of the Specialty Food Association's Hall of Fame. Individuals are Sara Wilson honored whose “accomplishments, impact, contributions, innovations, and successes within the specialty food industry deserve praise and recognition.” WASHINGTON Cathy Barrow won the 2015 IACP Single Subject Cookbook Award for Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s Practical Pantry (W.W. Norton). https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8wH7Vq7Rtgo Monica Bhide announces her latest book– –A Life of Spice––released May 2015. It is filled with essays that reflect food, culture and life. This is her sixth book. Cynthia Glover, principal of Smart Works, A Marketing Company, was selected as a consultant to KGRW & Associates architects and the local government of Howard County, Maryland. She will work on a project intended to make Howard County a premier, aging-friendly community for baby boomers and their caregivers. Aviva Goldfarb has become a monthly contributor to The Washington Post’s online column, On Parenting, writing about food and family. Read her first post here: www. washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/ wp/2015/04/01/should-family-dinnertrump-extracurriculars/ Pati Jinich has begun her fourth consecutive season of Pati’s Mexican Table on PBS-TV and public television stations nationwide. The new 13-episode season began airing on April 4. Michelle Poteaux received a RAMMY (Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington) nomination for Pastry Chef of the Year. This is the third nomination for Michelle, the pastry chef/owner of the contemporary French restaurant Bastille and Bistrot Royal, a cozy bistro. The awards ceremony was held on June 7. Nora Pouillon was featured in the April 2015 Washingtonian magazine in a threepage article, "Nora the Explorer." She created the first certified organic restaurant in the U.S. Her memoir, My Organic Life: How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape the Way We Eat Today was just published. Nora is hosting a Legacy Awards winner in 2015. Amy Riolo released her sixth cookbook The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: Harness the Power of the World's Healthiest Diet to Live Better, Longer in April 2015. www. amyriolo.com Susan Soorenko was nominated for the Laurey Masterton Golden Amulet Award, presented during the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs awards gala, “Women Who Inspire.” The award was founded in memory of Laurey, who always wore an amulet filled with 1/12th teaspoon honey—the lifetime production of one worker bee. Carla Hall (Washington) co-hosted the event. UPDATE: In the spring Quarterly, Sharon Kramis, a Seattle Chapter founder, was missing in the article on the chapter's 25th anniversary. 27 the Spark now playing at wusthofedge.com Chef Amanda Cohen Dirt Candy, New York, NY T W O C R E E K S V I N E YA R D S Pinot Noir A NDERSON V ALLEY 8300 St. Helena Highway • P.O. Box 216 Rutherford, Napa Valley, CA 94573 • (800) 588-0298 www.cakebread.com • cellars@cakebread.com Made in Germany ears of knives Solingen 15402_4292_LDEI-ConferenceProgramAd_2014.indd 1 10/3/14 11:00 AM CertifiCate in Culinary or Baking & Pastry arts 100% online & self-Paced Classes live interactive Webinars affordable online Culinary Program available in spanish Classes inspired by the legendary Auguste Escoffier – one of the most prestigious names in the culinary world, known as the Father of Modern Cuisine. For more information, call 855-696-6602 or visit www.escoffieronline.com. 28 Les Dames d’Escoffier International Reception Held for North Carolina Chapter Formation By CiCi Williamson (Washington) LDEI Secretary Sharon Olson (Chicago), Grande Dame Nathalie Dupree (Charleston), and CiCi Williamson (Washington) traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on April 20, to give a presentation to a group of women in food professions who are interested in starting a new chapter. Coming from several North Carolina cities, including Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, and Greensboro, were 27 attendees. Colleen Minton, Founder and Director, TerraVita Food & Drink Festival, Chapel Hill, organized the event, handled reservations and other details. She secured a meeting room for the group at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, where they viewed CiCi’s LDEI History PowerPoint presentation. Sharon, Nathalie, and CiCi addressed the group and helped answer their questions about new chapter formation. An additional 10 women who were unable to attend are also interested in becoming members of a North Carolina Chapter, which would be based in the tri-city area. Nancie