Les Dames D' Escoffier Hosts The 5th Salute To Women In Gastronomy

The Washington, DC, chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier will celebrate its 25th anniversary and Women's Studies Month with its Fifth 'Salute to Women in Gastronomy' on Saturday, March 4, 2006, with New York celebrity chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich as the keynote speaker.

Bastianich, a beloved authority on Italian cooking in America, is widely known for her cookbook entitled, "Lidia's Family Table," and her Public Television series of the same name.

The Salute to Women in Gastronomy, "Celebrating Food: Cooking, Careers, Communication," will be held at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, and is cosponsored by the Montgomery College International Education Program, the Montgomery College Marriott Hospitality Center and the Montgomery College Women's Studies Program. The all-day symposium will include a lunch-time Food Expo, workshops, hands-on cooking classes and other participatory activities.

The charge for the Salute is $75, which includes a light breakfast, gourmet box lunch and champagne reception. Members of Les Dames d'Escoffier and other experts will present workshops offering the latest information on sustainable agriculture and seafood, food presentation, diet and health, as well as "trucs" of the trade, tabletop styling, luxury ingredients and culinary careers for women. For more information, call 202--973-2168 or email lesdamesdc@aol.com or gail.forman@montgomerycollege.edu.

Les Dames d'Escoffier is a non-profit organization comprised of professional women of high achievement in the culinary world. In the Washington area, members include influential food and hospitality journalists, chefs, restaurateurs, authors, public relations professionals, hospitality executives, wine professionals, event planners, etc.

The Washington D.C. Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is committed to supporting the community. Members donate their time to offer educational culinary programs. The chapter also offers scholarships to women working or studying in the fields of food and beverages, and grants to support the good works of local non-profit organizations.