QUARTERLY CONFERENCE ISSUE Washington, D.C
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Les Dames d’Escoffier International QUARTERLY CONFERENCE ISSUE Washington, D.C. Grande Dame Jerry DiVecchio The History of LDEI The LDEI Kitchen Fund Chapters Respond to Terrorist Attacks Management Firm Hired Houston Chapter Raises $25,000 Dames Manufacture Food Products Adelaide, Australia · Atlanta · Boston · British Columbia · Chicago · Dallas Honolulu · Houston · Kansas City · Le Donne del Vino, Italy · Los Angeles Miami · Minneapolis/St. Paul · New York · Palm Springs · Philadelphia Phoenix · San Antonio · San Francisco · Seattle · Washington, D.C. WINTER 2002 Les Dames d’Escoffier International 2001-2002 President’s Message EXECUTIVE “Connectivity through Communication” We are enhancing the LDEI Web site to COMMITTEE is my theme for Les Dames d’Escoffier provide easy access to information. The President International this year. Instituting this site will include calendars of all chapters Renie Steves theme began last year when Abby so Dames who are traveling may attend 1406 Thomas Place Mandel and the executive committee events in other chapter. Updating Ft. Worth, TX 76107-2432 produced a new brochure that defines Dames’ listings will be easy and efficient. (817) 732-4758 our membership and Eventually chapters will be [email protected] mission. Chapters will find able to share fundraising First VP/Pres. Elect this especially beneficial in ideas on the Web site CiCi Williamson seeking support for events. instead of reinventing the 6025 Chesterbrook Road Through our connection wheel with each event. McLean, VA 22101-3213 [email protected] with our new national office, Association, Event Our e-newsletter — for Second VP/Communications and Conference members only — allows Kathrine Newell-Smith Management Resources individuals to address 10028 Lochness Court (AEC) and its president career-related problems that Vienna, VA 22181 Greg Jewell we will build Liz Baron, left, president of elicit advice from other [email protected] the Dallas Chapter, pre- members as well as receive strong communication sents check for MFK Fisher Third VP/Communications between chapters. In other notice of our bridgeline Award to LDEI president teleforums. These Lynn Fredericks words, the right hand can Renie Steves at the Annual 330 East 43rd Street #704 know and understand what Conference. teleforums are monthly y New York, NY 10017 the left hand is doing, “dial-in meetings” open to (212) 867-3929 all members who want to participate on [email protected] whether it concerns a chapter’s change in officers or ideas for fundraisers. There is a particular subject such as membership Secretary a wealth of knowledge and resources in issues, educational forums, or career Pat Mozersky each chapter and we want to facilitate a changes. 204 Cliffside Drive strong connection between the chapters. San Antonio, TX 78231 Twenty-five years ago a small group of (210) 492-4336 Through AEC we not only have women in New York saw a need to [email protected] connectivity but continuity from year to connect with their food, wine, and Treasurer year. Greg is the center of our May pole, hospitality colleagues. All of this Dianne Hogerty the collector of information, the connectivity has grown from that. 2401 W. 70th Street. perpetual calendar, and the person to Mission Hills, KS 66028 help streamline processes. Renie Steves (913) 384-3387 [email protected] Jerry DiVecchio, Sunset Magazine A big thanks to Dave Past President Moore, pictured here with Abby Mandel Carol Haddix, Chicago Tribune his wife Bonnie who was 77 Maple Hill Road D.C. conference co-chair. Margaret Kirkwood, Food Writer He took photos of all the Glencoe, IL 6002 events at the conference. (847) 835-2240 Caren McSherry, Author & Radio/TV Any photos not credited in [email protected] Jane Mengenhauser, Food Writer this issue are those that Please send information Dave took. Feel free to CiCi Williamson, Syndicated Columnist visit his Web site at for the next newsletter to www.mooredc.com to [email protected] Lucy Wing, formerly of Country Living PHOTO BY CICI WILLIAMSON. view and order photos. About the Cover: GRANDE DAME Jerry Anne DiVecchio 42-year career. Jerry wrote and/or edited Committee for the International Association was honored with the LDEI Grande Dame 53 Sunset cookbooks, including The Mexican of Culinary Professionals. Jerry served on the Award in Washington, DC, on October 19 Cook Book which has sold 2 million copies. advisory board of ARC (mentally handi- during the annual conference. Recently As the founding president of the San capped) in San Francisco and has been an retired from Sunset Publications as senior Francisco Les Dames d’Escoffier chapter, she advisor to the San Francisco Ferry Plaza food editor, Jerry shaped the way people proposed and worked to establish the LDEI Public Market, and the California of Sciences in the West ate and strongly influenced MFK Fisher Award. Jerry has given gener- Museum, Reitz Food Symposium, San food trends. With a major in home eco- ously of her time