Les Dames d’Escoffier New York

Abbondanza! – Fund-raising for Scholarship

 

The day was October 15, 2007… and after a year of planning and hard work, Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Abbondanza! fund–raiser took place. Nearly 200 New York Dames and their guests arrived at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center for one of their favorite things—raising funds for scholarship. And what a success the event turned out to be! Over $120,000 was raised that evening for our Make a Difference Culinary Scholarships, to be awarded to future “Dames in the making.”

 

The event began with a VIP reception, where the event honoree, Dame Lidia Bastianich, autographed books for the reception attendees, while guests nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and sipped a signature cocktail. The dinner was kicked off by Master of Ceremonies Isaac Mizrahi, who humorously roasted Abbondanza! Culinary Chair Mario Batali. Four-star chefs worked their culinary magic and served a special elegant dinner. Chef Jacques Pépin, a long-time supporter of Les Dames New York, painted and donated a whimsical menu of the event, which was auctioned off. After some intense bidding, Martha Stewart prevailed, then graciously presented the watercolor menu to Lidia as a memento of the event.

 

The evening flowed with perfection, thanks to Event Cochairs Roberta Morrell and Rita Jammet and their capable and enthusiastic committee. The silent action, expertly organized by Dame Melanie Young increased the LDNY scholarship fund. To read more about Abbondanza!, click here.

 

 

 

Master of Ceremonies Isaac Mizrahi poses with his idol and honoree Lidia Bastianich during a memorable Abbondanza! moment.
LDEI Founder Carol Brock

 Dame Carol Brock
Founder of Les Dames d'Escoffier International

 

Carol Brock, founder of Les Dames d'Escoffier, began her long and distinguished career in food journalism in 1944 at age twenty, when she landed her first job as assistant food editor of Good Housekeeping. In her capacity as hostess editor, a position the publication created for her, her responsibilities included recipe development and food photography. She also served as personal chef to Hearst magazine executives and editors, authored a monthly byline in the publication’s “For the Hostess” column, coauthored The Good Housekeeping Party Book and ultimately worked as a contributing editor of three Good Housekeeping cookbooks.

 

Following her success at Good Housekeeping, Carol joined Parents Magazine, where she worked as a food editor and where management proudly declared that she must be “the Mother of two ever-hungry children.”

 

Carol began her reign as food reporter for the New York Daily News in 1971, and spent the next fifteen years producing the newspaper’s weekly color food photography as well as developing recipes, planning menus, and writing food features.

 

In 1986 Carol moved on to the Times/Ledger, for which she critiqued restaurants in Queens— the most ethnically diverse spot on the globe—for the next thirteen years, It was also during this time that she served as culinary arts coordinator of Great Neck Adult Education, where she continues today to coordinate special events.

 

Carol is a former national president of the Round Table for Women in Food Service and president of New York Home Economists in Business. She is a member of New York Culinary Historians, Women Restaurant and Chefs Association, James Beard Foundation, New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, Roundtable for Food Professionals and Internal Hospitality Committee of the National Council of Women.

 

Carol Brock founded Les Dames d'Escoffier in 1976.

 
Copyright 2009 Les Dames d’Escoffier New York