A variety of events are offered by Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago during the year, with many events open to the public. Check out events below for what’s coming up. For more information, email programs@lesdameschicago.org.

Monday, Sept. 17: Scholarship Reception

Please join Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago as we honor our 2018 Scholarship Award Winners! We are thrilled to present scholarships to nine inspiring women to help them pursue their educations in the culinary and hospitality industries. These scholarships are a game-changer for these woman and we want to show them how proud we are of them and their endeavors. Wine will be flowing and hors d’oeuvres will be served! It is an excellent opportunity to not only meet these outstanding women, but see how everyone’s hard work from Culinarium pays off. It’s a proud moment for our chapter, and we hope to see you there!

DATE: Monday Sept. 17, 2018
TIME: 5:30 –7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: The French Pastry School, 226 West Jackson Blvd., 3^rd floor
RSVP: Elizabethdonovan1076@gmail.com

Monday, Sept. 24: Crowd-Sourced Cookbooks: A Celebration of the Spiral Bound Collections that Changed Midwestern Cookery

Please join us for a presentation by Rebekah and Tim Graham of the new restaurant Twain about their extensive collection of spiral-bound cookbooks of the sort that have been produced by churches and womens auxiliaries and the like for the last 100 years or so. Tim and Rebekah are experts in how and why these cookbooks came together and why they are so important in the scope of culinary writing and in the cooking that they are doing at Twain. 

The discussion will be moderated by Dame Stacey Ballis and will delve into the rich history of this type of cookbook, and will be followed by a reception hosted by Tim and Rebekah. Parts of their collection will be on display. In fact, you are welcome to bring any of your own such cookbooks to share with the group. And if you have one to donate to the collection, there just might be a special gift in it for you! This event is open to all Dames and guests and it’s a great event for potential new members.

DATE & TIME: Monday Sept. 24, 2018, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Twain Restaurant at 2445 N Milwaukee Ave. Metered street parking available.
Tickets are limited, and purchases will end Friday Sept. 21.
PRICE: $20 per person. Proceeds from the event (all ticket sales) will  be donated back to the Les Dames Scholarship Fund by Rebekah and Tim. Purchase tickets here

Tuesday, Oct. 2: Dames Who Read

Dame Judith Hines has created another amazing “Dames Who Read” event, focused on the book Unforgettable, by Emily Kaiser Thelin. If you were part of the cooking and food scene in the 70’s and 80’s, you could not miss the emergence of Moroccan and Middle Eastern food on our tables. That movement in the U.S. was led by Paula Wolfert who wrote, went on TV, visited cities like Chicago and cooked her recipes, informing our restaurants and palates about a whole new way to eat.

Today, tagines and shakshuka, sumac and whole grains are common. We may hardly remember how much of a stir they caused when we first were presented with them. And, more recently, neither does Paula, unfortunately. She has been diagnosed with dementia and much of her memory of these foods and how to make them has disappeared.

But her staff has worked miracles to help her remember the recipes for a special book called “UNFORGETTABLE” which charts Paula’s amazing history in the kitchen as well as her journey through this new chapter of her life.

We will read the memoir-like book and then enjoy some of her recipes as we discuss the book and learn about dealing with someone with dementia and how to be an effective caregiver. We’ll meet at Dame Jennifer Anderson’s home, where tagine and couscous will be ready for our dinner. Please plan on bringing a supporting dish to share, details to follow after registration!

Once you have registered, please FORWARD your Brown Paper Tickets confirmation to Stacey Ballis at stacey@staceyballis.com. You will receive additional details after you register.

DATE:   Tuesday, October 2, 2018
TIME:    6 – 8 pm
LOCATION:  Home of Dame Jennifer Anderson  at 3800 N. Lake Shore Dr., #8C
PRICE:  $40
To Register: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3574759
Registration is limited to 16 people; closes at noon Friday Sept. 28 or when we reach capacity. NOTE: Parking in the area is very limited. Please consider taking public transportation, taxi, or ride-share service.

THURSDAY, NOV. 1 CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION FOR DAME DORIE GREENSPAN

Please join us for an afternoon reception with Dame Dorie Greenspan, who will be in Chicago for her new book, Everyday Dorie, which comes out Oct. 23!  Dorie is eager to connect with the Chicago Dames! We will share some bubbly and a variety of nibbles from Dorie’s cookbooks, including her newest.
As this event is sandwiched between two other public events in her packed schedule, we respectfully request that you not bring books to be signed, as we just want to celebrate Dorie and not make her work!

DATE & TIME: Thursday Nov. 1, 3-5 p.m.
LOCATION: The home of Dame Stacey Ballis, 2819 W Logan Blvd.
Limited handicapped parking available; please contact Stacey to reserve one of the available spots if you need it. stacey@staceyballis.com
PRICE:$20 per person. Purchase tickets here.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a private reception for members only. If you have friends or potential new members who wish to see Dorie while she is in town, please take them to one of her others events.  She will be at Read It and Eat with Dame Ina Pinkney on Thursday Nov 1. Get tickets here. Dorie also will be at Dame Patty Erd’s The Spice House on Friday Nov 2. Tickets for that are here.