Les Dames d’Escoffier Announces Free Series of Online Workshops

The local branch of Les Dames d’Escoffier International — an organization made up of successful women in the food, beverage, hospitality and farming industries — continues to push forward its mission despite the inconveniences of not being able to meet together in person. Thanks to a grant from The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the group will present a series of five online educational seminars aimed at helping local women continue to operate and succeed during the pandemic.

These free one-hour Zoom seminars will feature experts from the hospitality industry, including local LDEI members, presenting tactics and advice for maintaining career momentum in the time of COVID. The first installment will be presented on Thursday, March 4 from noon-1p.m., and will feature Dee Patel, managing director of the Hermitage Hotel and Cara Graham, owner and general manager of Lockeland Table. The discussion will be moderated by local author and past LEDI Nashville president Nancy Vienneau. The topic of the day is Redefining and Refining Hospitality in a Pandemic. Register in advance here. 

Vienneau is proud that the organization can continue to push its mission forward through the new series. “As an organization of women leaders and innovators in food, fine beverage, hospitality and farming, LDEI and its members have witnessed and experienced COVID-19’s extreme and adverse impact on women and women-run businesses in these interconnected fields. Aligning with our mission, and serving as a companion piece to our successful Career Advancement Grant programs, we have designed a series of educational workshop sessions led by our member professionals, to give women in these fields the tools to sustain and flourish.”