Women supporting women in food, drink and hospitality
The London Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International
Welcome to the London Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International
LDE London (Les Dames d’Escoffier London) is a dynamic group of forward-thinking women leaders in the food, drink and hospitality industries. We are a Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a non-profit organisation which supports its communities through grants, scholarships and mentorship.
Learn more about our Her-story.
Vision and Mission
We are founded on the principle of creating a supportive culture within our community through:
- Sharing knowledge
- Supporting our members
- Providing leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropic events for the community at large
Welcome from the President
Women leading, inspiring and shaping the future of food, drink and hospitality.
Celebrating 15 years of women leading, mentoring and inspiring other women in our industries, the London Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, is a vibrant network of chefs, writers, producers, educators and entrepreneurs from across UK and Ireland.
At the heart of LDE London are three values – philanthropy, support and connection – uniting us to champion women, share knowledge and shape the future of our industry together.
Tea towels for good
Say hello to our fund-raising tea towel featuring artwork by Dame Elisabeth Luard. Printed on high-quality 100% cotton, it features a beautiful full-colour image of a tasty bunch of Chard and will make a gorgeous gift for anyone, including yourself!
All profits fund our Scholarship Programme, supporting women in the food and hospitality industries.
5 minutes with….
Founder of the renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Dame Darina Allen is an award-winning chef, author, and champion of sustainable Irish food traditions. Her passion for real ingredients, heritage recipes, and empowering the next generation of cooks continues to inspire food lovers around the world.
Bookclub
Our ongoing mission is to dive into the delicious world of food through the eyes (and pens) of female authors.
If you’re passionate about books and drinking a few glasses of wine whilst chatting with your fellow Dames this is the club for you.
We will be doing a mixture of in-person and virtual meetings to ensure everyone can be involved.
We hope to welcome international Dames too to join us virtually wherever they are.
Olive Chocolate Tapenade
This super quick recipe from Dame Chantal Coady adds a new ingredient to the classic Mediterranean dish of Tapenade.
Dames Give Back
Continuing our Dames Give Back initiative, Dame Clare Donovan invited us to spend time with her and her devoted team at Cooking Champions. Clare founded this food support, education and training charity, offering a wealth of resources for people in the Enfield area to meet significant need.