by contributor Wendy Gordon
It used to be a male dominated profession and perhaps that’s still true, but the women are making their mark in the culinary sphere.
Let’s take a look in our own backyard, shall we? Let’s take a look at our DC Metro area chapter of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR), a professional organization that promotes and enhances the education, advancement and connection of women in the culinary industry. Sisters are dong it for themselves.
Women Chefs and Restaurateurs has a large and very active local chapter which has hosted the national conference and various fundraisers over the years and a recent event – Dine In with WCR, was just another feather in their toque.
Hosted by WCR, an intimate dinner for 24 with a team of WCR member chefs including The Majestic’s Shannon Overmiller, Ris LaCoste of Ris, Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar, Janis McLean of Social Reform, Kate Jansen and Tracy O’Grady of Willow Restaurant and caterer Anna Saint John all sharing course by course cooking duties, was held at a private home. The event was publicized primarily through WCR and the participating chefs and volunteers. The dinner raised about $5,000 for the organization.
The menu included everything from a study in cauliflower to sablefish and Muscovy Duck to ginger cakes with hors d’oeuvres spanning chicken liver mousse to deviled quail eggs. We’re venturing to guess this is beyond the standard dinner table in most homes.
“While diners get to experience the food of each one of the participating chefs individually and in a restaurant setting, having the experience of enjoying the combined efforts of a group of chefs in a home setting is a unique and intimate experience.” said hostess Ruth Gesser. “Our guests, including restaurant industry and non-restaurant industry food lovers, truly tasted something special.”
The ladies of the kitchen will be cooking up more surprises soon – can’t wait to sample what’s next.
