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Les Dames d’Escoffier International Celebrates 30 Years

Progress of Women in Food, Beverage and Hospitality

LOUISVILLE, KY (March 1, 2016) – Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with 36 Chapters planning charitable events around the world.

LDEI, an international organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality, is dedicated to outstanding professional achievement of women and promotes a mission of education and philanthropy.

Named for the late culinary master, Auguste Escoffier, LDEI was founded by Carol Brock at a challenging time for women in the culinary and hospitality industries. According to New York founder Brock, “From the beginning, we wanted to show what women can do in these (culinary and hospitality) professions. We wanted to raise the Pyrex ceiling.”

Brock officially launched the organization in 1973 when she was granted a charter from the New York Chapter of Les Amis d’Escoffier Society, an all-male organization, to form a New York chapter. (LDEI was formally organized in 1986)

In 1976, a landmark ceremony was held at the French Consulate and 50 women were welcomed as new members including culinary luminaries Marcella Hazan, Paula Wolfert, and Barbara Kafka. Women leaders in Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Philadelphia PA formed chapters in the years following.

In 2015, LDEI achieved record growth with six new chapters bringing membership to 2,100 in 36 chapters. International chapters are located in British Columbia, London, and Mexico.

LDEI members (called Dames) conduct Green Tables, a farm-to-fork initiative linking schools to farmers; the “Legacy Awards” which offers week-long mentoring experiences with partnering companies and the “M.F.K. Fisher Awards” acknowledging excellence in culinary writing.

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LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage, and hospitality professions. To do this, over 2,100 members in 36 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and host philanthropic events within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org or on Facebook at Les Dames d'Escoffier Int'l.

Dear Members of Les Dames d’Escoffier:

We celebrate our 30 year anniversary with 36 chapters, 2,100 members, and very deep roots. We not only come together to celebrate our anniversary, but also—most importantly—to celebrate the fulfillment of the legacy that our founding members envisioned. Let’s make 2016 “A Year to Remember.” So, as we raise our glasses to toast and applaud our success, history, accomplishments, and each other, let’s remember what a privilege it is to be a Dame.

Maria Gomez-Laurens

President of Les Dames d'Escoffier International

1959 & 1991 – Boston Chapter Les Dames des Amis d’Escoffier (LDEI)

1973 – Carol Brock received a charter from the New York Chapter of Les Amis d’Escoffier Society to form the women’s chapter in New York. Carol was joined in these efforts by Mary Lyons, Elayne Kleeman, Helene Bennett, Beverly Barbour, and Ella Elvin. Goal of inducting 100 women into the by invitation philanthropic all-professional organization.

1976 – Nov. 8 landmark investiture; LDEI / NY gala held at the French Consulate. Fifty women welcomed as new members including Marcella Hazan, Paula Wolfert, and Barbara Kafka. Halston designed the serviettes and Tiffany designed the silver napkin rings. Tiffany designed the original Les Dames d’Escoffier logo.

1976 – New York Chapter

1977 – The New York Chapter created a Grande Dame award with Julia Child as the first recipient

1978 – Annual dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York

1981 – Washington, DC Chapter

1982 – Washington DC commissioned the current wheat-and-grape logo (subsequently adopted by LDEI in 1991)

1982 – Chicago Chapter

1984 – The requisite five chapters necessary to create an international organization were established

1984 – Dallas Chapter

1984 – Philadelphia Chapter

1985 – Presidents of the five chapters meet to plan the umbrella organization

1986 – LDEI / NY 10th Anniversary Celebration launched the international organization at a gala in the lobby of the New York Daily News building

1986 – December LDEI first board meeting

1992 – British Columbia forms a chapter

2000 – Professional management company hired to manage the organization

2006 – LDEI embarked on Green Tables, an ambitious community service program

2006 – M.F.K. Fisher changed to reflect excellence in culinary writing

2009 – LDEI embarked on a Legacy Program, highly defined mentoring experiences

2012 – LDEI Board creates Brock Circle

2014 – London Chapter hosted the first Edible London culinary tour

2015 – LDEI achieves a record adding six new chapters, bringing membership to 2,100 in 36 chapters: Ann Arbor, Kentucky, North Carolina, Portland, Sacramento, and Mexico)

2016 – LDEI’s 30th Anniversary

 Conduct a 30th anniversary cake raffle. Dames contribute cakes to sell and then a giant sheet cake is made with every purchaser getting a piece. Whomever gets the piece with the “30” token in it wins the grand raffle prize (restaurant gift certificate, wine tasting, magnum of champagne). Similar to Mardi Gras where the token is in the cake.

 Host a dessert auction. Dinner is provided and individual tables pool their money to bid on their dessert for the table. Highest bidding table chooses their dessert first.

 Celebrate the LDEI 30th anniversary in conjunction with your own chapter anniversary. Highlight the founding members with a throwback potluck of food trends from 1986 or the year your chapter was incorporated.

 Conduct an oyster and / or caviar educational session (connecting to the 30th pearl anniversary).

 Conduct a champagne tasting and / or a blind tasting between cava, prosecco, champagne and sparkling to understand the differences of sparkling wines among different countries.

 Host an Escoffier dinner and the last course is a cake to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

 Conduct an educational meeting on the science of baking and the different kinds of flours and their effects. Different flours can be used in different cakes for guests to taste and compare.

 Contact local morning television and radio programs with Dames promoting LDEI’s 30th Anniversary.

30th Anniversary is Pearl & Diamond

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