Dear Friend of Les Dames d’Escoffier-San Francisco - 

We are delighted to share with you the exciting results of our July 2025 Fundraiser. We thank you for your interest in our chapter and your support! If you joined us at the sale – thank you! We hope you left with some great finds.

Inaugural LDEI-SF Culinary Rummage Sale Raises $10,000

By the numbers:  500+ Items, 200+ Books, 150+ Shoppers, 20 Volunteers =  $10K+ for our Chapter

LDEI-SF’s July Culinary Rummage Sale, the first initiative of our new Sponsorship and Fundraising Committee, exceeded expectations, generating more than $10,000 for our Chapter and philanthropic programs. Proceeds from the sale will be used to enhance our giving power for our next Entrepreneur Grants, support the impact and operations of our Culinary Scholarship and Food Journalism Fellowship, and provide seed funds for a future Wine Studies Scholarship in development.

Generously hosted by Dames Pam Mazzola and Kathy King at the lux Prospect Restaurant on Saturday, July 19, the event drew an early crowd who waited for the sale to open and gleefully shopped the selection of cookware, bakeware, glassware, serving ware, glassware, books, appliances, art and more donated by a handful of members and their friends. We knew we had the right crowd when professional bakeware pieces were among the first treasured finds of the day to be sold.

The special brunch menu offered by Prospect encouraged shoppers to relax and linger. The menu was sweetened by donated baked goods from Dame Mary Gassen at Noe Valley Bakery and bomboloni from Bellaria. 

A big attraction, highlighted in advance media coverage, was the sale within the sale of vintage items by the Bay Area Culinary Historians (BACH) helmed by Dame Carrie Tillie.

Our Communications Committee did a fantastic job of placing event listings, posting on social media, and doing personal outreach. Photographer Dame Kristen Loken captured the day with these great images. 

A big thanks to our energetic sales-day volunteers and the Sponsorship & Fundraising Committee for their tireless efforts in producing this event. 

Given the success, the Sponsorship & Fundraising Committee is already planning for next year’s event, so start plotting now on treasures you can donate.

With gratitude, 

Dame Nancy Light 

Board Director, Sponsorship & Fundraising