Autumn 2013 - Les Dames d'Escoffier International

cooking with kidsThe makingof a DameThe “future Chef Ellie” hatdecorated by the buddingyoung chef during her visit tothe mayor’s open house.Seattle Dameshelp a little chefwith big dreams1By Braiden Rex-Johnson (Seattle)LDEI Chapter Board LiaisonPart of Les Dames, Seattle Chapter’s mission is to mentorand encourage young women in the fields of culinary,beverage, and hospitality. Here’s how the Chapter has takenone budding young chef under their collective wing.t the tender age ofnine years old,Eleanor (Ellie)Cenname is wellon her way tobecoming a chef–andfuture Dame! She startedcooking at age five under hergrandfather’s watchful eye by preparinga “superb” peanut-butterand-jellysandwich. Next came eggsalad, dried-cranberry granola, andcreamy soup made from tomatoesplucked from “Papa’s” garden.Once Ellie’s adopted grandparent,Beverly Gruber, executivedirector of Les Dames, SeattleChapter, found out about Ellie’sdesire to become a chef, thingsreally got cooking!Beverly shared recipes with Elliefrom her children’s cooking classesand empowered her with a kidsizedchef ’s coat embroidered withthe words, Chef Ellie. Perhaps moreimportantly, Beverly calculatedwhich Seattle Dames young Ellieshould meet in order to further herdreams of becoming a chef.First up was Leslie Mackie,founder/co-owner of MacrinaBakery & Café. Meeting with thissuccessful businesswoman, chef,and cookbook author helped Ellieunderstand the differences betweenwholesale and retail bakeryand restaurant operations.Ellie’s favorite cookbook isThomas Keller’s Bouchon, and shehopes to one day run her ownFrench-inspired restaurant calledRosemary. So when her ninthbirthday rolled around, Beverlysuggested she meet up with LisaNakamura.Lisa was the first woman souschef at The French Laundry andone of the Seattle Chapter’s firstscholarship recipients. As the formerchef/owner of Allium Restaurantand Lily on Orcas (80 milesand a ferry ride from Seattle), Lisawas the perfect role model for anyaspiring female food professional—anexperienced working chefin an independent business.Finally, the young chef metwith Certified Executive PastryChef Kim Smith, winner of an“Outstanding Faculty Award” atSouth Seattle Community College(SSCC), where she teaches pastryand baking arts.“The day Ellie spent at SSCC wascertainly one of the most memorablein her lifetime,” says Ellie’smother, Ann Brockenbrough.“Chef Kim Smith. . .immediatelydrew Ellie in, and within minutes,had her rolling out a pie crust andassembling a lattice top as if she’dbeen doing it for years.”But that wasn't all! WhenSSCC’s pastry department wasinvited to prepare cupcakes forSeattle Mayor Mike McGinn’sannual citywide open house, Kiminvited Ellie and her own two sonsto help out.“Ellie was a great help, assistingthe guests in decorating their paperchefs’ hats and their cupcakes,”Kim recalls. “She even got tohand-deliver some cupcakes to themayor and to several city councilmembers in their chambers!”So far, Ellie remains obsessed (ina good way) with becoming a chef.You’ll find her journaling menusevery day, cooking something differentalmost every night with herdad, baking with her mother, andblogging about her cooking andrestaurant experiences at www.kidfoodie.com.“What sparked my interest incooking, is cooking with thepeople I love, because it’s fun andthe food we make is delicious,” Elliesays. She’s a little chef with biglessons for us all.1 Ellie prepares a piecrust at SSCC.. 2 Young Ellie learns to make granola with the help of her grandfather, “Papa.” 3-5 Leslie Mackie gives Ellie a tour through Macrina’s baking facility. After the tour, Ellie enjoysjam-filled buns. 6 Ellie and a fellow student admire the fresh-from-the-oven mini-pie she prepared at SSCC. 7 Ellie celebrated her ninth birthday at Lisa Nakamura’s Allium Restaurant. 8 Ellie’s small hands crimppie dough during class at SSCC. 9 Ellie (left), future chefs, and SSCC students meet Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (far left) during the mayor’s open house. 10 Kim Smith, chef/instructor at SSCC, teaches Elliehow to prepare piecrust.12 Les Dames d’Escoffier International