Grande Dame
Les Dames d’Escoffier International bestows the Grande Dame Award to an exceptional woman every two years. This lifetime achievement award and honorary title is given to members in recognition of extraordinary contributions within the fields of food, beverage and hospitality.
Carla Hall
Carla Hall's Southern Kitchen
2024 Grande Dame
Paula Lambert & Bev Shaffer
2022 Grande Dames
Carolyn Wente
Wente Family Vineyards
2020 Grande Dame
Nora Pouillon
Restaurant Nora
2019 Grande Dame
Marion Nestle, PhD
NYU
2018 Grande Dame
Lidia Bastianich
Felidia's Ristorante
2017 Grande Dame
Joan Nathan
Cookbook Author
2015 Grande Dame
Dolores Cakebread
Cakebread Cellars
2013 Grande Dame
Nathalie Dupree
Nathalie Dupree Enterprises
2011 Grande Dame
Shirley Corriher
Food Scientist, Cookbook Author
2009 Grande Dame
Alice Waters
Chez Panisse
2007 Grande Dame
Marcella Hazan
Cookbook Author
2005 Grande Dame
Abigail Kirsch & Rosemary Kowalksi
2003 Grande Dames
Jerry Anne DiVecchio
Cookbook Author
2001 Grande Dame
Edna Lewis
Chef, Cookbook Author
1999 Grande Dame
Madeleine Kamman
Chef, Teacher
Anne Willan
École de Cuisine La Varenne
1995 Grande Dame
Marion Cunningham
Cookbook Author
1993 Grande Dame
Earlier Honorees
- Carol Brock
- M.F.K. Fisher
- Julia Child
- Grace Chu
- Nika Hazelton
- Helen McCully
- Caroline Rose Hunt
- Helen Bullock
- Julie Dannenbaum