Join us for a lively evening of food, drinks and fundraising at a Garden party featuring delicious bites from local chefs, refreshing sips, fun raffles, and a can't-miss auction.

FEATURED CHEFS & RESTAURANTS

Sophina Uong Chef/Owner of Mister Mao

Kaitlin Guerin Chef/Owner of Lagniappe Bakehouse

Meg Bickford Executive Chef of Commander's Palace

Amy Mehrtens, Executive Chef of Copper Vine

Maggie Scales Executive Pastry Chef of La Boulangerie / LRG Pastry

Justin Devillier Chef/Owner of La Petite Grocery

Chaya Conrad, Chef/Owner of Bywater Bakery

Craig Scot, Chef/Owner of Katie’s Restaurant

Antoine’s Restaurant

And more! Join our mailing list for updates.

This annual celebration fuels the Leading from the Heart Awards program, with 100% of proceeds benefitting Les Dames d’Escoffier. Come hungry, leave inspired!

October 22, 2025
Paradigm gardens / 1131 S. Rampart Street.
Patron party: 5:30 p.m.
Reception: 6:30 p.m.

BUY PATRON PARTY TICKETS

BUY RECEPTION TICKETS

This annual meeting is mandatory for members! Catch up with fellow Dames, meet new members, find out what we’ve been up to, and learn how you can get involved with upcoming events.

PLEASE RSVP for this meeting!

MEMBERS ONLY
Join us for a Global Culinary Initiative dinner exploring Venezuelan cuisine and culture with Origen Bistro chef/owner Julio Machado.

MENU
Hearts of Palm Salad served over a sweet corn cachapa with avocado cream and black truffle hot sauce
Salmon Crudo with avocado cubes and our street-style leche de tigra
Arepa Tacos Duo (Reina pepiada with avocado & Slow-roasted pork and pico de gallo)

$40 + Cash Bar

Origen Bistro (3600 St Claude Ave.)
July 23, 2025
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

BUY TICKETS

Please join us for a tasty chapter mixer with current and prospective members at the home of Beth D’Addono!

Members are encouraged to bring prospective Dames! This is a great opportunity for us to introduce and meet co-workers, friends and other women in hospitality who are interested in joining our chapter.

Sips and dips will be provided by Beth, Jennifer Killian, Suzanne Felber, Melanie Young & Jesseca Malecki.

Let us know if you’re bringing a +1 (or more!) in the RSVP notes. Event address will be sent by email to RSVPs.

3rd annual post-holiday king cake party

hosted by Dame Amy Sins

Date: 1/13/25
Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: RSVP for address

Bring your favorite king cake! Or, an app or other dish to share. Let us know what you’re brining when you RSVP. This event is open to members only.

Join us for a Global Culinary Initiative dinner with Chef Pablo Reyes at Galaxie

Chef Pablo, a native of Oaxaca who has spent the last decade in some of New Orleans’ best kitchens, will explore the culture, cuisine and his life in Oaxaca — a journey through the diverse flavors, ingredients and techniques that define his food heritage.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL! We’re inviting prospective Dames to join us, so please feel free to invite anyone interested in learning more about the culture and cuisine of Oaxaca or LDEI and our chapter.

December 5, 2024

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Galaxie Taco (3060 Saint Claude Ave.)

Tickets: $50/person (includes family-style dinner, 2 cocktails), paid directly to Galaxie at the event. “Buy” a ticket to reserve your spot and and to help us provide an accurate headcount.

About Global Culinary Initiative programs

The LDEI Global Culinary Initiative embraces diversity through the lens of food – the thread that connects cultures, lifestyles and traditions. Dames New Orleans taps into the diverse cultures in our community with educational programming and events that celebrate various cultures through their culinary traditions.

{Dames Only}

Location: Glass Half Full

Address: 3935 Louisa St., New Orleans, LA 70126

Date: July 29th

Time: 4 pm

Capacity: 20 Dames

Attire: Closed-toe shoes required. Be mindful that the warehouse is WARM.

Join us for a Happy Hour at Alma (Bywater) on Wednesday 7/10 at 5:30 pm to Meet & Greet the 2024 New Orleans Four Seasons Legacy Award Winner Heather Carpenter. Dame Melissa Araujo will be hosting with cocktail and small bite specials.

Join us on Tuesday 4/16 for a Members Only Happy Hour.

Dame Jesseca Malecki (General Manager, Hotel Fontenot) will host us from 5-7 pm at King Brasserie.

$15 participation fee to be paid at the event.

Space is limited to 15 members.

