The Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, is an organization of professional women in the fields of food, fine beverage, and hospitality. The chapter's mission is to enhance our professional endeavors and to support each other through resource exchange, education, and community outreach.

Members are outstanding women, with at least five years' professional experience in gastronomy and/or oenology, who have distinguished themselves in their fields. Chefs, teachers, authors, writers, editors, hotel executives, purveyors, restaurateurs, and culinary public relations specialists are all represented.

Fund-raising: The Chicago chapter has biannual events that vary from culinary auctions to formal dinners showcasing haute cuisine. The funds are distributed to a scholarship endowment fund to benefit qualified women in culinary careers and programs that support educating children throughout the city of Chicago in the culinary arts. Since 1985, the Chicago chapter has dispersed more than $400,000 in scholarships and grants to qualified women, educational facilities and food banks. A list of our donations follows.

• Direct Scholarships to Washburne's School of Culinary Arts
• IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Scholarship Fund
• Inspiration Cafe
• Lucy Flower Career Academy's Flower Pot Cafe and the Flower Cart at the Garfield Park - Conservatory
• Escoffier Museum
• The Greater Chicago Food Depository
• Chicago Green City Market

Community Outreach: The chapter is involved in working with a variety of programs that support educating children throughout the city of Chicago in the culinary arts. It also helped launch the new Chicago Green City Market, a marketplace supporting fresh local produce, artisanal products, and sustainable agriculture. The chapter actively endorses the market's goal of promoting a healthier society.

Monthly Programs: The chapter holds monthly enrichment programs for members that range from wine and food tastings to demonstrations, lectures, and seminars.

Newsletter: The chapter publishes, A La Minute, a quarterly newsletter for members.

The Chicago chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is one of the oldest, and the second largest, and counts among its members some of the nation's best-known chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, culinary school directors and teachers. The chapter is recognized as a model for community involvement and leadership roles, and for sharing its expertise.

Grande Dame Award: Les Dames d'Escoffier International has established a Grande Dame Award for women culinary professionals of exceptional achievement. Women throughout the world are eligible and receive honorary membership. Grande Dames include Julia Child, M.F.K. Fisher, Marion Cunningham, Anne Willan, and Madeleine Kamman. Awarded bi-annually.

M.F.K. Fisher Award: A monetary award, also awarded bi-annually, is presented to a woman in mid-career in recognition of the contribution she has made in her field and to assist her future work. Recent recipients include: Linda Bisson, Deborah Madison, Catherine Sneed, and Barbara Haber.

Les Dames d'Escoffier Chicago, is managed by an Executive Board and a committee of board members, elected by the membership. The Executive Board includes a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and past President. Working committees are drawn from the officers, the board and the membership at large.