Escape to the beautiful Banfi Estate on Saturday, September, 11, for a private tour of the grounds, an outdoor reception, and a five-course gourmet luncheon paired with Castello Banfi wines. This is a rare opportunity to experience this historic Gold Coast property in Old Brookville, Long Island, as it is not open to the public at large. Thanks to Dames Jane Kettlewell, Joanna Pruess and Janeen Sarlin for creating this sure-to-be memorable event. Invitation and more details to come. click here

Join LDNY on Monday evening, September 27, for our Annual Induction Reception at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, New York. Highlights include a lavish Asian-inspired Dinner and the Investiture of our 2010 Dames. Cochairs Eleanor Sigona and Emily Snyder and Chef Toni Robertson have planned a spectacular evening that's sure to be one of the most impressive events of the year. Plan now to attend, meet, and greet our 2010 new members. For invitation, click here.

With a beautiful view of the Hudson River from the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Les Dames d’Escoffier New York celebrated our annual scholarship reception on Thursday, July 8th. A total of $92,000 in scholarships was awarded to 22 accomplished young women pursuing careers in the culinary, beverage, and hospitality professions. To read more about these talented women and view photos of the event, click here.  A big thanks to Dame Abigail Kirsch for donating the fabulous venue, food and cocktails.

On Saturday morning, June 26, naturalist and author “Wildman” Steve Brill led 15 Dames and guests on a foraging tour in New York City’s Central Park. The intrepid group discovered edible berries, herbs, wild ginger, sorrel and other delicious treasures right in Manhattan’s backyard. For details, click here.

On Wednesday, June 9, well-known cooking teacher and author Susan Loomis presented her new book, Nuts in the Kitchen, to 14 Dames and guests at Dame Suzen O'Rourke's venue, Cooking by the Book. Following Susan's mini-demonstration, the luncheon feast began with Mushroom and Walnut Tarte Tatin, proceeded to Tagine from Le Casbah, and ended with Crumbly Almond Cake and homemade Lemon Poppyseed Ice Cream. Thanks go to co-chairs Suzen O'Rourke and Lila Gault for this delicious, enjoyable event! To read more and view photos, click here

On Tuesday, June 1, a group of hungry Dames traveled out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and were rewarded with a meaty meal at chef Zak Pelaccio's much-anticipated new barbeque restaurant, Fatty 'Cue. The menu combines Southeast Asian flavors with all-American smoking for a unique take on BBQ. To view photos, click here To read Jenifer Lang's blog post about Fatty 'Cue, click here.

As part of our ongoing partnership with NYU's Fales Library, director Marvin J. Taylor extended an invitation to New York Dames to celebrate the publication of Feed Your Pet Right, a new book by Dr. Marion Nestle and Dr. Malden Nesheim. The discussion and reception took place on Thursday, May 27.

Dame Rozanne Gold was one of five distinguished panelists at the seminar Feeding Your Passion: Celebrating NYU Women in the Culinary Arts, sponsored by The NYU Women's Initiative. It was a sell-out event with several Dames in the audience-in total, 300 made reservations! We were treated to an interesting conversational exchange of outstanding culinary women professionals who have exciting careers and much advice to share. During the presentation, we learned that Rozanne was the first chef to Mayor Ed Koch, a four-time James Beard award winner and author of twelve cookbooks.

The NYU Women's Initiative joined The Division of Libraries and The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development in hosting the event. Many thanks to Sylvie Bigar, Florence Fabricant, Rozanne Gold, Serena Palumbo and Amy Zavatto for joining the distinguished panel. Special appreciation is noted for Steinhardt's Dr. Beth Weitzman, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of Health and Public Policy; Dr. Jennifer Berg, Clinical Assistant Professor of Food Studies, Director of the Graduate Program in Food Studies; and the Master students of the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health for their participation.

