SUMMER 2015 Gone to Market The Roles and Responsibilities of Dames in the Grocery Industry ALSO INSIDE - GEORGES AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER REVOLUTIONIZED THE CANONS OF CLASSICAL FRENCH CUISINE AND ELEVATED THE STATUS OF THE PROFESSIONAL CHEF. HIS LEGACY CONTINUES… Michel Escoffier and Mary Chamberlin at a Monterey Chapter celebration for Grande Dame Julia Child’s birthday. Karen Mitcham- Stoeckley’s Cotes de Agneau Maison d'Or (lamb cooked in the Provençal style); a recipe from her cookbook that she served for a special dinner (page 15). Photo by Curt Dennison. Michel Escoffier and Lori Willis examine a poster of the Escoffier Museum. Photo by Curt Dennison. FROM THE EDITOR LDEI: Past, Present, and Future SUMMER 2 O15 Understanding the past is one of the most powerful tools we have for shaping the future. On pages 12 to 14, pay homage to the achievements of Master Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier. During the fabulous “Edible London” trip Dames participated IN THIS ISSUE in last year, an afternoon tea was arranged at the Savoy Hotel. Executive Chef James Pare guided us on a tour through the kitchens, FEATURES sharing a history of the hotel and Escoffier. The Fabulous Four Chef Pare and his team spent months pour- 4 ing over the hotel archives and records at 6 Gone to Market Musee Escoffier in his efforts to incorporate Escoffier’s dishes into the Savoy’s menus. We 12 Escoffier: Looking Back all wanted to know more about Escoffier…this feature is a on a Legacy place to begin. Exciting news: The London Chapter will host Edible London, Part 2 in 2016. Watch for further details. 15 Doin' the Charleston Groceries, of necessity, are part of every woman’s life but in the feature story, “Gone to Market,” pages 6 to 10, nine enterprising 16 Global Culinary Initiative Dames have turned food into a career. New York Dame Karen Page, author of The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, writes, “The average 18 Wente: California's First American feels it’s easier to figure out income taxes than how to Family of Chardonnay eat healthy… the proven connection between nutrition and well- ness can’t be ignored. LDEI President Lori Willis says “Grocers 25 San Antonio Celebrates have an emotional connection with our customers because we provide the healthy food that they need to live a quality life. They DEPARTMENTS see us almost daily and look to us for more than just food; for education, information, and advice.” 20 Chapter News Our deserving 2015 Grande Dame nominees are presented on pages 4 to 5. Don’t miss the fabulous 26 Member Milestones chapter stories shared by Atlanta, San Antonio, and Hawaii. 31 Submission Guidelines Charleston has been busy planning the 2015 Annual Conference. It will be an extraordinary opportunity for personal enrichment, with productive sessions, engaging speakers, and time for fun. There is no place like beautiful Charles- ton! You will find it to be uniquely hospitable with splendid architecture, charming town gardens, balmy autumn weather, and history as rich as biscuits ‘n sausage gravy. Charleston has a lively beverage history as well, and the food is flavorful, unforgettable, and smoking hot! —Susan Fuller Slack (Charleston) 2 Les Dames d’Escoffier International PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 2015 LDEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS The mission of the LDEI Board is to foster the growth and success of Let’s Giv’em Something to Talk About! the organization by supporting the development of new and existing chapters and by implementing program initiatives. Greetings ladies! It is my pleasure to provide It provides leadership, guidance, you with information and updates as we take education, connectivity, and effective full advantage of the beautiful days of summer. communication among LDEI members. We’ve been in contact with the team at the President USA Pavilion in Milan where the theme, LORI WILLIS “American Food 2.0” has come to life. The Director of Communications lineup includes renowned experts charged with Schnuck Markets, Inc. starting a worldwide conversation that unites 11420 Lackland Rd. Ballwin, MO 63146-3559 people around the topic of food. We will try (314) 994-4602 | [email protected] to keep you posted on developments via social First Vice President media but encourage you to take a look at the MARIA GOMEZ-LAURENS program posted on-line. In the meantime, the Manager, Hospitality, HelmsBriscoe Expo has reminded me how LDEI might keep 11241 Avenida del Gato San Diego, CA 92126 our own “conversation” going. (858) 633-7515 | [email protected] I get excited when I hear of a Dame who, in Second Vice President a speech, video, or news article, finds a way ANN STRATTE to mention LDEI. That small courtesy goes a Owner, My Personal Chef long way and I have tried