FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier Welcomes 2023-2024 Cohort
The international organization of women leaders for excellence in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality industries inducts a record 18 new members to the SF chapter
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 8, 2023—The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) will induct 18 members from the 2023-2024 nomination period, bringing total membership for the chapter to nearly 150. The inductees come from a broad range of professions including chefs, winemakers, wine writers, educators, publicists, and photographers, adding depth and breadth to the organization’s demographics and strengthening its foundation of leadership, education, and philanthropy for future generations of women in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality industries.
Prospective members are nominated by existing LDEI-SF chapter members or through a self-nomination process, whereby candidates may apply directly to the organization. To be considered, members must have at least five years of professional experience in their field and be committed to and involved in community service.
“We continue to see positive impact from the self-nomination option since its introduction last year; we are thrilled to see our thriving membership diversify and expand with this more equitable process,” said Pamela Mazzola, President of LDEI-SF. “A warm welcome to our new Dames—individuals who already made significant contributions to their respective communities and industries and will bring tremendous talent and insights to our organization.”
Dames of the LDEI-SF uphold the Les Dames d’Escoffier’s mission, vision, and fundamental values through sharing knowledge, cultivating and celebrating professional diversity within the membership, and providing leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropic events for the community at large.
The 18 new members, who will be inducted at a private chapter event in the Bay Area in September 2023, include:
These inductees join a distinguished membership of women leaders that reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality.
For questions regarding membership, please get in touch with LDEI-SF Membership Chair Frankie Whitman at frankiewhitman@gmail.com.
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About Les Dames d’Escoffier International
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 fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @lesdamesintl, and LinkedIn.
About Les Dames d’Escoffier International – San Francisco Chapter
In 1989, nineteen powerhouse women in the culinary world founded the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International to bring the mission of LDEI to Northern California. The membership includes restaurateurs, professional chefs, bakers, caterers, cookbook authors, food journalists, farmers, food retailers, event planners, winemakers, wine industry professionals, food publicists, culinary educators, and hospitality executives. More information on the San Francisco chapter of LDEI can be accessed at lesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Instagram @lesdamessf and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET
Communications Committee Chair, Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco Chapter
kcharles@charlescomm.com
415-730-0064
Katie Canfield, DipWSET
Communications Committee, Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco Chapter
katie@odonnell-lane.com
530-720-1138
For immediate release
Dine, Drink and Discover with Minnesota Les Dames First Online Culinary Silent Auction
MINNEAPOLIS--The Minnesota chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier’s’ (LDEI) popular culinary silent auction which promises unique dining and drink experiences you won’t find anywhere but here, is going online May 1-13. Funds raised by the auction support local women in the culinary fields through academic scholarships and professional grants, as well as high school youth through Urban Roots, based in St. Paul.
Past Dame It! events have included an inperson sampling of gourmet food and drinks, along with a silent auction, but as the dine-out world has shifted, Dame It! has adapted to provide this robust online experience everyone can participate in.
What’s compelling about this auction is that the majority of items focus on personal experiences provided by Les Dames members as opposed to items you can find elsewhere in stores or the Internet. Among the items to bid on are:
- Dine out with a member of the Star Tribune’s Taste staff at one of its review features;
- A private cooking class for 12 by award-winning cookbook author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard based on her recent travels to Oaxaca, Mexico, and the Guatemalan Mayan highlands;
- Chowgirls Catering founders Heidi Andermack and Amy Brown will guide guests in the Art of the Board, including both the ingredients and the architecture of an artisan grazing board;
- A 4-hour baking class for two by Kim Ode, a baking instructor who led the Star Tribune’s Baking Central feature for many years,at Kim’s home in Edina;
- A private, customizable wine tasting for 6 led by wine expert Allison Sheardy at Quincy Street Kitchens in Northeast Minneapolis.
In addition, there are numerous wine experiences with sommeliers, meals prepared in your home by professional chefs, a takeaway lifestyle box from Paris Dining Club, as well as picnic ingredients and cooking accouterments -- all in time for Mother’s Day gifts or the start of summer entertaining.
The auction will go live at 8 a.m.on May 1 and can be accessed at https://us.givergy.com/lesdamesmn/ The last bid will be taken prior to 6 p.m. on May 13, and winners will be notified how to receive their items.
About the Les Dames organization
Minnesota Les Dames d’ Escoffier reflects the wide range of women food professionals in our area including restaurant chefs and owners, food writers, cookbook authors, caterers, food and nutrition consultants, editors, corporate food professionals, wine specialists, food stylists, and marketers. Auction items celebrate the expertise of chapter members and the connections they share within the Twin Cities community.
