Upcoming Events

Basic Knife Skills Class with Chef Katie
May
30

Basic Knife Skills Class with Chef Katie

Join us for an instructional class to ensure your knife skills are safe and efficient. Bring your own knife, or we will have one available to use. Remember kitchen safety, and wear closed-toe, non-skid shoes, and hair pulled back, ready to be an official fruit ninja.  

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Event Details:

  • May 30, 6 to 8 pm

  • Sullivan University

  • Maximum capacity: 24 people

  • Ticket Prices:

    • Les Dames: $25

    • Non-Members: $35

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Sweet Home Chicago
Jun
12
to Jun 16

Sweet Home Chicago

Travel Opportunity - “Sweet Home Chicago” - Hosted by LDEI Chicago -
The Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is pleased to invite you to explore their culinary scene for five days. Discover Chicago's most traditional and trend-forward restaurants, learn about the history of the city’s foodways, and enjoy some of its preeminent cultural highlights. Come see why Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Chicago the Best Big City in the U.S. for an unprecedented five years in a row. Click to learn more.

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Tequila Tasting Experience
Mar
11

Tequila Tasting Experience

The tasting will include a welcome cocktail, neat pours of 5 Additive Free tequilas designed to showcase the differences between terroir (Valley vs Highlands), age classes (Blanco/Reposado/Añejo), and the influence of the barrel on aging. One of these is produced by a female master distiller, a rarity in tequila for sure! Snacks will include guacamole with tortilla chips, pork with mole poblano, and our Oaxacan chocolate & chiles pot de crème.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

Event Details:

  • Price: $50

  • Maximum capacity: 34 people

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DAME THE HOLIDAYS & FULL SPEED AHEAD!
Dec
10

DAME THE HOLIDAYS & FULL SPEED AHEAD!

HAPPY HOLIDAY COCKTAIL~MOCKTAIL PARTY

Raise a Glass (or two!) of Cheer to the 2023 Dame Holiday Season! Our Holiday Celebration includes a toast to our New Members, New Board Members, Retiring Board Members & the hugely successful Annual LDEI Conference in Louisville hosted by KY Dames.

We’re gathering at Dame Stacy Duncan’s home for Dame-Made Holiday Drinks & Bites, Door Prizes, Networking & Socializing.

By Invitation Only, Friends and Family (over 21) are welcome.
There is no fee to join the party, but you must register so we have a head count.

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Dames Dine Out At NAMI Restaurant
Jul
18

Dames Dine Out At NAMI Restaurant

Join us for 'Dames Dine Out' at NAMI Restaurant, Chef Edward Lee's newest restaurant and first Korean concept in decades. With a kitchen helmed by two accomplished women, Executive Chef Breanna Baker and Consulting Chef Yeon-Hee Chung, the night will be a celebration of delicious food, the dog days of summer and spending time with your fellow Dames! We're excited to get to explore this new and exciting restaurant in downtown Louisville with you.

We're going 'Dutch Treat', with everyone responsible for their own tab. But you must register so we have an accurate head count for our reservation.

We'd like to keep this a Members-oriented evening, and so ENCOURAGE YOU to invite women who are interested in and eligible to join our Les Dames Kentucky Chapter. If you have a +1 who has at least 5 years (not necessarily consecutive) experience in the hospitality, food or beverage industry, we'd love to meet her at NAMI! We're in the final push of this year's membership drive, and we're looking for new members who share our goals to increase the presence of professional women in food, beverage or hospitality and support talented women through scholarships and philanthropy to achieve their professional aims. Our Membership Chair Dame Melissa Richards-Person will be on hand to provide additional information for potential members.

Registration ends July 14th at 6pm, so we can get a final tally for our reservation to NAMI:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dames-dine-out-at-nami-restaurant-tickets-666017194357?aff=oddtdtcreator

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A TOAST TO OUR 2023 LDKY GRANT WINNERS
Jun
11

A TOAST TO OUR 2023 LDKY GRANT WINNERS

Join Us at Kaufman Creek Farms for a Summer Cocktail Party Featuring our 2023 Grant Winners!

We're headed to Kaufman Creek Farms for an early summer cocktail party with Champagne, Mocktails & Light Bites. We can't wait to toast our 2023 LDKY Grant Winners & hear their project stories.

Meet Our Winners:

  • Dame Tammy Kaufman owns Kaufman Creek Farms. Tammy's grant will increase her Farmers’ Market Production.

  • Carlie Cornett owns True North Catering. Carlie's grant will provide in-home, in-kitchen, or retreat cooking classes for kids via her new program called 'Butter Stick'.

