Seven Women Inducted into Les Dames d'Escoffier

New York, NY, October 2, 2015 – Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY), the first and largest chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a 40-year-old non-profit organization supporting women professionals in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries, welcomed seven women of achievement in those fields at an induction ceremony held at Restaurant Lafayette in New York City on September 28^th. 

The evening was hosted by Linda Lawry, president of Les Dames d’Escoffier New York and director of the International Wine Center.  A French-inspired dinner designed by noted Chef Andrew Carmellini and served with Prosecco and select red and white wines provided the culinary centerpiece of the event.

The new members, each of whom has achieved unique distinction and stature in her industry, include:

·         Carrie Bachman, owner of Carrie Bachman Public Relations, specializing in the promotion of cookbook authors and publishers, with expertise in event planning, fundraising and communications.

·         Marybeth Bentwood, executive director of Wines of Chile USA, whose position encompasses the marketing and communications for a multitude of Chilean wine producers.

·         Francine Cohen, editor-in-chief of Inside F&B, a leading online trade magazine that covers the business of the food, beverage and hospitality industries, and a strategic marketing specialist with Inside F&B Ink, a consultancy for those industries.

·         Susannah Gold, president of Vigneto Communications, a public relations company specializing in luxury wine and food, and the author of the wine blog Avvinare.  She holds certifications from the Society of Wine Educators, the Spanish Wine Academy, Wine and Spirits Educators Trust and the Associazione Italiana Sommeliers.

  Rhoda Kave, owner and head chocolatier at Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, with a shop at the Essex Street Market and a shop with production facility on Forsythe Street, both in New York City’s Lower East Side, and with shops and factory in Belize, the source of Roni-Sue’s chocolate beans.

·         Vincenza Kelly, marketing and promotion officer at the Italian Trade Commission, the trade section of the Consulate General of Italy.  She holds wine certification from the Society of Wine Educators, Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and The Court of Master Sommeliers.

·         Marjorie Wolfson, director of the Cook for Kids program at Wellness in the Schools, the in-school program that educates children about healthy foods and now serves 35,000 children in 60 New York City public schools.  She previously had a 15-year career as executive chef at her own boutique catering and event production company.  

“We welcome these extraordinary women into the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier,” said chapter president Linda Lawry. “They will join New York’s most acclaimed women chefs, wine and hospitality professionals whose mission is to empower other women to achieve careers in these fields through advocacy, education and philanthropy.”

Sponsors for the induction event included Kendall Jackson Wine Estates, Zonin 1821 Prosecco, Dame Barbara Tober and Chocolat Moderne.

Les Dames d’Escoffier/New York is the founding and largest chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, which began in 1973 as the first organization devoted to professional women in food, wine and hospitality, at a time when women were not recognized as leaders in those fields.  It is an invitational volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire, empower and mentor women, enabling them to pursue careers in the culinary and hospitality professions through higher education. For more information, visit www.ldny.org.