Les Dames d'Escoffier

Les Dames d' Escoffier - Austin, Texas
Women of Achievement in the Culinary, Fine Beverage and Hospitality Professions

THESE DAMES WALK THE TALK

Cooking with Les Dames d'Escoffier of Austin at Farmers' Markets

Austin, Texas, November 24, 2008: The Austin Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international service organization of distinguished women professionals in culinary and hospitality industries, announces the release of Cooking With Les Dames d'Escoffier: At Home with the Women Who Shape the Way We Eat and Drink. The 2008 cookbook includes favorite recipes from members Julia Child, MFK Fisher, Marcella Hazan, and Alice Waters along with dozens of other Dames, including Dawn Orsak and Diane Tucker of Austin, as well as other Texas chapters.

In celebrating the book's release, Austin Dames will be participating in several venues around town. On December 9th from 6-9pm, Austin Dames will be preparing hors d'oeuvres from the cookbook as part of Edible Austin's Drink Local Night at the Monarch downtown. This event is a celebration of locally made spirits including Dripping Springs Vodka, Lone Star Distillery, Paula's Texas Spirits, Pepe's Z Tequila, Treaty Oak Rum, Tito's Vodka and Savvy Vodka.

At the Triangle Farmers Market (at the conjunction of Lamar, Guadalupe, and 45th St), members will be demonstrating recipes and selling books on Wednesday, December 17 from 3-7pm.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, chapter members will sponsor a good 'ole fashion cakewalk and sell the book at the downtown market, 4th and Guadalupe at Republic Square Park from 9AM-1PM. Cakewalk participants will "walk" to win baked goods prepared by the Austin Les Dames chapter. Prizes include cookies, cupcakes and of course, some of the best cakes in town.

The 300-page hardback book, published by Sasquatch Press of Seattle, sells for $35. It represents the work of nationally known chefs, writers and caterers, as well as Austin's own Dawn Orsak and Diane Tucker; Terry Thompson-Anderson, chef and cookbook author from Fredericksburg; and Dallas' Paula Lambert of the Mozzarella Company, and Sharon Hage, chef/owner of York Street restaurant.

A percentage of sales in Austin go to Austin Dames' scholarships for local women culinary students and to support Urban Roots, a youth development program using sustainable agriculture as means for growth and positive change.

For additional information contact: paula@paulabiehler.com

Les Dames d' Escoffier International (LDEI) is an organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage, and hospitality professions. Founded in 1976 in New York as a non-profit organization, LDEI's mission is education, advocacy, and philanthropy. The Austin Dames chapter was chartered in 2003 and is one of 26 chapters in the US and Canada.