Les Dames d'Escoffier, Birmingham

04/25/2022

04/20/2022

Our group of volunteers welcomed two awesome nutrition students from to join us
at the Community Food Bank Community Food Bank of AL]
today. We worked alongside other
Our group of
volunteers welcomed two awesome
nutrition students from to join us at the Community Food Bank Community Food Bank of AL] today. We worked alongside other
volunteers to pack boxes that will feed 360 food-insecure families in central
Alabama. We love volunteering here! And
this is Volunteer Appreciation Week.
That's why we're looking so fancy. to pack boxes that will feed
360 food-insecure families in central Alabama. We love volunteering here! And
this is Volunteer Appreciation Week.
That's why we're looking so fancy.

04/17/2022

May these days of reflection allow the best values ​​of solidarity, love, peace and justice to be reborn in us.

03/16/2022

Giving back to our community with the incredible help of friends and the two most adorable hard worker kids.

03/12/2022

The Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a professional organization of women in food-related fields, has awarded more than $85,000 in entrepreneurial grants to women-owned businesses and scholarships to female students since its inception of 2013.

The non-profit group is at it again this year, offering two grants of up to $5,000 each to two woman-owned businesses in Alabama that deal with food, beverage, hospitality, food-related manufacturing or farming. The deadline to apply is March 21. To apply, visit www.ldeibirmingham.org.

"We are all about women helping women," said Susan Swagler, immediate past president and a founding member of the Birmingham Les Dames chapter. "We are funding the future of food in Alabama, and we are doing it by helping other women in our industries succeed."

Past grant recipients have included a Birmingham bar owner who used the grant to buy patio furniture so she could serve customers outside during the pandemic; a Birmingham restaurant owner who used funding to pay her staff instead of laying them off during the pandemic; and a Birmingham beverage manufacturer who used the grant to buy an important piece of equipment to grow her business.  

The group develops funding for the entrepreneurial grants and college scholarships, including a scholarship in partnership with Fiesta, Inc. for young women in the local Hispanic community, through its annual fundraiser Southern Soiree Champagne & Fried Chicken, which is a drive-through, pick-up gourmet picnic with food prepared by members. This year, it will be held at Pepper Place Market on Oct. 2. The event also helps fund scholarships for two female campers to attend Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s summer camp in downtown Birmingham and send Alabama high school ProStart culinary contest winners to travel to the ProStart national competition every year.   

"Whether we are volunteering at the Food Bank or working on the Champagne & Fried Chicken fundraiser, we come together as one," said Swagler. "When we say we are funding the future of food in Alabama, that’s our aim, and we’re doing it by partnering with other women."

03/11/2022

Dames supporting Dames!
🤜🏻✨🤛🏻
Birmingham Dame Ashley McMakin hosted Charleston Dame, Carrie Morey of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, at her Homewood location today. They were even filming for Carrie’s show, How She Rolls.

So fun!!!


.roussel

03/10/2022

・・・
We can’t wait for this fun event at our Homewood location! This Friday, March 11th from 11-1, owner of will join us again for a book signing of her new cookbook! We will have samples of her biscuits with our chicken salad- perfect combo!

Tag your cookbook loving friends and join us!

03/08/2022

LDEI Birmingham Chapter wish to all women in the World a Happy Women’s Day. “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow “.

03/06/2022

Oh what a night!
The first annual Community Food Bank of Central Alabama gala is under way.
Our chapter is THRILLED to partner with and support the important work they are doing.

02/26/2022

A huge shout-out to our fellow dame, Kristal Bryant, on the new K & J’s Elegant Pastries location in Uptown Birmingham!

02/17/2022

THIS.
This is who we are and what we do.
We are women in food, wine & hospitality who support other women in these industries through grants, scholarships, mentoring and volunteering.
Once a month, some of our members gather at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to help sort and pack boxes of food donations for those in need.
This is a partnership which yields success for all and we are proud of it.

02/12/2022

with
・・・
Spent the morning with some of my favorite women assembling these Valentine boxes for - we are sold out for this event, but go check out our organization and it’s mission!!

02/10/2022

Yep, this cool entrepreneur is one of our members.
Just how we roll! 🥃


・・・
My masterclass article is live! 🥸
Click the link in my bio to check out my and Madeleine’s article on Diageo Bar Academy about hiring, training, and retaining staff 👩‍💻
And check out these photos from the World Class global finals 🌎

02/08/2022

❤️❤️❤️A HUGE thank you to the 75+ supporters who made donations-for-sweet treats baskets!

Pick up is THIS Saturday morning at Pepper Place Market❤️❤️❤️.

Stay tuned for future opportunities to support our chapter, and the important work we do.

02/01/2022

Time is running out to order your Sweet Treats Valentine’s Box!
A $25 donation to our chapter (via link our bio) will secure a box of chef-made treats from out most talented members.
Pick -up is Saturday February 12th at Pepper Place Saturday Market. Deadline to order is February 10th!
#pepperplace

01/30/2022

This is what we do!
As women in the food, wine & hospitality industries, we support others in their endeavors as well.
If you’re a business looking to support our chapter, slide into our DMs and we’ll connect in-person.
If you’re interested in applying for one of our grants or scholarships, head over to our website (link in bio) for the application (due March 7th!)

01/22/2022

WHOOP WHOOP!
We’ll see y’all at Pepper Place Market tomorrow morning!

