Chicago Chapter News – Page 16 – Les Dames d'Escoffier Chicago

Green City Market Tour & Brunch

August 25, 2014December 11, 2016Leave a comment

Event Cancelled

WHAT: Green City Market Tour & Brunch at Perennial Virant to celebrate the release of the Green City Market Cookbook.

Join Dame Dana Benigno and Dame Portia Belloc Lowndes for an insiders tour of Green City Market. We’ll highlight the tour with some of our favorite vendors tasting some of the bounty of fall. Following the tour we’ll walk over to Perennial Virant for Market Brunch. At the brunch a few Dames who were involved with the book will give a short talk on the project.

WHERE: Green City Market. Meet next to the Club Sprouts table at the market.

WHEN: Saturday, September 20th
10:30 a.m. Meet at the market. We will be meeting next to the Club Sprouts table at the market.
11:45 a.m. Harvest Brunch at Perennial Virant

COST:$40.00 – tour and brunch. NOTE: Limit of 16 tickets available.

Book will be available for sale.

Purchase ticket now: Brown Paper Tickets

To reserve by check, make out to LDE – Chicago Chapter and mail to:

Polly Peters
504 Lee Street
Evanston, IL 60202-1884

Bon Temps! Dames Who Drink at Ravinia

August 25, 2014December 11, 2016Leave a comment

by Toria Emas

My fellow Dames and I met Sunday the 17th under the stars with Robert & Karen Levin serving as our gracious hosts! There were 7 Dames and 3 spouses.

Each year, Robert drives to Ravinia just when the gates open to reserve our spot “under the old oak tree”, while Karen serves up her perfect Margaritas with Maria Concannon’s salsa , guacamole and chips on the Levin porch.

‘Twas a convivial group from the city, western suburbs, Lake Forest and Deerfield. Food ranged from a Swedish appetizer tray in honor of the Swedish Disco group ABBA with the addition of Greek “Mama Mia” Taramasalata .

Watermelon and feta salad and burrata and tomatoes kept the calorie count down to save room for raspberry turnovers and the fantastic seasonal fruit pie served warm out of Mary McMahon’s wooden pie box.

Continue reading “Bon Temps! Dames Who Drink at Ravinia” →

Elaine Gonzalez, The Innovative Chocolatier

August 16, 2014December 10, 2016Leave a comment

Bill Daley of the Chicago Tribune wrote a wonderful tribute to Dame Elaine Gonzalez on July 26, 2014, the day after she died. I’ve taken excerpts from what he said. If you’d like to read the article in its entirety, you’ll find it here.

What you’ll find below is Elaine’s recipe for Chocolate Rice Pudding. Dame Judith Dunbar Hines notes that everyone questioned the ratio of milk to rice in this recipe but Elaine knew what she was doing and it works!

July 26, 2014
Chicago Tribune
Bill Daley

Elaine Gonzalez of Northbrook, an innovative chocolatier noted for transforming chocolate into edible bowls, plates, ornaments, flowers and much, much more, died July 25. She was 79.

“She was an artist and took chocolate to new places,” said restaurateur Ina Pinkney.

“Everything she did had this artistry. She was more comfortable with that ingredient than anyone I ever saw with any other ingredient. It was like she was one with the chocolate.”

“I never saw anyone roll, twist and coax chocolate like she did,” Pinkney added. “I was always in awe and always learned something.” Continue reading “Elaine Gonzalez, The Innovative Chocolatier” →

2014 Annual Meeting

August 1, 2014Leave a comment

LDE 2014 Annual Meeting and Dinner Report
By Julie Chernoff

The skies were intermittently stormy, but there was nothing but sunshine inside the The Racquet Club of Chicago on Monday, June 16 for the LDE Chicago Chapter Annual Dinner.

Outgoing President Jen Lamplough, LDEI First VP Lori Willis, Incoming President Julie Chernoff

The great news kept coming: Roberti Community House as our new Community Service Project; a glowing Treasurer’s Report with the amazing results of Swank-a-Licious! fundraiser; the recognition of our hardworking, outgoing Board members and Past Presidents; the approval and introduction of our incoming Board; and the induction of 5 new Dames (Elizabeth Donovan, Mary Kay Gill, Kimberly Allen Hack, Roisin Hannerty, and Marsha Nelson Pesavento), and the reinstatement of two returning members (Dames Amy Morton and Terri Walman). Special guest Dame Lori Willis, St. Louis Chapter and 1st VP LDEI, also joined us for the evening. Welcome, all!

Returning and New Members: Amy Morton, Marsha Pesavento, Mary Kay Gill, Kim Hack, Elizabeth Donovan, Terri Wallman. Roisin Hannerty was not able to attend.

Special thanks to Dame Shannon Kinsella, who produced the evening along with Past President Jen Lamplough—and also to Dame Melissa Lehman Zorio and her wonderful staff at the Racquet Club of Chicago—for a lovely evening.

LDE Chicago Making a Difference for Roberti House

July 25, 2014Leave a comment

By Sharon Olson

Members of the Chicago chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier were enthusiastically welcomed at the Roberti House in Waukegan. Maribeth Roberti, President of the Roberti Foundation presented board member, Mary Reidy McMahon, with a certificate of appreciation for the chapter’s support of their program during their recent Open House.

Alderman Tom Koncan of Waukegan was on hand to express the Waukegan community’s appreciation as well.

Chicago chapter members, Sharon Olson and Veronica Hastings, had an opportunity to visit with some of the children responsible for the bounty of the garden and their parents who also benefit from the programs at Roberti House. Alderman Koncan expressed his gratitude to our chapter for our generosity and recognition of the hard working residents of the Waukegan community. They are eager to learn and programs like those offered at Roberti House enrich their lives in many ways.

Roberti House clearly demonstrated its vision to provide a safe and welcoming space where neighbors of all ages can support and learn from one another.