Three rising stars – a sommelier from New York, a sous chef from Kelowna BC and a personal chef from Los Angeles - have won the 2010 Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) Legacy Awards in Food, Wine and Hospitality.

Each Legacy Award offers a one week hands on workplace experience to non-Dame women early in their careers to work beside and learn from some of our most accomplished members.

Chris Baggetta, Head Sommelier at Eleven Madison Park restaurant in New York will spend a week during harvest with Dames Kay Simon, Owner/Winemaker of Chinook Winery and Trish Gelles, Owner/Managing Partner of Klipsun Vineyards in Washington State. Melanee Peers, Sous Chef/Pastry Chef at Cabana Bar & Grill in Kelowna BC will travel to the Chicago kitchens of NAHA restaurant with Chef/Owner Dame Carrie Nahabedian, and Dames Deann Bayless, Frontera Grill Owner and JeanMarie Brownson, Frontera Foods Culinary Director. Personal chef Doria Pomrenke will head to Little Cayman Island and work with Dame Gladys Howard, Owner, Manager and Executive Chef of Pirates Point Resort.

“Working hand-in-hand with Dames in the industries represented by our membership, our hope is to imbue a lasting legacy of knowledge and expertise to the lucky winners so that they will continue to grow and mentor other women in culinary careers,” said LDEI President Teresa Farney.

Dames Lila Gault, Toria Emas, Marsha Palanci, Abigail Kirsch, Barbara Ostmann and Dolores Snyder served on the Awards Committee. 38 applications from 10 states and one province were received.

Anyone interested in sponsoring these awards in 2011 or joining the Awards Committee, please contact Lila at (212) 242-5644 or lila@gaultgreen.com.