  • Christine Gnamba owns Eden & Kissi. Christine's grant will enable her to purchase equipment for her new restaurant concept called 'Delicious Foodies', offering fresh juices, smoothies and crepes.

You don't want to miss an outing to Tammy's farm, Light Bites prepared by Carlie & Christine, and Dame Nicole Stipp's famous Seasonal Mocktails! Door Prizes included.

Tickets are $30 per person, with proceeds benefiting our 2024 Grant Program. Dames, Friends & Family are welcome.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-toast-to-our-2023-ldky-grant-winners-tickets-639621484077

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LET US LEARN - CONNECTING FAMILIES TO FOOD Rescheduled
Jun
4

LET US LEARN - CONNECTING FAMILIES TO FOOD Rescheduled

Dame and Let Us Learn, Inc. (LUL) Founder & Executive Director Gina Brown hosts a Bring-Your-Own Brown Bag Lunch in the Fairmont Children's Garden at Fairmont Elementary School in New Albany. Gina will discuss the importance of school gardens, farm-to-school education, how LUL engages with and connects familes to healthy food, and how LUL's network of community gardens addresses food security in Floyd County.

TICKETS are FREE but registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/let-us-learn-connecting-families-to-food-rescheduled-tickets-603847262417

Fairmont Elementary is located at 1725 Abbie Dell, New Albany, IN.

For More Info, Call Gina: 812-697-0266 or Email: gbrown@letuslearnkyinc.org

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DRINKING BETTER! ABV-FREE COCKTAILS, NATURAL WINES & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
Mar
12

DRINKING BETTER! ABV-FREE COCKTAILS, NATURAL WINES & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

DRINKING BETTER IN 2023!

Want to build a wine list that minimizes your environmental impact, diversify your beverage menu with alcohol-free/low-ABV options, or change your drinking habits for the long- or short-term? You're in the right place!

As part of the Les Dames d'Escoffier (LDEI) TABLE TALKS SERIES, Les Dames Kentucky (LDKY) is hosting a virtual conversation in drinking trends with KY Dames Julie DeFriend & Nicole Stipp that coincide with wellness & drinking more thoughtfully in 2023, including a discussion of Natural Wines and ABV-Free Cocktails. These two pros are ready to answer your questions and present thoughtful approaches to the topics. Julie DeFriend is an Advanced Sommelier, CSW with Skurnik Wines & Spirits, and Nicole Stipp is the co-founder of Trouble Bar and Matson&Gilman Travel Services. Both are passionate about thoughtful approaches to building timeless menus, thinking through trends that can benefit your beverage program for the long run, or just putting health & well-being into your glass.

Nicole & Julie's program will start with a conversation in trends they're seeing in wine and beverage services, leading to a quick demonstration on building ABV-Free cocktails, & concluding with an interactive Q&A with all attendees!

LDEI's Table Talks are a month-long series of fun and fascinating virtual events in March open to anyone interested in food, beverage and hospitality. Click Here to see what’s on the menu for “Table Talks with Les Dames.” From food and drink demos and tastings to panel discussions and interviews, there’s something for every appetite. Join us!

TICKETS ARE FREE, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drinking-better-abv-free-cocktails-natural-wines-everything-in-between-tickets-536156266827

Zoom info will be sent to participants within 3 days of the event.

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CHOCOLATE & WOODFORD RESERVE NIGHT @TROUBLE BAR
Feb
26

CHOCOLATE & WOODFORD RESERVE NIGHT @TROUBLE BAR

Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall, CSS treats us to the joy of chocolate & bourbon pairing @Dame Nicole Stipp's Trouble Bar! Experience a guided bourbon and chocolate pairing, and learn about Elizabeth's story, her path in the industry and what she sees for the future of Kentucky's signature industry!

As one of the youngest female distillers in the United States, Elizabeth is a wealth of knowledge on sensory experiences - you'll learn a lot about your tastebuds in this sensory-driven event. The evening begins with a Design-Your-Own Old Fashioned from a selection of syrups and bitters plus snacks from a Grazing Table provided by Dame Ashley Urjil Mills' Harvey's Cheese, then settles into the enjoyable chocolate and bourbon pairing led by Elizabeth. After the tasting concludes, Elizabeth will host a Q&A and guests will mingle with a final classic Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned.

TICKETS are $50 per person for this amazing event, and available for Dames, Friends & Family (& Public) over 21. Hurry to register, space is limited!

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LDKY Spring Plant Sale
Apr
12
to May 13

LDKY Spring Plant Sale

PRE-ORDER OUR THEMED GARDEN PLANT PACKAGES between April 12 & May 13. Two Pick-up Locations & Dates, plus a Home Delivery Option are available this year!