to remember to talk contest (see ldei.org). Based on the caliber of 100 Severn Avenue, #506 nominees, the Grande Dame award is a guar- Annapolis, MD 21403-2622 about our organization or share news about (410) 903-2682 | [email protected] anteed highlight of Conference 2015. And, one of our members at least once a day. I find Third Vice President myself talking not only about my own chapter we have received a tremendous response to the HAYLEY JO MATSON-MATHES but about the exciting things happening in Legacy Award Program. I thank Co-Chairs Owner/Culinary Consultant LDEI chapters across the entire globe. As we Sue Robison and Alison Awerbach, The Julia 2333 Kapiolani Blvd #3516 Child Foundation, and all LDEI partners who Honolulu, HI 96826 go about our work or summer travels, let’s find (808) 941-9088 | [email protected] give of their time and talents to make this ways to “talk Dames.” Secretary I will start by talking about recent highlights program possible. SHARON M. OLSON from your LDEI Board. I am always amazed The development team led by First VP Maria Executive Director, Culinary Visions® Panel at the amount of work that comes from these Gomez and Greg Jewell of AEC just reported 345 North Canal Street, Apt. 1407 an additional four partner agreements; plan- Chicago, IL 60606 Board volunteers and how, even with an eight- (312) 280-4573 | [email protected] ning has already begun for their participation hour time difference when traveling, CBL Treasurer Bev Schaffer is willing to set her alarm for a in Charleston! Now, that’s something to talk STACY ZEIGLER conference call! about! Please reach out and thank all con- Director of Sales, Bold American Events firmed partners you see on our social media 2929 Surrey Lane With that level of dedication, you won’t be Atlanta, GA 30341 surprised to hear that we are taking a team blasts and on the full list that is building at (678) 302-3232 | [email protected] LDEI.org. Remember, it’s never too late approach to new chapter development this Chapter Board Liaisons year and are in talks with several potential to share ideas for additional new partners. DEBORAH MINTCHEFF new chapters. Armed with her newly-updated Partnering with LDEI offers value that every Project & Ckbk Editor/Food Writer/Copy Editor/ company who connects with our mission and Recipe Devel/Co-Active Life Coach handbook, Secretary Sharon Olson is work- Live Forward Coaching ing to ensure a strong representation of leaders vision deserves to know about. 129 East 69th Street to help share information, answer questions, Finally, all roads lead to Charleston, S.C. New York, NY 10021-5000 and directly extend an invitation to qualifying, (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1) where Conference Co- (212) 879-0383 | [email protected] potential members. Chairs Jennifer Goldman and Paige Crone DEBORAH ORRILL are preparing to call in final details to the Culinary Consultant I have made a couple of these trips myself, 64 Vanguard Way along with Dames Nathalie Dupree and CiCi Board’s June meeting in Minneapolis, Min- Dallas, TX 75243 Williamson. While every Dame can be a great nesota. Thanks to the hospitality of our host (214) 343-0124 | [email protected] advocate, few can “talk Dames” better than chapter, we look forward to a great meeting, BEV SHAFFER those two ladies! Unless, of course, it’s our PR a strong conference planning session, and Corporate Chef, Vitamix World Headquarters organizational networking with our Minnesota 3433 Blake Road and Social Media team! Second VP Hayley Seville, OH 44273 Matson-Mathes is generating quite a lot to Dames. I am sure it will give us even more (440) 781-7202 | [email protected] talk about, and we ask that you make sure wonderful things to talk about! Immediate Past President you are following the team on Facebook and BETH ALLEN Twitter. Founder/President, Beth Allen Associates Inc 347 W 22nd Street, Suite #9 Recent posts have also included informa- New York, NY 10011-4683 tion about our award programs, and CiCi Lori Willis (212) 206-1138 | [email protected] Williamson reports that judges have chosen President, Les Dames d’Escoffier International Executive Director the winners in LDEI's M.F.K. Fisher Awards GREG JEWELL President, AEC Management Resources P.O. Box 4961 Louisville, KY 40204 (502) 456-1851 x1 | [email protected] SUMMER QuarTerly 2015 3 THE FABULOUS chosen professions, whether it’s marketing, names. From an alphabet soup of 50 let- Role Models farming, teaching, or being a chef. ters, I conjured up: Dame, leader, mentor, You know their names: Pat Mozersky diplomat, journalist, president, talented, for Our Time (San Antonio), Dolores Snyder (Dal- star, smart, kind, loyal, pretty, jolly, and las), Julie Miller Jones (Minnesota), student. Regretfully, ”C” wasn’t available for Four fabulous Dames and, Joan Nathan (Washington).