The day was October 15, 2007… and after a year of planning and hard work, Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Abbondanza! fund–raiser took place. Nearly 200 New York Dames and their guests arrived at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center for one of their favorite things—raising funds for scholarship. And what a success the event turned out to be! Over $120,000 was raised that evening for our Make a Difference Culinary Scholarships, to be awarded to future “Dames in the making.”
The event began with a VIP reception, where the event honoree, Dame Lidia Bastianich, autographed books for the reception attendees, while guests nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and sipped a signature cocktail. The dinner was kicked off by Master of Ceremonies Isaac Mizrahi, who humorously roasted Abbondanza! Culinary Chair Mario Batali. Four-star chefs worked their culinary magic and served a special elegant dinner. Chef Jacques Pépin, a long-time supporter of Les Dames New York, painted and donated a whimsical menu of the event, which was auctioned off. After some intense bidding, Martha Stewart prevailed, then graciously presented the watercolor menu to Lidia as a memento of the event.
The evening flowed with perfection, thanks to Event Cochairs Roberta Morrell and Rita Jammet and their capable and enthusiastic committee. The silent action, expertly organized by Dame Melanie Young increased the LDNY scholarship fund. To read more about Abbondanza!, click here.
Master of Ceremonies Isaac Mizrahi poses with his idol and honoree Lidia Bastianich during a memorable Abbondanza! moment.
Presidents of Les Dames d'Escoffier New York
Deborah Mintcheff is a highly respected cookbook editor who specializes in packaged books. Self-taught, she began her career working in the Redbook test kitchens as a freelance food editor and later as a garde manger at Tavern on the Green. One of the top food stylists in New York for over fourteen years, she went on to copyedit many prestigious cookbooks for a number of well-established publishing houses, among them Artisan, Ten Speed Press, Hearst Books, Assouline, Filippachi, and Wiley. She has worked as a consultant for Tyson Foods and Meow Mix, and developed and launched Biscuits 'n' Bones™, a limited-ingredient line of dog biscuits for dogs with food allergies. She has a BA from Brooklyn College and an MA from New York University. Ms. Mintcheff served as the president of the New York Women's Culinary Alliance for five years. She has been a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier since 2000. LDNY Copresident 2007–2008; President 2008–2009.
Mary Ellen Griffin is currently a partner in Continental Consulting Group, the leader in below-the-line agency integration and search. Previously, as Vice President, Consumer Relationship Marketing/New Media, Diageo NA, Ms. Griffin led initiatives focused on brand building through communicating directly with consumers. Prior to joining Diageo, she was Director of Relationship Marketing, The Pillsbury Company, where she was responsible for the Internet Team, directing consumer e-mail and postal databases, as well as leading the overall effort to incorporate new media concepts into the strategic marketing mix. Ms. Griffin has also served as Global Director, Direct Marketing, Seagram Spirits and Wine Group, in addition to assuming brand management and other marketing roles there. A graduate of Wellesley College, she has an MBA from New York University and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University. LDNY Copresident 2006–2008.
Shelley Clark is the president of Platform Communications, which is a marketing communications firm specializing in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Prior to founding Platform in 2007, Ms. Clark was a vice president at Lou Hammond & Associates (LH&A), one of the country’s leading luxury lifestyle–oriented public relations firms. During her tenure there, she utilized her food, beverage and hospitality expertise to launch new restaurant and hotel concepts as well as to build existing brands and rehabilitate the image of others. Before joining Lou Hammond & Associates, Ms. Clark was the director of marketing and public relations for Tavern on the Green, which she continues to represent. The author of three guidebooks to New York and London, Ms. Clark graduated from Kenyon College and completed a history program with honors at Scotland’s University of Aberdeen. LDNY Copresident 2006–2007.
Emily Snyder is Director of Sales & Marketing for Mandarin Oriental, New York, a luxury Five-Star, Five-Diamond hotel. Ms. Snyder re-joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in early 2003 as Director of Sales for the New York flagship property when the hotel was still in its pre-opening stages. Previously in the early 1990s Ms. Snyder was with Mandarin Oriental’s regional sales office. Prior to her appoint at Mandarin Oriental, New York, she was with The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park where she was Director of Sales & Marketing through and beyond its pre-opening and opening stages. She was Director of Sales at The St Regis from 1995-2001 and joined LDNY in 2003. LDNY President 2005–2006.
Alison Awerbuch iis partner and executive vice president of Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships, one of the largest and most prestigious catering firms in the New York metropolitan area. Ms. Awerbuch oversees all food and beverage operations, as well as many other aspects of the business, for all of the company’s divisions, including Tappan Hill Mansion, Pier Sixty and the Lighthouse, The New York Botanical Gardens, Stage 6 at Steiner Studios, as well as the firm's off-premises division. She is actively involved in many organizations, including Les Dames d'Escoffier New York, The Food Bank of Westchester, and SHARE. LDNY President 2004–2005.
Lila Gault is a career food and wine professional specializing in marketing and public relations. She has worked with farmers, food manufacturers, chefs, and cookbook authors throughout America for three decades. Ms. Gault is a former board member of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs and a founding board member of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food. She holds a Certificate in Fund-Raising and Nonprofit Management from New York University and lives in, and works from, her Chelsea loft. LDNY President 2002–2004.
Jan Turner Hazard was the food and equipment editor for Ladies Home Journal for sixteen years, prior to which she was associate food editor of Ladies Home Journal for nine years. Ms. Hazard is now a partner with Nancy Byal (a Dame in the Kansas City chapter), with whom she writes about kitchen equipment as it relates to food preparation on their Website www.kitchengadgetgals.com. They also contribute to Better Homes & Gardens magazine. Ms. Hazard has been a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier since 1980. LDNY President 2000–2002.
Previous Presidents
Penelope Pate-Greene
Abigail Kirsch
Ella Elvin
Beverly Barbour
Melissa Séré
Rozanne Gold
Saralie Slonsky
Jeanne Voltz Mac Knight
Mary Lyons
Irena Chalmers
Sylvia Schur Domoto
Carol Brock
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