On May 20, the DeGustibus Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square welcomed renowned executive Chef Bernard Guillas and talented chef de cuisine Ron Oliver of La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. The two treated attendees to cooking demos and tastings—complete with wine pairings—that highlighted their inspired melding of French, Asian and Latin flavors. To read more and view photos, click here

On Saturday, April 17, a group of 18 New York Dames experienced this "Little Italy of the Bronx" with two pros guiding the way. Dame Michele Scicolone, Italian culinary expert and cookbook author, and her husband Charles, well-known Italian wine maven, led a personalized culinary-and-wine tour of the area with tastings along the way at many of the stops. Click here

“Chefs Move to Schools", a new initiative of Michelle Obama’s "Let's Move" campaign, was launched on Friday, June 4th. Thirty-one Dames from twelve Chapters in the U.S. and Canada were represented. Green Tables co-chairs Barbara Petit and Hilary Baum coordinated LDEI participation. New York Dames attending included Hilary Baum, Rosa Ross, Liz Neumark, Antonia Robertson and Lynn Fredericks.

LDEI participants from other chapters were Judy Rusignuolo, Susan Belsinger, Rachel Mueller, Liesel Flashenberg, Barbara McKnight, Lois Levine, Nathalie Dupree, Sharon Van Meter, Ariana Kumpis, Gale Gand, Gina Hopkins, Michele Haines, Patricia Ward, Marie Kelley, Julie Darling, Guida Ponte, Cathy Conway, Barbara Petit, Kiran Verma, Toria Emas, Katherine Tallmadge, Katherine Newell Smith, Mary Moore, Virginia Willis, Kathy Gold and Amy Ponzoli. "Chefs Move to Schools" is an outreach program for chefs around the country to adopt a local school in an effort to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic.
 

Dame Rozanne Gold was among four panelists speaking at "Feeding Your Passion: Celebrating NYU Women in the Culinary Arts" on Tuesday, April 27, at NYU Stern School of Business. Dame Gold was joined by Silvie Bigar, Florence Fabrican and Amy Zavatto. The evening was sponsored by the New York Univerity Women's Initiative.

Dame Anne E. McBride announces the release of Culinary Careers: How to Get Your Dream Job in Food, with Advice from Top Culinary Professionals (Clarkson Potter), authored with Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) President Rick Smilow. In addition to chapters about education, advanced training, certifications, and entrepreneurship, Culinary Careers features 89 exclusive interviews with food-world luminaries and those on their way up. Culinary Careers is a must-have resource for anyone looking to break into the food world, whether you’re a first-time job seeker or a career changer looking for your next step. The book is available in bookstores nationwide and on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/culinarycareers.

Congratulations to two New York chapter Dames whose books have been nominated for prestigious culinary industry awards. Dame Eileen Yin-Fei Lo's Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking (Chronicle Books) received nominations for both the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and James Beard Foundation Awards. Dame Lidia Bastianich's Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy (Alfred A. Knopf) received a James Beard Foundation Award nomination.

Congratulations to Dame Abigail Kirsch, founder of Abigail Kirsch Culinary Relationships, who was one of three women honored as a Westchester County Women’s Hall of Fame Award Recipient. The awards ceremony and luncheon was held at the Hilton at Rye Town in Rye Brook, New York on March 26th. “It was a wonderful afternoon,” reports Dame Allison Awerbuch, a partner in Abigail Kirsch. “Abby was honored in front of 400 attendees and received tons of accolades—even a personal note from Hillary Clinton that was read to the audience.”

 John Sexton, president of New York University, wrote a letter of congratulations to the New York chapter for successfully completing our commitment in support of the Les Dames d'Escoffier/Carol Brock New Acquisitions Program at Fales Library. To read his congratulatory letter, click here.

The First Edition in English of The Physiology of Taste, by Brillat-Savarin, Philadelphia 1854. For more details, click here.

In honor of Dame Carol Brock, Les Dames d´Escoffier New York, in partnership with the Fales Library, is creating the "Carol Brock/Les Dames d´Escoffier New Acquisitions Program" at New York University's esteemed Fales Library-- now home to one of the most important cookbook collections in the country. To find out more, click here. In celebration of this program and in honor of Carol, a Champagne Reception was held in the New York University Penthouse on Wednesday evening, October 21, 2009. Over seventy Dames, Fales Library representatives and their guests gathered for the festivities. For more details of the event, click here.

Kudos to Dame Rozanne Gold who has found a new home for Gourmet magazine's 3,500 volume book collection at the Fales Library. The gift, arranged by Dame Gold and her husband Michael Whiteman, follows on the heels of Gold's successful effort on behalf of Les Dames d'Escoffier to raise $50,000 for the Fales Library in honor of Dame Carol Brock. For full coverage click here