GOALS The Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is an organization of outstanding professional women in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. Our goals are: to promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of food, fine wine, hospitality, nutrition, food technology, the arts of the table and other fields as they relate to these disciplines; to promote improvement and safety in supply, preparation and service in these areas; to promote the education and advancement of, and to mentor women in related careers; to enhance our professional endeavors and to support each other through resource exchange, education and community outreach. Networking plays an important role.

MEMBERSHIP   Each LDE LA/OC member is a decision-maker and acknowledged leader in their field as well as the community with at least five years experience in the culinary/fine beverage/hospitality industry.

    Dames are expected to make a positive contribution to LDE LA/OC as their professional careers allows. That takes the form of time, energy to its activities or donating product or services for events or mini fundraisers. Members should attend a minimum number of meetings each year.

   Membership is by invitation. One of our chapter goal is maintain a balance among the various culinary and hospitality fields. Our members include chefs, teachers, writers, editors, hotel executives, wine specialists, purveyors, restauteurs, public relation specialists and nutritionists are among those represented.

LDE LA/OC Officers/Board 2007-2008
Co Presidents   - Gwen Gulliksen and Peg Rahn 
Veep Programs - Emie Fenton
Co-Veeps OC    - Deanne French and Phyllis Ann Marshall
Secretary           -Marje Bennetts
Treasurer           - Kelly Hokyo
P. Pres/Advisor  - Phyllis Vaccarelli  

Meet our LDE-LA/OC Members

Balsley, Betsy Barr -  LA Retired Food Editor, Honorary Member               
Ballou, Susan Octavia - President Ballou Communications
Bennetts, Marje -   M Bennetts Culinary PR/Marketing Professional/Events & Conference Planner.
Bejeckian, Susan- Culinary and Hospitality PR,  
Berk, Karen  - PR freelance, C-CAP; media Escort
Brady, Lisa  - Restaurateur Mako Beverly Hills Culinary and Hospitality PR,  Cali, Elaine Culinary and Hospitality PR,  
Cole, Trisha -  PR Wagstaff Worldwide-- Hospitality, Travel and Wine
Cutler, Mitzie -  C-CAP Co-coordinator LA, Teacher, Events & Conference Planner
deCastro, Cecilia - Culinary Programs UCLA/Westlake Instructor, Food & Restaurant Consultant, Recipe Development, Product Development
Dunaway, Suzanne  - Founder Buona Forchetta Hand Made Breads, Illustrator Gourmet, Cooking Teacher & Lecturer Books: “Rome at Home”, “The Spirit of La Cucina Romana in your own Home” and “No Need to Knead:Homemade Italian Breads”
Eisman, Nancy -  Melissa’s World Variety Produce, Inc Marketing
Engel, Allison -  Food Historian/ Researcher/ Freelance Writer/ Editor Book:“Food Finds: America’s Best Local Foods and The People Who Produce Them” also basis for FTN Show “Food Finds”
Evans, Catherine - Culinary Historians LA&DC, Teacher, Writer, Recipe Development
Evans, Virginia -  Chef, Consultant, Food Writer, Cooking Classes
Fabricant, Deborah J.  - Lifestyle/Entertaining Consultant, Author, Columnist, Teacher, Media Spokesperson for Foster Farms Chicken, Lifetime Tables & Chairs, Caravella Limoncello. Book: “Stacks, The Art of Vertical Food”
Ferrazzi, Margaret - Private Chef, Caterer,  Food Stylist, Teacher
Feniger, Susan -  Chef, Restaurateur, Radio & TV Personality. Co-owner Border Grills Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Cuidad, “Two Hot Tamales” show FTN Books: see Milliken list below
Fenton, Emie Lynn kaye- Wine & Spirits Teacher/ Programs/Tastings, Ferrer Wine Estates 
Gonzales, Mary - Southern Wine and Spirits
Grahm, Ruth -  Co-owner Bonny Doon Vineyard, Marketing, Owner/Partner Comparte’s of California Chocolate & Stuffed Fruit 
Graves, Bonnie - New Medici Principal wine expert sommelier
Gulliksen, Gwen Kvavli  - Chef, French trained by Madeleine Kamman/ Jean Louis Palladin, Specialty Produce Expert, Teacher, Writer, Heirloom Grower,
Hackney, Miki -chef Melissa’s World Variety Produce
Harwood, Betty  - Consultant, C-CAP Teacher, Ret.Culinary  Teacher LAUSD,
Hitchcock, Alicia –bakery,catering,chef,retail
Hokyo, Kelly  - Sales Food Manufacturers, Food Broker, Sales/Marketing for SOPEX French Wines/Foods
Jarvis, Katherine Grace - Jarvis Communications PR Specializing in Wine, Spirits & Travel –
Jensen, Jonna  - Pastry Chef Josie Restaurant Santa Monica
Johnson, Susan -Susan’s Healthy Gourmet Home Delivery
Jones, Robin  - AAA Westways Features Editor, Freelance Writer & Editor
Jones, Cheryl – personal chef, caterer
Kancigor, Judy Bart  - Freelance Writer & Editor, Teacher, Lecturer Book: “Cooking Jewish” Fall 2007
Karamardian, Zov  - Chef, Restaurateur/Owner Zov’s and Zov’s Bakery “Zov” Books “Zov:Recipes & Memories from the Heart”
Kaye, Trina - Culinary Publicist
Linda Keagle - Restaurateur, CC and Corp, LA County Fair Director, LA Internatl Wine and Spirits Competition