McDermott (Charleston) and Jean Anderson (New York) also live in Chapel Hill. As LDEI Secretary, Sharon is tasked with potential new chapter formation and has helped update the LDEI Chapter Formation Handbook. CiCi—the fall and spring LDEI Quarterly editor—and Nathalie flew to Birmingham in 2013 to meet with a large group of women who subsequently applied to charter a chapter. Birmingham’s petition included 54 members, the largest number to join LDEI as a new chapter, becoming LDEI’s 29th. Nathalie has long been interested in helping start a new chapter in North Carolina. She previously met with a smaller group of women and helped to gather names and contact information for many of the women who attended the reception. S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 L-R: CiCi Williamson, Colleen Minton, Sharon Olson, and Nathalie Durpee. Grande Dame Nathalie Dupree of Charleston speaks to potential North Carolina Dames. 29 How do you make FROZEN DESSERTS without preservatives, NUT BUTTERS without salt and sugar, HOT SOUPS without flavorings, MAYONNAISES without emulsifiers, Since 2008, O Wines has raised more than $300,000 and awarded 52 college scholarships to low income capable young women. SOY MILKS without stabilizers, and of course GREEN SMOOTHIES you don’t have to chew? Learn more about the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship at owines.com or oscholarship.org 30 ITEM 127 © 2014 O WINES, WOODINVILLE, WA 98072 the Boss TM You are what you eat. BrevilleUSA.com Follow us @BrevilleUSA Les Dames d’Escoffier International Submission Guidelines Re-Branding Les Dames d'Escoffier Deadlines By Shara Bohach (Cleveland) Photography/Images As Les Dames d'Escoffier looks to increase its brand awareness, we all look for ways to do our part. On the PR committee, I was asked to review a draft of the new PR manual. As I read through the acknowledged weaknesses the brand, Aloha! of Please join me Iinrealized something welcoming LDEI's was missing. noted Social Media Iadministhe logo itself as a trator Tara Anderson. weakness. The name We are fortunate to of theher organization, have talent, enthuminuscule comparedI Shara Bohach siasm, and expertise. to the mark, lacked presence and when used small was unreadable. The mark itself was recognizable, but small details detracted from its clarity. I proposed that the logo should be redesigned for name presence, and suggested adding a tagline to increase understanding of the organization. I volunteered my firm, Unity Design, with its branding expertise, for the endeavor. We planned to increase brand and name presence, while not infringing on established brand equity. Maintaining the previous font (Garamond), we made the organization name large with “International” underneath in all caps, and with an elegant rule between. This allowed the entire name to carry much more weight with a polished look. We made refinements, cleaning up the mark and added a heavier outer border to help it stand out. We designed both vertical and horizontal configurations for the logo. We proposed a number of taglines, from creative solutions to utilitarian (who we are, what we do). This has sparked a lengthier debate that continues. Watch for a new tagline perhaps in 2015! After the Board's approval, we went a step further to develop logos for each chapter. Chapters can find the new international logo and their chapter logos by logging into the website and going to Member Center > Documents. Logos are supplied in JPG and EPS formats. Unity Design (unitydesign.biz) is a brand-focused print and online design firm that specializes in the culinary industry. S U M M E R Q uar t erly 2 0 1 5 2015 FALL ISSUE - AUGUST 1, 2015 2016 WINTER ISSUE - November 9, 2015 Electronic images must be properly focused and 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. Please identify individuals in photos from left to right in the message of your email. Include photo credits, if required, and captions. ALL PHOTOGRAPHS MUST COME WITH CAPTIONS TO BE PUBLISHED. Member Milestones LIST DAME’S NAME and XXX CHAPTER. Each Dame may submit up to 50 words about honors or important business-related activities, as preferred, to appear in print. Please include a website URL, if applicable. You may email a quality headshot to accompany your news. Press releases and cookbook covers are not accepted. Email your Member Milestone and photo to Member Milestone Editor, Dottie Koteski at membermilestones@aol.com by the deadline listed above. Entries received after these dates may appear in a following issue. Photos of Dames networking at conferences or other chapter events may also be sent to this section. Note: Due