Dozes of Dames gathered at the home of Dame Portia Belloc Lowndes on Sunday, Jan .20 to catch up and raise a glass to 2019. The evening was stuffed with fabulous food, including a mouth-watering selection of cheeses from Dame Sophia Solomon and Tekla Imports, one of Chicago’s premier purveyors of fine cheeses) and a Chinese New Year Feast! The pictures below tell the best story.

From dumplings to noodles to “1000-Year-Old Eggs” and tiny hardboiled quail eggs, everyone had a delicious time! We repeated the popular “Give-and-Get” book exchange, where Dames brought beautifully wrapped books of personal significance and everyone chooses a one to take home. From cookbooks to inspirational biographies, everyone went home with a gift! Huge thanks for Portia and everyone who helped create for a warm evening of friendship and food on a cold January night in Chicago!