It's ALL Grande
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FALL 2015 IT’S ALL GRanDE for LDEI Erin BYERS MURRAY Joan NATHAN Grand Prize Winner in LDEI’s M.F.K. Fisher Grande Dame Award Winner Awards for Excellence in Culinary Writing ALSO INSIDE | NEW CHAPTERS FOR LDEI EDIBLE LONDON TOUR | LDEI BOARD IN MINNESOTA From left: Joan Nathan receiving the 2005 James Beard award for her book The New American Cooking. Horse-drawn carriage ride in Charleston. "Cowheart" tomatoes and other vine-ripened tomatoes at Borough Market in London (see Edible London 2016 tour on page 16). Below: CiCi sitting on a live bull at the 2002 LDEI Conference in San Antonio FROM THE EDITOR H igh Fives! FALL 2 O15 When did milk cost $ 0.80 per gallon? Well, it was in 1976, when the New York Chapter held its grand investiture at the French consulate. That year, the topT V se- IN THIS ISSUE ries was “Happy Days” (set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where we still have no chapter), FEATURES and “Rocky” (set in the home of our Phila- delphia Chapter) won the Academy Award for best picture. 4 M.F.K. Fisher Awards In 1986, five chapters (there’s that first number 5) banded together Contest Winners to form LDEI. In 2015, we return to that number as five new groups have been granted chapter status. In between, here is LDEI by mul- 9 Charleston Conference tiples of five. Blue List Presidents of the five original chapters—NewY ork (1973), Wash- ington (1981), Chicago (1982), Dallas and Philadelphia (1984), 10 Board Meeting in Minnesota launched LDEI on October 27, 1986, at a gala dinner in the lobby of the New York Daily News building. They represented 225 women. 12 Grande Dame Joan Nathan Ten years later, 15 new chapters were added, making a total of 20. Milk had gone up to $2.50 per gallon; the top TV series was “ER” (set History of the British 15 in the home of our Chicago Chapter) and “The English Patient” (set in Columbia (B.C.) Chapter Italy where we partnered with Le Donne del Vino) won the Academy Award. During the next ten years, an average of one new chapter per 16 Edible London: The Sequel! year was chartered, and a couple of chapters went inactive. By 2015, six more chapters joined LDEI, making a total of 30 chapters. 17 We BeLOnG This year, milk hit a high of $3.50 per gallon. I don’t know why this Nashville Chapter Update is significant except to show how far LDEI has come since milk cost 19 $0.80 in 1976. In case you’re interested, bread cost $0.60 a loaf that 20 Five New Chapters year, but it was probably that puffy marshmallow stuff we ate as kids until America finally embraced artisanal European breads. (Milk and 22 Green Tables bread are two of the cost-of-living indicators as monitored by the USDA’s Economic Research Service.) 23 Global Culinary Postcard Now comes the “High Five” for 2015. This year, we have five new chapters: Ann Arbor, Kentucky, North Carolina, Portland, and Sac- DEPARTMENTS ramento—the most we have added in any one year. The original 225 Dames have mushroomed to over 2,000 women with membership 24 Chapter News in LDEI. What will the future bring? Well, it’s easy to predict that a gallon of milk will never again cost $0.80, and it seems a sure bet 28 Member Milestones that LDEI will continue adding chapters in support of outstanding women culinary professionals around the world. So, “Cheers!”—the Submission Guidelines 31 top TV series in 1991 (set in the home of our Boston Chapter). Here’s to us all! —CiCi Williamson, Editor, Fall Quarterly 2 Les Dames d’Escoffier International PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 2015 LDEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS The mission of the LDEI Board is to LDEI: Staying Relevant in a Changing World foster the growth and success of the organization by supporting the Strategic, meaningful growth and active development of new and existing chapters participation is the lifeblood of any organiza- and by implementing program initiatives. tion. The recent announcement of five new It provides leadership, guidance, chapters (a sixth—Mexico, is pending) means education, connectivity, and effective that LDEI is not only growing, but actively communication among LDEI members. delivering on its promise of improving the lives President of women across the globe. LORI WILLIS Director of Communications The induction of Mexico in 2015 and, Schnuck Markets, Inc. possibly, Scotland in 2016, means we are 11420 Lackland Rd. significantly expanding our global footprint. Ballwin, MO 63146-3559 With LDEI’s 30th anniversary looming, this (314) 994-4602 | [email protected] unprecedented growth is a validation of the First Vice President MARIA GOMEZ-LAURENS strength of our vision and our efforts to stay Manager, Hospitality, HelmsBriscoe relevant to our membership and to the