March 2, 2010

Through snow, rain and even sleet, New York Dames continue to make exciting things happen these days. During February, Dames celebrated Chinese New Year at a Tea of Togetherness at Mandarin Oriental... enjoyed crepes and sipped cider at Bar Breton... mentored LDNY scholarship winners... continued raising funds for our Scholarship Drive... and garnered a couple of terrific press breaks for our chapter's events.

Current News Notes...

* Toast The Modern Cocktail on March 4th: Come to the French Culinary Institute and learn all about Modern Mixology from FCI's resident experts David Arnold and Chef Nils Norén. This event, chaired by Dame Judiaann Woo, will be a spirited evening of delicious libations, paired with innovative nibbles. Florence Fabricant featured this "Cocktail Sampling" in The New York Times Dining Calendar. To buy your ticket now, go to The Modern Cocktail .

* Celebrating Chinese New Year with a Tea of Togetherness: Eight Dames gathered in the Lobby Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, overlooking Central Park, on the lovely rainy afternoon of February 23rd. We toasted the Year of the Tiger with La Caravelle Champagne, courtesy of Dame Rita Jammet and then were treated to a delicious three-course traditional Chinese tea, co-hosted by Dames Emily Snyder and Carrie DeMarte and prepared under the supervision of Dame Toni Robertson (Executive Chef). To read more, go to Tea of Togetherness.

* Warming up with Crepes & Cider at Bar Breton: On the snowy afternoon of February 25th, fourteen Dames and guests gathered inside this cozy brasserie on Fifth Avenue to sip cider, enjoy savory galettes and delicate French dessert crepes and learn about the cuisine of Brittany from Chef-Owner Cyril Renaud. Thanks to Dame Melanie Young, this event was featured on the food daily email Tasting Table NY. Photos and highlights of this special gathering, expertly chaired by Dame Rita Jammet, will be posted soon at Crepes & Cider .

* 2010 MFK Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing: This award, honoring the lauded culinary writer Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher, recognizes a woman who is engaged in significant culinary writing. Applications are now being accepted. For more information, go to LDEI 2010 MFK Fisher Award.

Member News ...

* Dame Joanna Pruess, live on QVC tonight at 9:00pm: Tune into QVC this evening, March 2nd, to view Joanna, with host David Venable, showcasing her Cast-Iron Cookbook: Delicious and Simple Comfort Food. See some of the beloved dishes that have helped drive this book into its third printing in the past three months.

* Dame Francine Segan to demo Italian Easter Sweets: As spokesperson for the Italian Confectioners Association , Francine will be showing Italian sweets for Easter, including Colomba (a dove shaped cake from Verona), at Macy's Cellar on 34th Street on Saturday, March 20th at 1:00pm. A few days later on the evening of March 25th, Francine is also hosting a Dolce Italia Dessert Reception for the New York Dames and their guests in her Park Avenue home. Watch for your e-vite, which will be arriving soon.

Sincerely,

Beth Allen
President, LDNY

ldny.org