Photography by Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com ©2024
The Ram’s Head Inn on Shelter Island, NY, presented a live cooking and cocktail-making show last Saturday, May 11, plucking original recipes straight from Stirring the Pot, the brand new cookbook from the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an all-female organization of professionals in the culinary, fine wine and spirits arenas. The book, created and edited by fellow Dames chef and Chopped champion Silvia Baldini and Sharon Franke, compiled over 60 recipes from fellow members, with forewords written by Dame Carla Hall and Dame Lidia Bastianich. All proceeds from the book benefit LDNY’s scholarship fund, which has given out over $2 million dollars since the program’s inception in 1978.
Chef Baldini prepared three scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, Southforker and Northforker editor-in-chief Amy Zavatto and food scholar Meryl Rosofsky shook up original cocktails, and Peconic-based winemaker Robin Epperson-McCarthy poured some of her favorite vintages to complement the culinary creations they contributed to the book delighting the happy crowd of over 100 guests.
“I was so excited to host this very special event,” said Ram’s Head Inn owner Andrea Carter. “When women put their minds to it, they can do anything. This was delicious proof!” After the demonstration and sips and bites from the book, guests were able to mingle with the authors, purchase books, and have them signed as well.
Les Dames d’Escoffier International is a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the culinary, fine wine, spirits, and hospitality space. There are 45 chapters across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, England, France and Italy. Founded in 1977 by fearless food journalist Carol Brock, it has become a who’s who in the culinary world, with a focus on networking, education and helping other women succeed in the culinary arena. All proceeds from the cookbook sales went to LDNY’s scholarship fund. Following the event, Stirring the Pot will be available for a limited at Finley’s Fiction (8 Grand Avenue, Shelter Island Heights, 203-650-7616) or by purchasing directly through LDNY at stirringthepotny.com.