Passed Appetizer Menu:

GRUYÈRE & PARMESAN GOUGÈRES prosciutto ham 4 

YELLOWFIN TUNA CRUDO & CUCUMBER flavors of niçoise 5

WILD MUSHROOM & RICE CROQUETTE black garlic aioli 4

BBQ GULF SHRIMP ORLEANS parmesan grit cake, scallion 5

CRAWFISH BEIGNET crab fat aioli, cayenne 6

Complimentary Queen’s Punch - Bacardi, raspberry, port, sangria, & citrus

Happy hour cocktail / wine menu discounted to $6

Date: February 27th, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Location: New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI)

Price: $45 (One adult ticket, inclusive of tax and gratuity)

Tickets: https://www.lesdamesnola.org/tickets/leading-from-the-heart-awards-breakfast

Honoring:

Ms. Sinnidra Taylor of Codey’s Nola

Ms. Thuy Pham of Nola Nite Market

Menu: Ticket includes Breakfast Reception and Welcome Cocktail. Cash Bar for additional alcoholic beverages.

Check the newsletter for address.

Join us for a Latin-inspired evening at Paradigm Gardens to benefit our Leading from the Heart Awards!

Tickets: $100 per person

Food served from New Orleans Dames Chefs:

Nina Compton: Moqueca de Peixe, Gulf Seafood, tomato, coconut milk, cilantro

Sophina Uong: Chorizo con Papas Empanadas, tomatillo ginger salsa cruda

Wood Fired Plantains + Chorizo, olive, currant, chilies

Jillian Duran: Gulf Shrimp Ceviche, Leche de Tigre, aji Amarillo, tostones

Amy Sins: Mexican Rice, sofrito, tomato, local greens

Maya Mastersson: Quimbombo con Harina, sofrito, yellow pepper jelly (stuffed okra)

Dee Lavigne: Roasted Zucchini, cilantro lime crema

Maggie Scales: Tres Leches Cake, coconut + toasted meringue

Megan Forman: Dulce de Leche Coconut Profiterole

Music by: Muévelo

Location: Paradigm Gardens 1131 S Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70113

Date/Time: 11/28/2023 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Tickets include food and adult beverages. Adults only. Raffle tickets will be sold at the door.

Sponsored by:

Wednesday June 14, 2023 @ 6:30pm

Hype Haus x WeHelp Nola collab fundraiser.

1st 15 Dames to register get in free.

The remaining 10 available seats are a $34 donation for WeHelp Nola.

The Global Culinary Initiative is hosting a unique culinary education event

.15 tickets are available at $55 each which includes a 3-course meal + 1 glass of wine and tax/tip. This event is open to the public and Miss Shirley will be on hand to speak to our group.

Where: Miss Shirley’s 3009 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) New Orleans has just announced the three grant recipients for the inaugural Leading from the Heart Awards. Restaurateur Amanda Toups of Toups Meatery and Cristina Quackenbush Chef of pop-up Milkfish and founder/president of Good Trouble Network will each be awarded individual $2,500 grants. An additional $2,500 grant to WeHelp Nola, a woman-led nonprofit, will be awarded to founder Olivia McCoy.

Join us for the inaugural Leading from the Heart Awards breakfast on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Hotel Fontentot. Limited tickets available.

This event is open to the public and requires advance ticket purchases.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

We’re all women in hospitality across the New Orleans region, and the traditional holiday season is a busy time for all. Therefore we’ve decided to celebrate the holidays together on Monday, January 9th to celebrate all things 2022, indulge in a plethora of king cakes, and embrace time together with fellow Dames.

RSVP HERE

Monthly meeting for the New Orleans Chapter - Board of Directors

Swing by and meet the incoming New Orleans chapter president Christa Cotton with El Guapo Bitters. She will be hanging out to share a drink and a bite and get to know you!

RSVP HERE

Join us for a panel discussion featuring influential women in hospitality as they discuss Marketing & Branding Outside of Your Own Backyard, followed by a Power Hour Happy Hour.

Monday, October 3, 5:30pm

Panel Discussion = Tommy’s Restaurant, 746 Tchoupitoulas St.

Happy Hour = Social House, 752 Tchoupitoulas St.

Free Admission for Les Dames members = RSVP HERE

$10 Admission for non-members = BUY TICKETS HERE

Free Admission, Members Only.

Join us for our annual New Member Welcome party. It’s a “ROOTS” themed pot luck dinner. Attendees are invited to bring a dish from their childhood to share. Cash bar provided by the Southern Food & Beverage Museum.

RSVP HERE

Join the Global Culinary Initiative committee for an Ethiopian dinner at Addis NOLA. Ticket price is inclusive of tax and tip, and also includes two drinks.

PURCHASE TICKETS: https://www.lesdamesnola.org/tickets/gci-addis

Join us for a Summer Social! We’re gathering at NOLA Boards (Dame member - Mandy Simpson’s place) to mingle after hours with bites and sips.

Bring a dish to share, bring a friend, or if that’s not fitting in your day planner, come as you are.

Plus new Dame member Grace DiGeorge, manager at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, will do a cocktail demo and tasting of a Filthy Black Cherry Margarita with Astral and samples of Chateau d'Esclans The Beach rose wine.

Lagniappe = NOLA Boards will be offering tastings from their new honey bar and all attendees can take advantage of a 15% retail discount that evening!

PLEASE RSVP HERE!