Category: Chicago Chapter News

The Les Dames Networking Dinner North, held at the home of Julie Chernoff in Evanston on Monday, March 3, was attended by 7 current and prospective Dames.

The theme was “Mediterranean,” and the evening started with citrus-scented olives, prosciutto & manchego (Julie), bruschetta with soft cheese and marinated cherry tomatoes, and chorizo with romesco sauce (Mary Kay*), accompanied by Prosecco and various drinks made by our bartender for the evening, Josh Chernoff.

We moved on to the buffet feast, which included Greek Meatballs in Yogurt Sauce (Nina); Ottolenghi’s Roast Chicken with Fennel and Clementines (Julie); Vegetable Tagine with Chickpeas and Couscous (Polly); Bourekas with Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pepper (Karen) and Fregola with Roasted Red Onions, Cherry Tomatoes and Herbs (Marsha*).

 

Dried Fruit and Nut-filled Phyllo Rolls with Chestnut-Honey Ice Cream (Mary) ended the night on a sweet note. Laughter flowed along with some tasty Italian wines from Josh’s cellar. A great time was had by all.

*Potential new members!
 

By Julie Chernoff

A cold and wintry night was no match for the warmth generated by 31 Dames and guests at a beer and food pairing at Found Restaurant on January 30th.

After enjoying a welcome beer and some delightful hors d’oeuvres, Amy Morton, owner of Found, welcomed us with the history behind the conceptualization of the restaurant, and then ceded the floor to Claudia Jendron, the head brewer at Temperance Beer, Evanston’s first craft brewery. Claudia tag-teamed the description of each course with Found’s Chef Nicole Pederson, explaining the provenance of each beer or dish, and the thought behind the pairing.

The event was both informative and delicious, surprising those of us who weren’t big beer fans at the onset. Jendron approaches beer making in much the same way Pederson does her cooking: it’s all about flavor, and playing with expectations. They seek out the best local ingredients, and add their own twist. It was a match made in, well, Evanston!

Here’s what you missed…
House Cured Salmon with Rye, Caperberries and Dill
Temperance Restless Years Rye
This crisp pale ale, spiced with rye, was a great foil for the unctuous salmon.

Pecan and Sweet Potato Risotto
Temperance Gatecrasher IPA
An IPA without a bitter aftertaste proved the right match for this creamy risotto.

House-made Sausage with Cannellini Runner Beans and Chestnuts
Temperance Freedive India Black Ale
With a distinctive piney-hoppy aroma, it was the perfect winter beer to pair with this classic cold-weather dish.

Beer Cake with Salted Caramel Gelato
Temperance Root Down Robust Porter
This truly memorable pairing matched the moist, flavorful beer cake with a dark porter brewed with chicory and licorice roots, tinged with a touch of smoked malt.

Thank you Bill Emos for the great photos.

Continue reading “Found Kitchen Dinner” →

Twenty-one Dames braved the frigid temperatures and howling winds on Saturday, December 7 for brunch and mimosas at The Local, 198 East Delaware Place. The management at the Local says, “When people think of ‘their local’ they think of good times, good friends and a great environment. By adding quality food made from the best ingredients and a fantastic top-shelf bar, The Local will transform what you think of as your local establishment.” That was certainly true for the Dames who warmed up over coffee and cappuccinos and celebrated with cheerful mimosas while munching on traditional breakfast items like Crab and Eggs Benedict, pancakes, fresh fruit and omelets.

by Joan Reardon

A true Dame of Distinction, the talented and treasured Alma Lach died on October 1, 2013

Born in Petersburg, Illinois, in 1914, and raised on a 600 acre farm downstate in New Salem, Alma shared household duties with her sister, more often than not cooking the family’s meals. “There was a hen house and we had eggs and a cow for butter and buttermilk. I could make anything I wanted and did on a wood-burning cook stove,” she said. She even won a prize for a dish in a 4-H contest.

Majoring in Home Economics at the University of Chicago, she met her future husband, the historian Donald F. Lach, married, and then when Donald was awarded a Guggenheim in 1949, they went off to Paris with their small daughter Sandy. Suggesting that perhaps there was more to cooking than pan gravy, Donald encouraged Alma to enroll in the formal three-year culinary degree program at the Cordon Bleu. By 1956 she had clocked enough hours to be awarded a Grande Diplome. Also during those Paris years, which were interrupted by occasional periods in the States, she published A Child’s First Cookbook (1950) and three more children’s cookbooks for Campbell. And she was an early TV personality; creator, producer, and performer of the show “Let’s Cook” the first cooking show for children.

Continue reading “Remembering Alma Lach” →

On November 3^rd, as a tribute to the Mexican Day of the Dead, Les Dames D’Escoffier of Chicago were treated to a demonstration and history of tamales by Dames Judith Hines and Shannon Kinsella at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas headquarters hosted by Dame Camilla Nielsen.

Dames made tamales in many flavors, both traditional and “Nuevo”.  This celebration of life and loved ones, very different from our American version of Halloween, brings families together to remember the past.  At Nielsen-Massey the celebration brought the Dames together in a communal kitchen effort – and while the tamales steamed they took a tour of the Nielsen-Massey facilities.

  

    

 

 

 

Submitted by JeanMarie Brownson

We raised a glass to toast our Chicago Chapter Dames Judith Schad and Carrie Nahabedian during a beautiful ceremony hosted by the Guilde Des Fromagers and Confrerie of Saint-Uguzon during the Austin LDEI Conference.

Current Guilde President, Roland Barthelem, flew in from France to preside over the ceremony. Cathy Strange, Les Dames Austin chapter president and president of the New World Guilde assisted as Carrie was inducted into the Guilde along with 8 other women (Alma Alcocer-Thomas, Cathy Cochran- Lewis, Iliana de la Vega, Roisin Kennedy, Sandra Hu, Paula Lambert, Molly O’Laughlin, Marsha Palanci). Judith, already a Guilde member, was promoted to the Maitre Fromager Level.

The Guilde has more than 5,600 members throughout the world including Europe, North America, Australia and South America. The non-profit Guilde Internationale des Fromagers was established to bring together leaders in the dairy sector. Pierre Androuet founded the Brotherhood of St. Uguzon in 1969 to impart knowledge through cheese companionship.

The Guilde is open to professional cheese producers, processors, refiners, and commercial cheese retailers. The Brotherhood of St. Uguzon is open to restaurateurs and those working to promote the delicious world of cheese.

Congratulations Carrie and Judith. The Chicago Chapter looks forward to enjoying fine cheese with both of you!

On Monday, October 21^st the Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier gathered at Glunz tavern for the second town hall meeting.  Over 20 members attended to review chapter news.  The evening began with hors d’oeuvres and wine that made for a delightful occasion to catch up with new and old friends.   Following, Chapter president Jennifer Lamplough led the meeting which gave the Dames the ability to discuss at hand.

Glunz Tavern originally founded in 1888, closed just prior to Prohibition and newly re-opened this December with the finest of wine, beer and spirits and a classic refined European-style men.