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2023 EVENTS

Connecting like-minded industry professionals

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar 23

5 PM-8PM 

2023

Olive Oil Tasting Masterclass and Aperitivo!

With master taster Nancy Ash from the Les Dames d'Escoffier - San Francisco chapter.


You will get familiar with the proper tasting techniques, learn to discern flavors and appreciate the quality of various olive oils. Come with questions!

The masterclass will be followed by a cordial gathering around a glass of Prosecco and selection of appetizers prepared exclusively for us by celebrity chef Paula Da Silva.

  • This event is open to non-members and to significant others.
  • $75 includes the masterclass, a glass of prosecco and appetizers.
  • Add an optional $10 for a chance to win 2 bottles of the latest harvest of award winning EVOO Piro, fresh from Tuscany.
  • RSVP by March 20th!

Mar 30

6 PM

2023

TABLE TALKS WITH LES DAMES: Top 10 Food Trends of 2023 

Les Dames South Florida and The Specialty Food Association Trendspotters Discuss the Latest 10 Top Food Trends featuring Dame Marie-Charlotte Piro, Vice President of the South Florida Dames Chapter


Discover the latest food trends with Les Dames South Florida as they discuss the newest specialty food and beverage trends in more that 40 product categories with the Trendspotters from the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas. The Show had over 1,000 exhibitors featuring specialty foods and beverages from around the world.


Dame Marie-Charlotte Piro, Vice President of the South Florida Dames Chapter, is the host of the South Florida Dames Table Talk about products gaining prominence in the specialty food industry. She was an attendee at both the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows.


Dame Marie-Charlotte will discuss the 10 Top Trends from the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show with the Specialty Food Association’s top Trendspotters:  Denise Purcell, Vice President, Resource Development, Specialty Food Association; and V. Sheree Williams, Founder, the Global Food and Drink Initiative, and Editor and Publisher of  Cuisine Noir.


Together they’ll highlight the unexpected twists on classics, reconceived packaging options, better-for-you indulgences and comfort foods, global flavors, and the growing interest in sustainability and ethical production.


This is a virtual event open to the public. 

PAST EVENTS 


MAR 5

5 PM 

2022

13th Annual Tour of Kitchens 2022

May 22

5 PM-7:30 PM 

2022

 BOOK SIGNING & CUBAN DINNER with Dame/Chef Patty Ruiz

Les Dames South Florida is hosting a 4-Course Cuban-Style Dinner Party and Book signing for Dame/Chef Patty Ruiz, celebrating the release of her new cookbook, The Essential Cuban Cookbook.
  • Art Book Room, Books & Books, Coral Gables
  • 4-Course Cuban-Style Dinner Party. Patty will be reading from her book &  personally sign her book for each person who purchases one.
  • Menu (All recipes are from Patty's book): Complimentary glass of wine; Appetizer: Camarones al Ajillo/Garlic Shrimp; Salad: Ensalada de Aguacate con Bero y Piña/Avocado, Pineapple and Watercress; Main: Ropa Vieja/Braised Shredded Beef; Side: Frijoles Negros/Cuban Black Beans and Rice; Dessert: Flan de Queso/Cream Cheese Flan; Cuban Coffee/Cafecito. 
  • Vegetarian Option: Main: Black beans and Rice, Avocados and Sweet Plantains

     2 OPTIONS: Dinner with or without purchasing the book.

  • $76.04 pp: includes dinner; service charge; Patty's Book $15; applicable taxes on book
  • $60.00 pp: includes dinner; service charge (no taxes if you are not purchasing the book).
  • RSVP to: irenemoore305@gmail.com.
  • RSVP is mandatory!

MAR 8

PM 

2022

 Piro olive oil tasting & light bite; Dame Marie-Charlotte Piro

Celebrating the US release of the Piro 2021 harvest

  • Special for Les Dames & other food industry professionals at her home in Miami Shores.
  • At the tasting you will meet the Piro production team, Marie-Charlotte's brother Romain, & Danile, their Master olive oil producer, who will be here from Tuscany.
  • International Women's Day is meant to uphold feminist values and celebrate womanhood to the fullest. It’s also an occasion to celebrate the great achievements of women & the meaningful contributions they’ve made to the world. 
  •  Preview YouTube video The Making of Piro.The Making of Piro

MAR 14

6 PM 

2022

Table Talks with Les Dames - South Florida Chapter

“How to Write a Cookbook and Get it Published” 

  • Cookbooks are no longer just a niche market! Hundreds are published each year, covering a variety of subjects. Maybe you’re a writer who’s a food lover, or a great cook who loves to write, or a food blogger looking for a book deal. Writing a cookbook can be very rewarding, but the world of cookbook publishing has changed, & it can be a daunting prospect. Our experts share what to expect.

In this Table Talk, four cookbook authors & experts will discuss how to write a cookbook & find a publisher. 

  • Dame Patty Ruiz of The Mad Table, a brand inspired & created to bring people together through food, is a recently published cookbook author. Dame Patty will tell you how to write that all-important book proposal & how to find a literary agent.
  • Dame Ingrid Gangestad, owner of St. Croix Culinary Consulting, LLC, will speak of her experience with cookbook writing  creating targeted food content, including recipes, menu development & reative writing for clients. She is known for creating recipes that are on-trend & that work.
  • Cathy Swanson Wheaton, Executive Editor behind the Betty Crocker & Pillsbury books for the past six years, will share her experiences in the corporate world of cookbook writing & publishing,  Topic include: what a larger publisher is looking for in terms of an author & subject, suggestions on getting started, tips on writing your proposal, elements of a cookbook, testing recipes & photography.
  • Dame Barbara Seelig Beyer (formerly Barbara Seelig-Brown), cookbook author & teacher, has a cooking show, Stress Free Cooking (on We Cook TV,  Cablevision, Roku streaming). She will delve into self-publishing then & now, freelance editors, photography, art, print on demand,  & writing for a health organization, such as American Diabetes Association (ADA) or The American Heart Association.
  • $20 donation - proceeds to benefit scholarships.