The chapter, formed in 1996, is an affiliate chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, composed of more than 2,400 members in 44 chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Mexico and Italy. The group is named after the French chef Auguste Escoffier, one of the most innovative chefs in history.
The website for the local organization is www.lesdamesmn.org.
For more information: Contact:
Nancy Weingartner Monroe
612-840-6659
nancywmonroe@gmail.com
The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier Now Accepting New Member Nominations and Applications for 2023-2024 Induction
The international organization of women leaders for excellence in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality fields provides leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 3, 2023—The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) is now accepting new membership applications through May 31, 2023, with the aim of furthering its mission to support and nurture the next generation of women leaders in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality industries.
Prospective members may be nominated by existing LDEI-SF chapter members or may self-nominate by applying directly to the organization. Self-nomination was introduced as on option for the new member applications in order to foster a more equitable nomination process and to further the organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier strives to propel and support women and diversity in positions of leadership across the many facets of the hospitality industry,” said Frankie Whitman, First Vice President, and Membership Committee Chair, Les Dames d'Escoffier, SF Chapter. “Last year, LDEI-SF inducted ten new members to bring our chapter membership to over 130 strong of accomplished leaders in food, beverage, wine, hospitality, publishing, media, public relations, and agriculture. We are excited to welcome in a new cohort that will continue to propel our organization forward.”
LDEI-SF is especially interested in applications from young, diverse candidates eager to actively contribute their time and talent to grow within the chapter. Active membership includes attending at least two member events per year and participating in the organization as a volunteer, committee member, chair, host of an event, or member of the Board of Directors.
To be considered, members must have at least five years of professional experience as a leader in the food and wine industries and have a commitment to and involvement in community service. Members must also agree to support Les Dames d’Escoffier’s vision, basic values, and philanthropic missions of Scholarship, Business Development for women, and Fellowship.
To apply, applicants must secure a letter of recommendation from a current Dame of the San Francisco Chapter. If the self-nominating applicant who meets the membership criteria does not know a current member, one will be appointed to write a letter of recommendation and later act as their chapter liaison for the first year. For a complete list of requirements and to apply, please review the application page on the LDEI-SF website.
Completed applications will be accepted through May 31, 2023. The Membership Committee recommendation and the vote of the Board determine membership acceptance.
For questions regarding nominations or applications, please contact LDEI-SF Membership Chair Frankie Whitman at frankiewhitman@gmail.com.
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 fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @lesdamesintl and LinkedIn.
The San Francisco chapter of LDEI, founded in 1989, provides programs and philanthropy to support its members and nurture the next generation of culinary leaders. More information on the San Francisco chapter of LDEI can be accessed at lesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Instagram @lesdamessf and on Facebook.
Media Contacts:
We're excited to share Dames Celia Sack and Tanya Holland in February 2023's issue of Food and Wine!
Food and Wine Feb 2023
Les Dames d’Escoffier San Francisco chapter Presents
“New Frontiers in Meat & Dairy: Improving our Food System With Innovative Biotech”
The virtual panel celebrates pioneering technologies in fermentation and cultivation for the future of food, part of month-long Table Talks series to help fund philanthropic efforts
San Francisco, CA, February 15, 2023—Next month, the San Francisco chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) will host a virtual panel discussion titled New Frontiers in Meat & Dairy: Improving our Food System with Innovative Biotech, led by a visionary panel of female leaders from California-based companies that have pioneered exciting and delicious alternatives to conventional meat and dairy products.
The event will take place Friday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. PST and forms part of LDEI’s “Table Talks with Les Dames,” a month-long online event series designed to celebrate the community of women in food, beverage, and hospitality. Tickets are $25 and all are welcome to register.
Attracting $3.1 billion in funding last year, the alternative protein industry is growing and evolving at an unprecedented rate. The virtual panel discussion, New Frontiers in Meat & Dairy, will present a new take on the future of food through systems and products—such as mycoprotein meat, cream cheese, ice cream, chicken and more—that are kinder to animals, the planet, and human health. Panelists Joanna Bromley, Co-founder and EVP for The Better Meat Co.; Nicki Briggs, VP at Perfect Day; and Amy Chen, COO at UPSIDE Foods will share their goals for making a positive impact on the environment and animal welfare, as well as present innovative new products for restaurant menus and store shelves.