01/05/2022

Membership has it’s privileges - like informational webinars featuring women in food doing really cool things!

This one with & .ballis will highlight making a career shift to FINALLY follow your passion.

(Members, click the link we’ll add in stories to register!)

12/09/2021

A huge thank you to Martine’s Wines for partnering with us for this year’s Champagne & Fried Chicken! Martine’s Wines was founded in 1979 by Martine Saunier, a co-founder of the San Francisco chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, who has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the wine industry in the United States as an importer. The company has always had a laser focus on quality, providing a distinguishes portfolio of wines, both old world and new, with distribution from coast to coast. Thank you, !

12/08/2021

A big thank you to Louis Graffeo, a beloved and much-admired member of the Birmingham food community, and his team who partnered with us to produce our Champagne & Fried Chicken fundraiser. It would not have been possible without him. Thank you so much, Louis!

12/07/2021

Thank you, thank you to Ketel One for partnering with to produce one of the two craft cocktails that were created for Champagne & Fried Chicken. This drink—a citrusy, fresh vodka-based cocktail—was created by Dame Rachael Roberts and was wonderfully light and delicious. Thank you, !

12/02/2021

Tremendous thanks to George Dickel Tennessee Whisky for partnering with us to produce one of the craft cocktails for Champagne & Fried Chicken. If you tasted Dame Jessica Bennett’s dark, slightly sweet old-fashioned, you know what a treat this was. Thank you, for helping us share this wonderfully boozy drink featuring your award-winning whiskies!

11/29/2021

Thank you so much to Eastaboga Bee Company, which provided the delicious honey in this year’s Champagne & Fried Chicken baskets! In addition to their wonderful honey, harvested in Eastaboga, Alabama, they also offer variety of honey products. You can order from their online shop or look for them at . Thank you so much,

11/23/2021

Yes! We all need to power through the holidays!

11/19/2021

Another person we absolutely must thank is Joe DeSciose, the wonderful photographer who has beautifully photographed Champagne & Fried Chicken for the past two years as well as previous fundraisers for us. He always captures the spirit of our events, and we are lucky to have such amazing photos to share! Thank you so much, !

11/18/2021

A great volunteer day the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama We worked with other friends to pack 450 Thanksgiving boxes.

11/17/2021

Thank you to Evan’s Meats and Son of a Butcher for partnering with us to produce this year’s Champagne & Fried Chicken. Both of these family-owned businesses have a deep commitment to providing top-notch, unique beef, pork, fish, cheese, and specialty products delivered with integrity while also respecting the animals and environment. Evan’s Meats provides products to local restaurants while Son of a Butcher, a storefront borne out of the shock the Covid-19 pandemic brought to the restaurant industry, now provides those same amazing products for the at-home cook. Thank you, and !

11/15/2021

Champagne & Fried Chicken would not be possible without the generous partnerships of a number of wonderful companies and individuals. The first of these is Stone Hollow Farmstead that provided the gorgeous flowers for our fundraiser. is a family business founded by Dame Deborah Stone in 1999 with her husband, Russell, and her daughters, Alexandra and Fallon, in Harpersville, Alabama. This family business has grown from a natural love for the land and nurturing the process to producing the finest cheeses, honey, specialty foods, botanicals, cosmetic extracts, and cosmeceuticals. Thank you so much, Stone Hollow Farmstead!

11/09/2021

Thank you Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama for sponsoring this year’s Champagne & Fried Chicken!

11/08/2021

We owe tremendous thanks to the Market at Pepper Place for allowing us host Champagne & Fried Chicken in their wonderful space in October! Since 2000, the Market at Pepper Place has been bringing fresh, seasonal produce, ready-to-eat food items, and handmade goods to shoppers in Birmingham every Saturday, from 7 to 12—rain or shine. They have safely connected the community with local farmers and makers throughout the pandemic and are currently planning for a productive and healthy season in 2022. Thank you, !

11/04/2021

We owe a huge thank you to Julie Helmers & Eric Helmers and Philippe Lathrop & Judy Crittenden for their sponsorship of our fundraiser, Champagne & Fried Chicken. They have been long-time supporters of our chapter, our fundraiser, and our mission of supporting and empowering women in the culinary industry. Thank you all so very much!

11/02/2021

Thank you so much to Sprouthouse for sponsoring this year's Champagne & Fried Chicken! Sprouthouse is a full-service agency that takes a holistic approach to storytelling. They use their expertise in traditional media relations, digital media, social media, design, branding, and strategic partnerships to cultivate a consistent voice for their clients, offering them all the tools they need to see their business not just grow, but flourish. They work with chefs, restaurants, hotels, real estate developers, designers, non-profits, event producers, spirits brands, packaged goods, and more. Thank you, !

11/02/2021

Our own Dame Deborah Stone made the 2021 Favorite Things List! Wow and wow!

11/01/2021

Thank you to Colite Technologies for sponsoring Champagne & Fried Chicken! Colite Technologies was built on the thought that with the right combination of technology, the current energy landscape can become more sustainable and resilient. Their mission is to deliver reliable energy efficiency and renewable power products for a more sustainable future. Thank you, Colite Technologies!

10/30/2021

Check out this autumn-ready, healthy dish from Dame Sidney Fry. She takes the best food photos, too!