to space constraints, only two Member Milestones will be published per Dame per year. Chapter News CHAPTER XXX (By, the submitter's name, office-or title, if any). Each chapter may submit 250 words as you would like to see it in print. You may include photos to accompany your news, noting photography requirements above. Submissions that exceed the word count will be edited. (A lengthy submission on a special chapter event could be considered for a feature; contact the editor in advance.) Press releases are not accepted. We regret we don't have space to print full menus but menu items can be included in the copy. Submissions not conforming to this format may not be printed due to deadlines and volunteer’s lack of time. Email to Janet Burgess at chapterprograms@aol.com by the deadline date. Entries received after this date may appear in the following issue. Note: "Chapter News" and "Member Milestones" may be dispersed through LDEI social-media channels, as well as in print and online. E-News This bimonthly publication will keep you informed about events in other chapters and encourages networking. Press releases are not accepted. Include an email contact, date, time, and cost for chapter events. Lack of space prevents member milestones, product news, listing of cooking classes, or tours. You will receive a reminder call for “E-News” email. Respond to E-News Editor, Shelley Pedersen, at ldeinews@gmail.com Upcoming in the fall issue • Winners of LDEI's M.F.K. Fisher Awards • Introducing the 2015 Grande Dame • Nashville Chapter Review 31 Atlanta Austin Birmingham Boston British Columbia, Canada Charleston Chicago Cleveland/Northeast Ohio Colorado Dallas Hawaii Houston Kansas City/Heart of America London, England Los Angeles/Orange County Miami Minnesota Monterey Bay Area Nashville New York Northeast Palm Springs Philadelphia Phoenix San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Washington PREsorted First Class u s Postage paid Louisville KY Permit #1051 P.O. Box 4961 Louisville, KY 40204 Panicles of Gold: A Pre-Conference Rice Seminar By Susan Slack (Charleston) One of the Lowcountry’s greatest culinary gifts is Carolina Gold Rice––the "grandfather of long-grain rice in America.” For a historical overview of the heirloom grain, travel to Middleton Place for a day of lectures, tours, and tastings. The eighteenth-century rice plantation, a National Historic Landmark, was home to the illustrious Middleton family––planters and statesmen that included a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the second president of the First Continental Congress, and a state governor. An equally important part of the story is the AfricanAmerican population. Women were central to rice production, as they were in West Africa, contributing specialized knowledge for methods of cultivation and processing. Begin the day with breakfast-on-the-go from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, touted by Oprah and Food & Wine. Our esteemed scholars are Dr. David S. Shields, the McClintock Professor of Southern Letters at the University of South Carolina; and Glenn Roberts, CEO of Anson Mills, which specializes in the restoration, milling, and packaging of heirloom grains. Discussions will address the influence of the golden grain on Colonial Charleston’s economy, culture, and cuisine; its demise and repatriation, and the role it plays in the modern Carolina Rice Kitchen. The Edna Lewis Luncheon will showcase elegant Lowcountry fare with seafood caught just offshore; local, heirloom ingredients like Carolina Gold Rice (Anson Mills); and fresh produce from the plantation’s organic garden. Pan-Fried Quail (Manchester Farms) will be prepared using our legendary Grande Dame’s recipe. As consultant-in-residence at Middleton Place Restaurant in the 1980s, Edna Lewis codified the kitchen to focus on authentic Lowcountry dishes. After lunch, join our scholars for an informative stroll around the demonstration rice field to the old mill and slave chapel. A costumed interpreter will be on hand to discuss planting methods and the recent harvest. Or meander through the exquisite gardens, and Eliza's House (former slave cottage). We’ll gather once again for a private tour of the treasure-filled House Museum, built in 1755 to serve as the gentlemen's guest quarters. Thursday, October 29—8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Panicles of Carolina Gold Rice and milled rice. Dr. David S. Shields: Distinguished Professor, University of South Carolina. Glenn Roberts: proprietor of Anson Mills—specialty grains supplier, Columbia, S.C. Aerial view of Middleton Place.
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