lives 11241 Avenida del Gato of women today. But, with growth, there are San Diego, CA 92126 challenges, and the board has worked to review (858) 633-7515 | [email protected] existing programs and processes to find unique Second Vice President ANN STRATTE ways to deliver on goals. Owner, My Personal Chef New chapter development became a year- 100 Severn Avenue, #506 long process involving Dames who helped- Annapolis, MD 21403-2622 coordinate first meetings for potential charter (410) 903-2682 | [email protected] members and explained what LDEI was all Third Vice President HAYLEY JO MATSON-MATHES about. We ensured the integrity of approvals targeted services, and give stronger support to Owner/Culinary Consultant by carefully vetting all applicants. Other board struggling chapter boards. 2333 Kapiolani Blvd #3516 Honolulu, HI 96826 members’ initiatives led to improved member Our aim, this year, has been to enhance bene- benefits including: (808) 941-9088 | [email protected] fits for our members while keeping costs down Secretary • Updating the PR and New and conference attendance up. To that end, SHARON M. OLSON Chapter handbooks and policies; your 2015 Board challenged the traditional Executive Director, Culinary Visions® Panel and reinvented the routine with outstanding 345 North Canal Street, Apt. 1407 • Modernizing the LDEI logo; Chicago, IL 60606 results! I am very proud to have been a part of (312) 280-4573 | [email protected] • Expanding the Quarterly this team of outstanding leaders and equally Treasurer conference issues (2016); proud of what we accomplished! But, we could STACY ZEIGLER • Targeting timely and relevant not have done it without YOU. Director of Sales, Bold American Events My thanks go to: Alice Foreman, 2929 Surrey Lane topics for webinars; Atlanta, GA 30341 Nathalie Dupree (Charleston), our recent past • A first-time conference (678) 302-3232 | [email protected] presidents, and founder Carol Brock (New Chapter Board Liaisons attendee reception; York); the chapters that invited me to sit in on DEBORAH MINTCHEFF • Enhanced professional development Board meetings and learn from them; and the Project & Ckbk Editor/Food Writer/Copy Editor/ Charleston Conference team and President Recipe Devel/Co-Active Life Coach opportunities (e.g. Webinars, Live Forward Coaching specialized speakers,workshops), and Jennifer Goldman for their exceptional work 129 East 69th Street in planning an amazing Conference! Finally, I New York, NY 10021-5000 • Increasing media releases and social offer a special appreciation to Greg Jewell and (212) 879-0383 | [email protected] media communications. AEC Management who continue to exceed ex- DEBORAH ORRILL pectations in the management of our program Culinary Consultant In large part, support from Alice Gautsch 64 Vanguard Way overall. Foreman (Seattle) enabled the Board to engage Dallas, TX 75243 When I took office last September, I shared (214) 343-0124 | [email protected] an expert to help build a framework for Strate- with a mentor my concern, “What can the BEV SHAFFER gic Planning and bring in Roxanne Kaufman board and I accomplish in just one year?” After Corporate Chef, Vitamix World Headquarters Elliott, President of ProLaureate Ltd, who will 3433 Blake Road he thought about it, he said something like, speak at the Leadership Forum (see LDEI.org). Seville, OH 44273 “Success does not mean that you have to finish; Our Conference team has been able to offer (440) 781-7202 | [email protected] your job is to get things started.” Attorney Jackie Henson a featured seminar Immediate Past President So, ladies, consider the strides we have made BETH ALLEN spot where she can address questions that con- this year the start of even greater things to Founder/President, Beth Allen Associates Inc sistently come up around 501(c)(3) guidelines 347 W 22nd Street, Suite #9 come. See you in Charleston! and board operations. New York, NY 10011-4683 Times have changed significantly since LDEI (212) 206-1138 | [email protected] was formed 29 years ago. Thanks to Brock Executive Director GREG JEWELL Circle members and to the M.F.K. Fisher President, AEC Management Resources Fund, LDEI Boards now have resources to fuel Lori Willis P.O. Box 4961 our strategic growth, reach goals, provide more President, Les Dames d’Escoffier International Louisville, KY 40204 (502) 456-1851 x1 | [email protected] F ALL QUARTERLY 2015 3 Nine Prizes Awarded in LDEI's M.F.K. FISHER AWARDS CONTEST This year, we received 76 entries in LDEI’s M.F.K. Facing page: Erin at a signing for her first Fisher Awards for Excellence in Culinary Writing. For book, Shucked: Life on the first time, nine prizes were awarded—a first, a New England second, and third place award in each of three Oyster Farm. Husband Dave Murray and categories: Erin. Dottie Byers, her 1.