What is membership about?
Les Dames d’Escoffier International is a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The by-invitation membership, composed of over 2,200 members in 38 chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy, fine beverages, foodways and hospitality.
We strive to create a supportive culture in our communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality professions.
Our chapter membership of more than 80 women includes professional chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, farmers, food retailers, event planners, cookbook authors, food journalists and historians, wine and spirits industry professionals, food publicists, culinary educators, food-community organizers and hospitality executives.
We remain dedicated in our support of women through scholarships, educational programs, externships and networking. Our Dames Who Donate program and Green Tables projects further this mission.
Meet Our Members
Jump to a Member Category
Beverage Specialists; Professionals in Spirits, Wine, Coffee & Tea
Amy BENDER
Director of Sales, Kai Spirits (Kai Vodka LLC)Oahu
Liane FU
President, Speakeasy ProductionsOahu
Satomi GOO
Vice President, The Tea ChestOahu
Marilyn KIRIAKOS-ASKARI
Director of Sales, Euram Inc. dba Hawaiian Paradise CoffeeOahu
Cheryl TO
Owner, PacifiKoolOahu
Jump to a Member Category
Chefs; Caterers; Restaurant Owners; Food Service Industry Professionals
Clare BOBO
Owner, Island Thyme GourmetHawaii Island
Martha BRAHM
Chef / Owner, Hawaii Tart CompanyHawaii Island
Holly EL HAJJI
President, Pacific EventsOahu
Amy FERGUSON
Chef / Owner, Cater Hawaii LTCHawaii Island
Beth FULLER
Executive Chef, Lava Lava Beach ClubHawaii Island
Jenny JOHNSON
Cook, Sheraton WaikikiOahu
Michelle KARR-UEOKA
Owner, MW RestaurantOahu
Jenn MARR
Brand Ambassador, Perfect Purée of Napa ValleyOahu
Kathy MASUNAGA
Owner / Baker, Sweet RevengeOahu
Jocelyn MCCANN
Co-Owner, EAT HonoluluOahu
Ivy NAGAYAMA SHISHIDO
Gen. Mgr., Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar / d.k. SteakhouseOahu
Miya NISHIMURA
Chef de Cuisine, Alan Wong’s HonoluluOahu
Gida SNYDER
Cheese Maker / Chef, Naked Cow DairyKauai
Susan WARNER
Owner, Living Foods Gourmet Market & CaféKauai
Lee Anne WONG
Executive Chef / Partner, Koko Head CaféOahu
Jump to a Member Category
Educators; Food Community Organizers; Health & Well-Being Professionals
Laurie CARLSON
Regional Governor, Slow Food OahuOahu
Dorothy COLBY
Administrator, Hale Ku‘ikeOahu
Kusuma COORAY
Professor, Kapiolani Community CollegeOahu
Martina HILLDORFER
Assistant Professor, Kauai Community CollegeKauai
Jean HULL
Chef, Culinary Educator, Nutritionist, Jean’s ConsultingHawaii Island
Patti KIMBALL
Teacher, Culinary Arts, State of Hawaii, Dept. of EducationHawaii Island
Grace KUSHUHARA
Retired Cook and BakerOahu
Teresa LEMOON
Graduate Teaching Assistant, UH ManoaOahu
Amelia Delgadillo LOPEZ
Chef, Fit4You HawaiiOahu
Tiffanie MASUTANI
Culinary Arts / Pastry Arts Lecturer, Kapiolani Community CollegeOahu
Hayley MATSON-MATHES
Executive Director, Hawaii Culinary Education FoundationOahu
Elaine MATSUO
Culinary Arts Teacher, Waipahu High SchoolOahu
Sandy Barr RIVERA
Assistant Professor, Hawaii Community CollegeHawaii Island
Kathi SAKS
Chef, ImPerfectly Delicious, Inc.Oahu
Lauren TAMAMOTO
Food Scientist / Research Chef, Culinary Innovation Center at Kapiolani Community CollegeOahu
Kay TOKUNAGA
RetiredOahu
Audrey WILSON
Founder, Board President, Big Island Wellness SolutionsHawaii Island
Lori WONG
Food & Beverage Consultant, Moments LLCOahu
Janice YAP
Home Economics Teacher, Punahou SchoolOahu
Fern YOSHIDA
Professor (Retired), Kapiolani Community CollegeOahu
Jump to a Member Category
Event Producers; Hospitality; Tours
Leonora ESPANIA
Event Coordinator, President’s Office, Punahou SchoolOahu
Denise HAYASHI YAMAGUCHI
Executive Director, Hawaii Food & Wine FestivalOahu
Sharolyn KAWAKAMI
Director of Rooms, Ko‘a Kea HotelKauai
Lorna LARSEN-JEYTE
Co-Owner, Kilauea LodgeHawaii Island
Maria TUCKER
General Manager, Macy’s Food DivisionOahu
Dianne VICHEINRUT
Corporate Director of Food and Beverage, Outrigger HotelsOahu
Jump to a Member Category
Farmers; Manufacturers; Retailers; Gourmet Products
Possie BADHAM
Co-Owner, Gourmet Foods HawaiiOahu
Pamela BOYAR
Owner & Director, Hale‘iwa Farmer’s MarketOahu
Pamela COOPER
Vice President, The Original Hawaiian Chocolate FactoryHawaii Island
Kaiulani COWELL
Owner, Kaiulani SpicesOahu
Nancy EDNEY
Owner & Vice President, Tropical Dreams Ice CreamHawaii Island
Soleil FUSHA
Specialty Food Buyer / Consultant, S&N Culinary GroupOahu
Whendi GRAD
Owner, The Big Island Bee CompanyHawaii Island
Shannon PIPER
Office Manager, Gourmet Foods HawaiiOahu
Lois SHIMABUKURO
Owner, Simply Good Enterprises LLCOahu
Judy Lappert ST.CLAIR
Kauai Island Coordinator, Lappert’s Ice CreamKauai
Aletha THOMAS
Founder/Owner, Monkeypod JamKauai
Jeanne VANA
Manager, North Shore FarmsOahu
Jump to a Member Category
Pastry Chefs; Bakers; Candy Makers
Suzanne BEARTH
Retired Pastry Chef & ArtistHawaii Island
Athena KEEHU
Owner, Sweet DoughsOahu
Abi LANGLAS
Owner, Cake WorksOahu
Jackie LAU
Bakery Specialist, HFM Food ServiceOahu
Maria SHORT
Pastry Chef & Owner, Short N Sweet Bakery & CafeHawaii Island
Jump to a Member Category
Writers; Publishers; Public Relations; Marketing; Social Media & Web Professionals
Fern GAVELEK
Owner, Fern Gavelek CommunicationsHawaii Island
Kristin JACKSON
Owner, Jackson InkOahu
Joan NAMKOONG
Freelance Food WriterHawaii Island
Dania NOVACK-KATZ
Publisher / Owner, edible Hawaiian IslandsMaui
Dawn Sakamoto PAIVA
Owner, Put It On My PlateOahu
Angela TERRY
Chef & Writer, Maui Flour ChildOahu