Our Gorgeous Organic Plant Packages Were Designed By Dames Gina Brown of Let Us Learn, Penryn Craig of Craig’s Creek Farm & Lisa Windhorst of Spade and Table Farm!

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Spicing It Up On The Farm With Barn8 Executive Chef Alison Settle
Mar
24

Spicing It Up On The Farm With Barn8 Executive Chef Alison Settle

PURCHASE TICKETS

As part of the Les Dames d'Escoffier (LDEI) Table Talks Series, Les Dames Kentucky (LDKY) is hosting 'Spicing Things Up on the Farm: A Virtual Cooking Class' - featuring Barn8 Restaurant Executive Chef, Dame and 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast - Alison Settle.

Chef Alison 'Spices It Up' with her adventurous take on traditional Kentucky fare and will demonstrate her signature burrata salad, incorporating ingredients into the dish that she has preserved from past growing seasons, accented with her house-made Settleracha Oil. She'll also share pro tips for extending the flavors of the growing season with such techniques as fermenting, pickling, dehydrating and preserving. Additionally, Chef will talk about operating the farm-to-table restaurant on the 683-acre working thoroughbred horse farm just outside of Louisville.

Tickets for Chef Alison's virtual cooking class are $30 per person and will include her burrata recipe as well as a bottle of her Settleracha Oil which retails for $14. Be sure to include your shipping address with your ticket registration! A ZOOM link will be emailed to each registrant prior to the event.

A farm-to-table restaurant that’s actually on a farm, Barn8 Farm Restaurant & Bourbon Bar is located on Hermitage Farm, an agritourism project created by Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, founders of the 21c Museum Hotel chain. Their shared vision of celebrating Kentucky’s most noted industries — horses, bourbon and agriculture — culminated in this project that attracts visitors from all over the world.

A native of Lexington, KY, Settle’s childhood was filled with influential experiences involving nature and science. Growing up without cable, watching local TV shows about the diverse ecosystems of Kentucky’s wildlife quickly became a bonding experience for Settle and her father. She spent a few summers exploring her grandparent’s 70-acre forested farm along the Indiana countryside. Now, as executive chef of Barn8, Chef works closely with her culinary team to craft seasonal menus focused on fresh produce harvested from the restaurant’s on-site gardens, three-tier climate-controlled greenhouse, and Hermitage Farm’s own acreage; as well as incorporating bison, beef, pork and chickens from neighboring farms.

LDEI's Table Talks are a month-long series of fun and fascinating virtual events in March open to anyone interested in food, beverage and hospitality. Click Here to see what’s on the menu for “Table Talks with Les Dames.” From food and drink demos and tastings to panel discussions and interviews, there’s something for every appetite. Join us!

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COOKING WITH KATIE
Jan
22

COOKING WITH KATIE

Put on your chef's hat & start the New Year right with healthy cooking!

Join Sullivan Chef & KY Dame Katie Payne for a hands-on class of basic cooking techniques and valuable tricks for cleaner, healthier eating.

Get your TICKETS now!

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LES DAMES KY PRESENTS: GET YOUR HOLIDAY VEGAN ON!
Nov
21

LES DAMES KY PRESENTS: GET YOUR HOLIDAY VEGAN ON!

Striving to please Vegan Palates this holiday season? Never fear, we've got you covered!

Complicated never guaranteed tasty, so why not hit the easy button? Chef Lauren Schoenbaechler from the Lee Initiative & formerly of Bar Vetti takes us through a step-by-step vegan cooking demonstration with an array of Simply Delicious Vegan Recipes.

PLUS* Advanced Sommelier & Dame Julie DeFriend advises participants on selecting a few vegan wines as well. (Nope, they're not all vegan-friendly.)

This event is FREE of charge and available via Zoom, but DONATIONS are always welcome! Click here to register on Eventbrite: bit.ly/3nUFphs
The Zoom link will be sent 2 days before the event, but you must be registered to receive the link as well as Chef Schoen's recipes after the event.

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LES DAMES KY MANDATORY ANNUAL MEETING
Sep
13

LES DAMES KY MANDATORY ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual LDKY Membership Meeting @Art Eatables is IN-PERSON & BETTER THAN EVER w/Drinks, Dinner, Business, Bourbon & Chocolate (oh my!)

Our Annual Mandatory Meeting features Bourbon & Chocolate Pairings at Dame Kelley Ramsey's Art Eatables, with a Dinner Buffet from Dame Stacy Duncan's Brasserie Provence. This is a MANDATORY meeting for all chapter members, as stated in the LDEI by-laws.

** $30 Per Person ** payable through Eventbrite invitation only. Tickets WILL NOT be sold at the door, enabling adequate time for event setup and catering planning. Please note, membership must be paid in full in order to attend.

