FALL 2010 - Les Dames d'Escoffier International

Welcome toZola Nichols (Palm SpringsConference Chair)The Palm Springs Chapter Dames are excitedabout hosting the 2010 annual conference.It has been an honor and privilege toplan a program that will appeal to our diversemembership. The area offers exceptionalrecreational facilities and some of the bestrestaurants in the country. We want everyattendee to take home a special memory ofthe desert’s beauty, the incredible climate, theamazing crops and a night sky that seems tosparkle brighter here.A tremendous amount of work goes intoplanning a conference like this. Our committeechairs have worked tirelessly setting upfun and fabulous tours, working with localchefs and restaurateurs and researching thebest Palm Springs Valley has to offer.Nancy Cohee and Pam Bieri spearheadedthe Farm Tour, which takes us into the heartof the growing area. Nancy will share herknowledge of Native American foods duringone of the sessions. Travel writer SharonApfelbaum is behind the inspired decision totour the Living Desert, a 1200-acre open-airzoo. Mary Clare Mulhall said that in all heryears as a resort owner, most of her guestswant to go shopping, so she volunteered toset up the Cabazon Outlets tour. A formerconcierge, Francine Robertshaw researchedand helped set up the Celebrity Homes Tour,stating how much fun it is for out-of-towners.Francine also co-chaired the M.F.K. FisherAwards Reception and Dinner with NikkiBianchi.Donna Curran, Food Editor of PalmSprings Life magazine, charmedand cajoled local chefs to helpmake our Dine-Around special.Anita Manchik and BarbaraMittlemann have volunteered toman the registration desk, whileHospitality Co-chairs Trudy Yeagerand Kara Nichols will oversee thegift bags and book sales and makesure someone is always availableto make our guests feel welcome.Co-Chairs of the Chefs Showcase, Joy Lavittand Chef Gail Nottberg, convinced ConnieCultraro and her husband ChefVince, to close their restaurant andbeautiful garden to the public Fridaynight, so we can entertain LDEI.Lisa Wherry worked with our wineand cheese partners to set up anexclusive tasting. A special thank youto Publicity Chair Janet Newcomb,for gathering a stellar panel for the session,Evolution of California Cuisine,and for moderating the session.We are so grateful for LDEI’s help in settingup the rest of the program. Teresa Farney(Colorado), Barbara Petit (Atlanta), HillaryBaum (New York), Suzanne Brown(Atlanta) and Greg Jewell, recruited excitingand talented speakers for our venues. Iwould personally like to thank DianaWentworth (LA/OC) for being one ofthe first to ask, “what can I do to help?”Her session, Life as a Work of Heart,truly reflects her generous spirit. I feel soprivileged to have been the 2010 conferencechair and thank everyone for theopportunity.Top to bottom: Janet Newcomb. Trudy Yeagar, Nancy Cohee, Kara Nichols and Sharon Apfelbaum. Nikki Bianchi, Joy Lavitt and Francine Robertshaw.Anita Manchik. Zola Nichols and Mary Clare Mulhall. Lisa Wherry and Pam Bieri. Gail Nottberg and Donna Curran. Barbara Mittleman.a date in the desert4 L e s D a m e s d ’ E s c o f f i e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l