Kopina, Yvonne - Chef, Consultant, Teacher, Wine and Food, New Vintage Cuisine Catering.
Le Baich, Josie - Chef/Owner Josie Restaurant
MacAller, Natasha J.  - Chef, Events & Conference Planner New Zealand
Phyllis Ann Marshall -  President Food Power, writer, speaker, restaurant design and consultant
Milliken, Mary Sue  - Chef/Foodservice Sales, Restaurateur/Co-owner Border Grill Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Cuidad LA. Too Hot Tamales Food Network, Radio & TV Personality. Books: “City Cuisine”, “Mesa Mexicana”, “Cantina”, “Cooking with Two Hot Tamales”, Mexican Cooking for Dummies”
Mims, Gina- Inspiro Brands graphic design
Oshiro, Eunice -  Restaurant Consultant, Strategist & Event Planner. Co-Chair Slow Food U.S.A.Los Angeles Chapter. Food & Wine Education
Pulliam, Britta- Britta’s Café, chef/owner
Rahn, Peg  - Teacher, Writer, Columnist, Radio Personality, FRESH Cooking Classes  LA Arboretum & Botanic Garden, IACP CCP,.LDEI Natl Secretary 
Rodriguez, Ida -–chef, teacher Melissa’s World Variety Produce
Saltsman, Amelia  - Teacher, Freelance Writer, Editor, TV Show Host & Producer Fresh “From the Farmer’s Market”. California Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee, Food Journal Culinary Historians of Southern California, IACP Food History Committee
Schubert, Margie  - Chair CA Restaurant Assn-Education Foundation Board of Directors. CIA Cookbook Libary Named for her. One of Largest Private Cookbook Libraries in Nation. AIWF-OC Chapter Board of Directors/Scholarship Chair  
Shah, Mona --pr restaurants
Shefter, Joy C. - Chef/Food Stylist for TV, Film, Commercials. Consultant Food Service/Restaurant & Hospitality Industry
Thomas, Cathy -  Orange County Register Food Editor, Stylist, 1st Place AFJ Best Food Columns, Intl & Domestic Culinary Tour Leader Book: “Melissa’s Great Book of Produce”
Thompson, Liz Sutton - LAUSD Nutrition Network and Career Days Network, Restaurant Sponsors Local Kids Team Events
Vaccarelli, Phyllis -  Chair LDEI-LA, Let’s Get Cookin’ Cooking School/Cookware Store Owner/Director, Westlake Culinary Institute,  AIWF Natl Board Member.
Walker, Judy Eileen - Corporate Director of Training for Tarsadia Hotels in Newport Beach, Formerly Exec Director of Educational Foundation of the California Restaurant Association
Ward, Melissa-. –organic foods, chef, caterer, writer,teacher, nutritionist