By Dame Joan Bloom

January 12, 2010  More than 40 Dames and their guests came in out of the cold on Tuesday, January 12th, to bask in the sunlight of Provence. The occasion was a Provencale luncheon at Allegretti prepared by its namesake chef/owner and Provence native, Chef Alain Allegretti.

New York Chapter President Beth Allen greeted everyone at this first program of 2010, and gave the guests a primer on LDEI. Dame Rita Jammet, who had initiated the event and coordinated the luncheon with Chef Allegretti, briefed us on his background and the genesis of the restaurant. Chef Allegretti previously presided over the kitchen of Atelier in New York's Ritz Carlton Hotel and earlier, the legendary Chantecler in the Hotel Negresco in Nice. Dame Joan Bloom described Chateau D'Esclans Rose, one of the most prestigious domaines in the Wines of Provence association, that was expertly paired with the menu.

We dined on a rich mushroom risotto with hen-of-the-woods and cremini mushrooms and roti jus, pan-seared salmon with baby zucchini provencale, crispy applewood bacon and mariniere jus, and concluded with a clafoutis with quince and chocolate.

We savored every morsel before heading back out into the cold January New York day, still dreaming of Provence.