LDEI President Maria Gomez-Laurens Visits Nashville

The Nashville Dames had a terrific visit with Les Dames d'Escoffier International President Maria Gomez-Laurens of San Diego. She made a quick stop here July 6 on a tour of a few Les Dames chapter cities. The visit provided a great opportunity to showcase our young chapter's progress and engage in helpful discussions with the President.Thanks to Dame Dawn Southworth for upgrading the President's digs at the Omni Hotel Nashville. The first order of business was lunch with the Les Dames Nashville Board at Kitchen Notes at the Omni.The chef surprised us with an array of contemporary southern appetizers including mini crab cakes, deviled eggs with pickled okra and candied bacon, Tennessee Tripp Country ham with melon and delicately fried green tomatoes.The Nashville weather did not disappoint our Southern California guest as she savored the hot summer air, exotic high humidity and even a delightful afternoon thunderstorm. The driving tour of the city included a quick stop at the Parthenon before visiting a few Dames on the job. Dames Mary Lou Tate, Anne Byrn and Mindy Merrell acted as tour guides for the afternoon.Next stop, Charpier's Bakery, the family-owned and operated business of Dame Erin Mosow who enlightened the President about Nashville's unstoppable demand for hamburger buns.The tour group then trekked out to Green Door Gourmet for a short visit with Dame Sylvia Ganier. The rain kept the group from tromping through the fields, instead Sylvia led a house tour of the new meeting, culinary teaching and farm kitchen facility plus a stop in her Farmer's Market for a tasting of some of their products.The productive day ended at Dame Maneet Chauhan's restaurant Chauhan Ale and Masala House where the President was warmly welcomed by our members over cool libations and a selection of the restaurant's signature Spice it Up! snacks. Thanks to all for the Nashville hospitality and camaraderie.