The San Antonio chapter offers a wide variety of educational programs that are of interest to their community. These programs are designed to enlighten attendees and to stimulate discussion about selected subjects. In addition, the Les Dames members offer opportunities to mentor promising women who want careers in the food, beverage, hospitality and agricultural industries.

Examples of recent Educational programs include: Olive tasting and discussion @ Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, and Coffee Cupping and Fair Trade discussion @ Lazarus Coffee.

The members of Les Dames d’ Escoffier work tirelessly to promote women in the various food industries through networking and providing opportunities for education and career advancement. This amazing and talented group of women has worked very hard and continues to advance the significance of the entire food Industry.

The San Antonio Chapter has helped to create and support ways to give back to our local community by providing educational programs and by offering annual scholarships to women entering culinary, hospitality and agricultural institutions. We also provide grants to local gardening associations to help with costs associated with these community garden projects.

Green Tables: Les Dames d’Escoffier International has designed a philanthropic program to help communities better understand the link between rural and urban farms and their tables. Many of our members are at the forefront of this global movement to transform how we eat.

The San Antonio Chapter has recently worked with the Bexar Land Trust to contribute time and grants to local community gardens. For the past several years the Dames have worked to support these community projects. This year San Antonio Dames contributed $1500.00 to help fund the East Side Garden which is located in a small neighborhood east of downtown. Dames were present and the groundbreaking ceremony clearing away debris from the chosen lot and preparing the soil for planting. ( photos of Molly ) . Additionally, for many years, Dame Jenny Mattingsley has worked with the Alamo Achievement Center, an alternative high school, to educate at risk students about gardening and preparing fresh meals from the ingredients harvested from the student’s garden. Her project, at times involved many local Dames including Susan Johnson and Mary Martini who helped to teach the children about cooking and who helped to plant vegetables in the student gardens.