LDKY MANDATORY ANNUAL MEETING

6:00 - 6:30pm ~ Arrival, Cocktails, Catch up with Dames

6:30 - 7:45pm ~ Dinner Buffet and Meeting

7:30 - 8:15 ~ Bourbon & Chocolate Pairing

MEETING AGENDA

- Call to Order & Welcoming Comments - President Susan Reigler

- Introduction of current & incoming Officers and Board Members

- Treasurer's Report - Lisa Windhorst

- Committee Reports:

  • Membership - Kelley Miracle - Status of renewals and introduction of new members

  • Programs - Julie DeFriend - Recap of virtual and live events since Spring, 2020, plus proposed upcoming events

  • Communications - Stacy Duncan - LDKY website, social media, MailChimp newsletter, texts, Eventbrite posts and evites

  • Green Tables Initiative - Penryn Craig - What it's about and recent activity

  • Grant Writing - Gina Brown - Current applications and their purposes

  • Philanthropy & Scholarships - Judy Hollis - LDKY mission and 2020-2021 grants

- 2020-2021 LDEI President Judy Hollis - Update on our International organization's activities and upcoming annual conferences: San Antonio 2021, New York 2022, Louisville 2023

- Questions and Comments from membership

- Committee sign-ups

- Adjourn to Bourbon and Chocolate Pairing with host Kelley Ramsey

**Les Dames Kentucky's Annual Meeting is MANDATORY for all LDKY members, in accordance with Les Dames International's (LDEI) requirements. If you absolutely cannot attend the Annual Meeting, you must email Susan Reigler, LDKY President at susanreigler@gmail.com to keep your membership in good standing.

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LDKY Spring Plant Sale Pick-Up, Sunday May 16
May
16

LDKY Spring Plant Sale Pick-Up, Sunday May 16

LES DAMES KENTUCKY SPRING PLANT SALE
ONLINE ORDERS
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/les-dames-ky-spring-plant-sale-tickets-147147489101
START MARCH 20th & END MAY 14th
Pick-Up May 16 @Spade and Table Farm

Choose From Our Themed Garden Plant Packages
Designed by Dame Lisa Windhorst of Spade and Table Farm
& Dame Penryn Craig of Craig’s Creek Farm:

Herb Garden (20 plants) - $50 per pkg.

• 2 oregano

• 3 dill

• 3 rosemary

• 3 basil

• 3 thyme

• 3 parsley

• 3 cilantro

Pizza Garden (12 plants) - $35 per pkg.

• 2 jalapeno

• 2 banana pepper

• 1 San Marzano tomato

• 1 cherry tomato

• 2 red pepper

• 2 oregano

• 2 basil

Salsa Garden (11 plants) - $35 per pkg.

• 2 jalapeno

• 2 bell pepper

• 2 San Marzano tomato

• 2 cherry tomato

• 3 cilantro

Salad Days Garden (16 plants) - $35 per pkg.

• 6 lettuce

• 3 cucumbers

• 2 bell pepper

• 2 banana pepper

• 2 cherry tomato

• 1 basil

• 1 pkg. of radish seeds

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Louisville’s Bourbon Rebirth – Showcasing Culinary & Hospitality Heritage, Sunday March 14
Mar
14

Louisville’s Bourbon Rebirth – Showcasing Culinary & Hospitality Heritage, Sunday March 14

Bourbon's Renaissance puts Kentucky's Heritage in the spotlight.

For the past decade, Bourbon has experienced a renaissance that has put Kentucky in the spotlight not only as the birthplace of America’s native spirit, but also for its extraordinary heritage of signature dishes and gracious hospitality.

Kentucky Dame Stacey Yates, Louisville Tourism Vice President of Marketing Communications and the founder of the city’s Urban Bourbon Trail has helped Louisville return to its rightful place as the Bourbon City. Stacey has been invited by cities in Mexico, Canada, Ireland, and Japan, as well as in the U.S., to share the marketing story behind the success of bringing the buzz back to Bourbon Country, acting as a model for their own branding campaigns.

In this session, she brings that expertise to members of Les Dames d'Escoffier International.

Registration is FREE and open to the Public:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louisvilles-bourbon-rebirth-showcasing-culinary-hospitality-heritage-tickets-138852681107

*** During March, Les Dames d’Escoffier International chapters around the world will host a series of fun and fascinating Zoom events open to anyone interested in food, beverage and hospitality. Click here to see what’s on the menu for “Table Talks with Les Dames.” From food and drink demos and tastings to panel discussions and interviews, there’s something for every appetite. Join us!


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