“San Francisco and the greater Bay Area are home to many breakthrough food companies who will impact how food professionals and consumers think about, buy, and enjoy food today and in the future,” said LDEI San Francisco Chapter President Pam Mazzola. “We’re excited to spotlight these local companies and their global efforts to improve the culinary ecosystem.”
“Table Talks with Les Dames” continues through the month of March, with additional online events including: cooking and baking demonstrations with accomplished chefs, interviews and panel discussions with authors, journalists, chefs, and restaurateurs, food and beverage tastings, and more. The full calendar of events, hosted by LDEI chapters around the world, is available here. A portion of the proceeds generated through this series will support the scholarship and philanthropy programs for each local chapter.
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 fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visitLDEI.org and follow us onFacebook,Instagram @lesdamesintl,LinkedIn andTwitter @lesdamesintl.
LDE- SF Chapter
The San Francisco chapter of LDEI, founded in 1989 is dedicated to providing programs and philanthropy to support its members and nurture the next generation of culinary leaders. More information on the San Francisco chapter of LDEI can be accessed atlesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Facebook andInstagram @lesdamessf.
Media Contact: Katie Canfield, DipWSET
Communications Committee Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco Chapter
Phone 530-720-1138
Email katie@odonnell-lane.com
2022 Etoile d’Escoffier Culinary Scholarship Recipients
Philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, fine beverage, and hospitality will honor recipients at public fundraising event at Nightbird SF on November 14, 2022.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 7, 2022—The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) is delighted to announce that five recipients have been awarded the Etoile d’Escoffier Culinary Scholarship in 2022. L’Etoile scholarships support outstanding female students and graduates in achieving their professional aspirations as they become the next leaders of the culinary industry. The scholarship and its recipients are a key part of LDEI-SF’s mission of education, advocacy, and philanthropy.
The recipients will be honored during a fundraising reception at Nightbird restaurant in San Francisco on Monday, November 14, 2022 from 5:0-7 PM. The event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased in advance. Nightbird, named to the Top 100 Restaurants by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2019, is owned by James Beard Award-nominated and LDE-SF chapter member Kim Alter, and the event will raise funds for future scholarships.
“It’s our ambition to support and nurture the next generation of leaders in food and beverage through education, advocacy, and philanthropy,” said Scholarship Committee Chair Chantal Martin of LDEI-SF. “The L’Etoile d’Escoffier Culinary Scholarship empowers future movers and makers in the culinary industry. We’re proud to recognize this year’s recipients and we raise a glass to their continued success.”
The 2022 scholarship winners are all students or recent graduates of accredited culinary programs. Each of them is actively seeking professional experience in various culinary fields, as follows:
● Savannah Bundy, Laney College Baking & Pastry Program (seeking broadcast food programming or cookbook publishing experience)
● Jasmine Dillard, Treasure Island Job Corp Culinary Academy (seeking restaurant experience)
● Kannanuth Lert-ariyaphokhin, City College of San Francisco Culinary Arts Management and Food Service Management Programs (seeking catering business and pastry experience)
● Silvana Marincola, Laney College Culinary Arts Restaurant Management Program (seeking restaurant and bakery experience)
● Diana Zalvidar, Laney College Baking & Pastry Program (seeking chocolatier or patisserie experience)
Employers in the culinary industry are encouraged to contact Chantal Martin, Scholarship Committee Chair, with potential opportunities for the recipients at cmartin@peralta.edu.
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 fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram @lesdamesintl, Linked-in and Twitter @lesdamesintl. More information on The San Francisco chapter of LDEI can be accessed at lesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Instagram @lesdamessf.
Media Contacts
Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET Communications Committee Chair 415-730-0064 kcharles@charlescomm.com
Chantal Martin Scholarship Committee Chair 510-710-6730 cmartin@peralta.edu
San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Announces Karola Saekel Craib Excellence in Food Journalism Fellowship 2022 Recipient
Philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, fine beverage, and hospitality awards fellowship to journalist Anne Marshall-Chalmers
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 4, 2022—The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) is thrilled to announce Anne Marshall-Chalmers as the 2022 recipient of the Karola Saekel Craib Excellence in Food Journalism Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded annually to a promising Bay Area woman or nonbinary food journalist who is not a Les Dames d’Escoffier member and who has not more than 10 years in the field of food journalism. A monetary award is presented as an acknowledgement for good works and as encouragement to continue writing and remain in the field of journalism. Marshall-Chalmers, a journalist who has reported on issues ranging from California’s water crisis to farmworker safety, received $2,500 as the 2022 recipient.
