Dames Who Read October 2026: The Secret History of French Cooking by Luke Barr
Our fall book, so well written by MFK Fisher’s nephew, takes us through some watershed years in French cooking. Chefs such as Bocuse, Guerard and the Troisgros brothers took fresh, local ingredients, avant-garde methods like nouvelle cuisine, and shocked the food world as they brought them to the forefront then, while many still inspire restaurants today.
Additionally, it tells the story of some women chefs who fought for their place in the all-male environment by forming an organization – which was, surprisingly, NOT our Les Dames d’Escoffier! And it tells the story of the influence of one all-powerful food critic who guaranteed the success – or not – of restaurants of the time.
Who but our own Carrie Nahabedian can best exemplify these changes as she worked her way for decades through all of those changes and from classic to current, where she brings her own culture into the mix, while still reflecting the training and styles of the past.
Carrie has agreed to host us for an afternoon meeting where she will share some of her fabulous history that most relates to this book. Needless to say, her meal will be worth the change to our usual day and time!
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 2-4pm
Location: 534 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Price: $55/person
This event has limited capacity and is open only to members in good standing of Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago. Registration closes at 12pm on October 27. Street parking and several lots are nearby.
Thank you!