and talents to the Los Francisco. She certainly exemplifies the true nomics and minor in journalism, she built Angeles Olympics, the March of Dimes and meaning of Grande Dame as did her mentor, the food department at Sunset into a cre- the San Francisco Food Runners. For two M.F.K. Fisher who received the Grande ative, dynamic, editorial force during her years, she chaired the Cook Book Awards Dame Award 23 years ago. 2 Les Dames d’Escoffier International White House Tales at the Woodrow Wilson House By Celeste McCall, Washington, D.C. Chapter Seattle Chapter Dames’ wineries were Kicking off Les Dames’ action-packed Washington deliciously and well weekend was a reception at the Woodrow Wilson House, represented with LYN the historic mansion located off Embassy Row. The TANGEN Washington State Wine Commission sponsored the event. ’s Caterina L INDA As the 145 attendees crowded around, LDEI president Winery and CHAUNCEY’s Stimson ABBY MANDEL, conference co-chairs PATRICE DIONOT and Lane Winery. And BONNIE MOORE, DC Chapter president CYNTHIA GLOVER Debra Barnard gra- and public relations chair BEVERLY BROCKUS each made ciously poured her welcoming remarks. Barnard Griffin Then veteran New Wines. After the York Times food colum- reception, many nist and D.C. Chapter groups of Dames par- Emerita Dame MARIAN ticipated in restaurant BURROS, regaled guests Dine-Arounds with tales from “Below arranged by BEVERLY the Stairs at the White BROCKUS at restaurants House.” Burros’ histori- related to D.C. Dames. cal culinary romp took us through the kitchen adventures of eight administrations–from Lyndon B. Johnson through George W. Bush. Many of the humorous tales involved the ridiculous secrecy surrounding White House kitchens: tracking Lynda Bird Johnson’s wedding cake and White House chef Henry Haller’s recipe for Chinese chicken in walnut sauce. Afterwards, guests toured the mansion where President Woodrow Wilson spent his last three years. As Washington State wines flowed, E LOISE SANCHEZ, general manager of Washington Wine Commission representatives pour their vin- Dean & DeLuca, and SANDRA ROSS, creative director of tages. Design Cuisine, provided tasty hors d’oeuvres, including chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce and veggies with hummus. PHOTO BY CICI WILLIAMSON One group of Dames enjoys the International Dine-Around at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Seasons restaurant. Left to right, Carol Beverly Brockus, center, coordinator of the opening reception Brock (New York); Ann Steiner (Houston); Four Seasons’ execu- and following dine-around, chats with Bonnie Moore, left, and tive chef Doug Anderson; Mary Jo Plutt (Chicago); Karen Vartan Gail Forman of the D.C. Chapter. and Annie Boutin-King (D.C.). 3 Les Dames d’Escoffier International International Culinary Expo By Tina Wasserman, Dallas Chapter An LDEI meet- ing guarantees three things: the people will be ter- rific, the conversa- tions will be stimu- lating—profession- ally and intellectu- ally—and the food will be inventive, delicious and PLENTIFULL! The D.C. Dames fulfilled all requirements dur- Susan Callahan, left, serves fajitas for the National Cattlemen’s ing the annual con- Beef Association. ference’s Friday luncheon: an International Culinary Expo. JANIS MCLEAN, La Varenne’s U.S. repre- sentative, coordinated the luncheon’s 15 stations of food and wine that were prepared or provided by local Dames, friends of Dames in metropolitan D.C., and wineries in California and Washington State. The foods were diverse in ethnicity, flavor and texture…a party for our palates. •RUTH GRESSER of Pizzeria Paradiso was assisted by MELISSA BALLINGER with an unusual bruchetta with pickled anchovies and LOADS of garlic. Fortunately everyone devoured the bruchetta so no one noticed the garlic! Delores Cakebread and Caroline Bailey of the Gallo family share •JOAN N ATHAN and CARLA HALL collaborated on a wine talk. Caroline is president of women for Winesense. Moroccan tomato and pepper salad accentuated with the intriguing flavor of preserved Board—was delicious. And the lemon. Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute can pitch their seafood to •CAROLINE ROSS exquisitely me any time they want!t! demonstrated the perfect, rich Local restaurants whose Dames’ combination of apples, butter and connection is that of being fre- sugar in a light pastry with her quented by our sisters helped out as mini Tarte Tatin. well. Saigonnais treated us to Vietnamese garden rolls, Mt. •VANESSA L IM represented her Everest Restaurant served many restaurants, Yanyu and Spices, second helpings of Nilgiri Chicken with her extraordinary Ginza and Bombay Bistro offered Papri roll, and this Texan thought that Chat, a great vegetarian dish. Seven SUSAN CALLAHAN cut a mean Seas Restaurant surprised us with Fajita for conference sponsor, the Sweet Black Rice Cake dessert, Red National Cattlemen’s Beef Ginger served up Seafood Fritters Association. with Spicy Dipping sauce and Café’ Atlantico brought a delicious As a prune lover, I couldn’t care Ceviche Mixto.