“This fellowship was created in 2010 to honor Karola, a monumental figure in the rise of food journalism who also paved the way for women writers throughout her career,” said Pam Mazzola, President of LDEI-SF. “Our membership is proud to recognize Anne and all past and future recipients of the fellowship as journalists whose work furthers the legacy that Karola began. Her writing defined and set the standard for food journalism.”
Seven journalists evaluated five nominees for the 2022 award, including Dames Janet Fletcher, Rachel Levin, and Margo True, and past recipients.
“What an amazing honor to be recognized by such an immensely talented group of women journalists,” said Marshall-Chalmers. “Writing and reporting about food, agriculture and food systems is really fulfilling (and fun!) but also challenging. This is such a boost of encouragement to forge ahead!”
Anne Marshall-Chalmers is a freelance writer and senior reporter with Civil Eats. A California native, she spent several years working as a reporter, writer, and audio producer in Tennessee and Kentucky before returning to the Bay Area. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Gastro Obscura, USA Today, Bay Nature, Earth Island Journal, NPR, CalMatters, Inside Climate News, and Louisville Magazine. She reports on climate change, agriculture, school food, public health, and the spaces where these topics intersect.
In 2023, the monetary award will increase to $3,500. Confidential nominations for the fellowship are received throughout the year, reviewed in the summer, and awarded in the fall. For more information about the fellowship, its nomination process, and past recipients, please visit lesdamessf.org/Fellowship or email Co-Chair, Dame Roberta Klugman at rklugman@robertaklugman.com.
Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco, Communications Committee Chair 415-730-0064 kcharles@charlescomm.com
Roberta KlugmanCo-Chair Karola Saekel Craib Excellence in Food Journalism Fellowship510-928-1446rklugman@robertaklugman.com
Jennifer Newens Co-Chair Karola Saekel Craib Excellence in Food Journalism Fellowship415-845-5798jennifernewens@sbcglobal.net
Click here to read the article from The Mercury News.
San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International
Inducts 10 New Members in 2022-2023
Local chapter of philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, fine beverage, and hospitality now exceeds 130 members
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 17, 2022—The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI-SF)—a philanthropic organization with a mission to support and nurture the next generation of women leaders in the food, fine beverage, and hospitality industries—is proud to announce the induction of 10 new members for the 2022-2023 nomination period. The inductees are professionals from diverse backgrounds, including highly qualified chefs, sommeliers, retailers, and executives.
Previously, prospective members were required to be nominated by an existing chapter member. In a national effort to create a more equitable nomination process, prospective members were also welcomed to apply directly through a self-nomination process during the 2022-2023 period.
"Our chapter represents a great cross section of what makes San Francisco an incubator of talent with national impact,” said Pam Mazzola, President of LDEI-SF. “We are thrilled that our membership is even more representative of diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and age ranges than ever before. The infusion of talent and contribution within our organization is incredible. Congratulations to all our new members!"
The 10 new members, who will be inducted at a private chapter event in September 2022, include:
● Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
● Cara Patricia Higgins, Co-Founder of DECANTsf, Advanced Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine
● Carie Harris, Retired Caterer and Private Chef
● Denise St. Onge, Executive Chef at Sorella Restaurant
● Erika French-Arnold, Director of the Center for Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University
● Fiorella Butron, Culinary Director and Executive Chef at Stone Edge Farm, Certified Sommelier
● Jammir Gray, Executive Chef at Compline Restaurant
● Melissa Chou, Award-winning Pastry Chef of “Grand Opening” Pop-Up at Mister Jiu’s
● Remi Cohen, MBA, CEO of Domaine Carneros
● Stevie Stacionis, Co-Owner of MAMA restaurant and Bay Grape wine shops, Founder of Bâtonnage Forum, Certified Sommelier
Dames of the LDEI-SF engage in events, programs, and philanthropy. To qualify, women are required to have a minimum of five years of professional experience in their field, possess the highest qualities of professionalism, be willing to contribute their time and talent as members, and support the LDEI mission, vision, and basic values. Members are requested to attend at least two member events per year and participate in the organization as volunteers, committee members, or chairs, host an event or serve on the Board of Directors. With the addition of the 2022-2023 inductees, LDEI-SF now exceeds 130 members.
Media Contact
Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET Charles Communications Associates 415-730-0064 kcharles@charlescomm.com
Les Dames d’Escoffier International, San Francisco Chapter, is a 501 (c)(3) (EIN 20-5341764) Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
