To understand just how much fun the Les Dames D’Escoffier Chicago fundraiser on May 16 will be, imagine your wittiest girlfriends joining forces with the most talented female chefs to throw a party.
To understand the good that your participation in this event can do, imagine empowering young women to receive professional training in the still male-dominated professional chef world.
You won’t want to miss this tasty, inspiring opportunity.
Les Dames D’Escoffier International is the leading invitational organization of prominent and influential women leaders in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries. Now comprised of 36 chapters throughout North America and Europe, LDEI was founded by famed food journalist Carol Brock 40 years ago in New York City. She remains a guiding light to this day.
The Chicago chapter was founded in 1982 specifically to promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of food and wine across Chicagoland, through professional networking, ongoing education and community outreach.
Chefs, restaurateurs, food journalists, cookbook authors, TV and radio personalities, culinary educators, caterers, special event coordinators, culinary and fine beverage producers, retailers, publicists, and other engaged foodies comprise its membership. This includes James Beard Award winners Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Café, Carrie Nahabedian of Naha and Brindille, Deann Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo, and Nina Barrett of Evanston’s Bookends & Beginnings. Other notables include Breakfast Queen Ina Pinkney, cookbook authors Anupy Singla, JeanMarie Brownson and Jolene Worthington, and journalists Carol Haddix and Chandra Ram. Make It Better’s own Julie Chernoff proudly serves as LDE Chicago’s president.
The primary philanthropic mission of LDE Chicago is to foster the education of young women in the culinary industry by offering significant scholarships and mentoring. Education partners include Kendall College, The French Pastry School, The Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, The Illinois Institute of Art, Robert Morris University – Institute of Culinary Arts and the College of DuPage. The last fundraiser, held in 2014, allowed LDE Chicago to award $30,000 in culinary scholarships.
Money raised also funds the Chicago Chapter’s Community Outreach/Green Tables program, which is part of LDE International’s now 10-year-old “Farm-to-Fork” initiative. This program connects urban and rural farms and gardens to schools and restaurants. Not only has LDE Chicago donated $17,500 to Waukegan’s Roberti Community House over the past two years, members have also donated their time and effort to Roberti’s programs and mission. LDE Chicago’s partner for the next two years currently is being vetted.
This year’s fundraiser, “Culinarium: Feast Your Senses,” will be held on Monday, May 16, at the fabulous Venue One, 1034 W. Randolph St. in Chicago.
This carnival-themed event promises to be truly unique, tasty and fun. Presided over by the beloved Pinkney as a special guest host, it will include sensory-focused culinary games, silent and live auction, sit-down dinner, and the “Dessert Dash” — a perennial favorite. Chicago’s top pastry chefs donate spectacular desserts, and each table bids for the opportunity to “dash” first and choose their delicious prize. Hilarity ensues. Most importantly, funds will be raised.
Tickets are $175 each, and tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,600.
Make It Better is very proud to be the media sponsor of Culinarium and to support the outstanding work of LDE Chicago.
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