Check out ALL the fabulous Table Talks at www.tabletalkslesdames.com. 

FEB 19

11:30 AM 

2022

 FARMER'S MARKET TOUR & LUNCH

  • This Week we have a fun get-together and outdoor lunch! 
  • Dame Claire Tomlin is hosting a Farmers Market Lunch for Les Dames.
  • Las Olas Oceanside Farmers Market, 3000 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • 11:30 AM Tour - 12:00 Lunch Outdoors
  • RSVP is a must so Claire knows how many to expect for table arrangements and seating. 
  • RSVP to irenemoore305@gmail.com
  • Claire will be sending a list of vendors & menu items for lunch (fresh fruit & juices, cheeses, &  more.

FEB 10

5 PM 

2022

 ZOOM to NASSAU! COCKTAILS with KYLE

  • Learn about the delicious libations on the menu at Bon Vivants - the 1st true cocktail bar in the Bahamas dedicated solely to the art and history of the craft cocktail.
  • Kyle has conjured up the most amazing cocktail menu we've ever seen! 
  • Check out the website and cocktail menu here: https://bonvivantsbahamas.com
  • RSVP TO: irenemoore305@gmail.com

JAN 31

5 PM 

2022

BEANS 101: ZOOM CLASS TAUGHT BY DAME ANDREA GRIFFITH 

  • Dame Andrea Griffith, Head Chef at Residences at Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo.

  • Dried beans, peas & lentils (aka legumes or pulses) are a vital food source & one of the world's oldest cultivated crops dating back 7,000+ yrs globally.

  • Program: New year tradition "Healthy, wealthy & wise";  Beans & Peas in S. Traditional Cooking; Hoppin’ John (a traditionally eaten in S. USA on New Year’s Day to bring prosperity in the New year). Dating back to the early 1800s, it is made with black-eyed peas (aka cow peas), rice, & meat (usually pork, in the form of bacon or ham). The meal can also include collard greens & corn bread; Bean Cookin': Preparing beans/nutrients, 

    Fresh vs. dried; Dictionary of Beans, Peas & Lentils: The origin of beans/famous bean varieties; famous bean dishes around the world.

FEB 7

4PM EST 

2022

BEANS TO BUSINESS: FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE

Hosted by LDEI & Guittard Chocolate Company

  • Dame Amy Guittard - Senior Director of Brand Marketing & 5th generation in the Guittard family business her great-great-grandfather started in 1868 - will share her passion for cocoa & chocolate. 
  • Dame Abigail Langlas - Chef / owner of Cake Works, instructor at Leeward Community College’s Culinary Arts Department, cake designer & pastry chef -will demo Mousse au Chocolat a L’Orange.
  • Dame Alexandra Leaf - Culinary educator & cookbook author with a specialty in chocolate & confectionery - will discuss the world of chocolate & focus on today’s trends & production methods.
  • Dame Kathryn Gordon - Chef-Instructor in the professional Pastry & Baking program at Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) NYC, cookbook author & co-founder of Food Startup Help - will demo a quick chocolate tempering technique, how to free-form pipe heart-shaped mendiants & decorate them with freeze-dried raspberries & strawberries, rose petals & gold leaf, in time for Valentine’s Day.
  • Recipes & Zoom link provided upon registration. 
  • $20 per peson; After registering, Guittard chocolate products will be offered at 15% off at guittard.com TO REGISTER: click here

MAR

 13-18

2022

FLAVORS OF MEXICO: 

Hosted by VALLE DE GUADELUPE MEXICO CHAPTER 

DEC 11

5 PM

2021

La Fête Des Lumières - A Potluck Holiday Celebration  

Hosted by South Florida Dame Denise Courshon

  • Every year, the people of Lyon, the world's gastronomic capital, celebrate La Fête Des Lumières - The Festival of Light from December 8-11
  • This annual celebration is renowned for its temporary light installations which light up the city for 4 magical evenings & reconnecting with a popular tradition dating back to 1852. 
  • The people of Lyon place lit candles on their window sills, a symbol of coming together in a spirit of solidarity. 
  • We will celebrate with the food of Lyon - everyone is to bring a dish
  • Courshon Residence - 6400 Pine Tree Dr. Circle, Miami Beach
  • Outdoor seating, Max 20 people, Proof of Vaccination required 
  • Link- La Fête Des Lumières in Lyon:

    https://www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr/en/page/story-behind-festival

    Link - Information on Lyonnais Gastronomy:

    https://www.expatica.com/fr/lifestyle/food-drink/lyon-gastronomy-476910/ - 

* RSVP required to attend!

DEC 10

DEC 11

DEC 12 

2021

KENDRA SCOTT Give Back Event to benefit LDEI

Hosted by Kendra Scott & Dame Joi Chevalier

  • Virtual Styling Session when guest co-host Dame Joi Chevalier joins Kendra Scott co-host Joy Saunders on Friday, December 10th from 8–9pm ET.