On alternating years, Les Dames d'Escoffier International bestows the honor of naming a woman as Grande Dame of Les Dames d'Escoffier International. This honorary title is given in recognition of extraordinary and unusual contributions to the fields of food, wine, other fine beverage, nutrition, the arts of the table, or other fields that relate to these disciplines. This title may be awarded to both non-members and members of Les Dames d'Escoffier.

• 2009 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Shirley Corriher (video coming soon)
• 2007 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Alice Waters (click here for video)
• 2005 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Marcella Hazan
• 2003 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Abigail Kirsch and Rosemary Kowalski
• 2001 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Jerry Anne DiVecchio
• 1999 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Edna Lewis
• 1997 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Madeleine Kamman
• 1995 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Anne Willan
• 1993 Grande Dame Award Recipient: Marion Cunningham

Grand Dames Honored by Chapters before the formation of LDEI

• Carol Brock
• M.F.K. Fisher
• Julia Child
• Grace Chu
• Nika Hazelton
• Helen McCully
• Caroline Rose Hunt
• Helen Bullock
• Julie Dannenbaum

LDEI presents the M.F.K. Fisher Award every two years. Originally, the award was designed recognize and support a woman in mid-career whose work directly impacts the areas of food, beverage and arts of the table. The Award honors M.F.K. Fisher, a widely read and lauded culinary writer whose works are appreciated by general readers as well as culinary professionals. Women worldwide are eligible to be nominated for the award.

In 2006, the M.F.K. Fisher Awards program was completely redesigned. The award now recognizes excellence in culinary writing. For information on the awards program, click on the links below.

2010 MFK Fisher Award Application

MFK Fisher Award Recipients:

• 2008 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Louisa Kasdon
• 2006 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Kitty Crider
• 2004 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Andrea Immer
• 2002 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Mary Risely
• 2000 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Katherine Mary Alex
• 1998 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Barbara Haber
• 1996 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Cathrine Sneed
• 1994 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Deborah Madison
• 1992 MFK Fisher Award Recipient: Linda Bisson

Celebrate the life and accomplishments of M.F.K. Fisher at  www.mfkfisher.org.

Les Dames d’Escoffier International Legacy Awards Offer Professional Wisdom to Women in Food, Wine and Hospitality 
 

Imagine the experience of working side by side for an exciting week with award winning masters in Chicago’s exciting restaurant scene, Washington State’s premier wine industry, or a small island resort in the British West Indies!

The 2010 LDEI Legacy Awards will be given in three categories – Culinary, hosted by Dame Carrie Nahabedian, Chef/Owner of NAHA restaurant, Dames Deann Bayless, Frontera Grill Owner and JeanMarie Brownson, Frontera Foods Culinary Director in Chicago; Wine in Washington State under the direction of Dame Kay Simon, Winemaker/Owner of Chinook Winery, and Dame Patricia Gelles, Managing Director/Owner of Klipsun Vineyards, and Hospitality by Dame Gladys Howard, Owner, Manager and Executive Chef at Pirates Point Resort, Little Cayman Island.

Established in 2009, each Legacy Award offers a one week workplace experience to beginning or mid-career, non-Dame women in the USA and Canada. Candidates must have at least two years of experience and must be currently working in the food, beverage or hospitality industries. Working beside Dames with award-winning credentials, the recipients will experience high energy, intense, career expanding days and nights with extraordinary teams.

Travel and hotel accommodations for six nights will be reimbursed for each winner up to US $2,000. Click here for the application. Applications must be submitted by April 16, 2010. The second annual Les Dames d’Escoffier International Legacy Awards will be announced on May 15, 2010 and must be fulfilled by October 15, 2010.

If you have any questions about the awards or entry process, please contact the Legacy Awards Chair, Dame Lila Gault at (212) 242-5644 or email her at lila@gaultgreen.com.