Tuscan Italian Chapter

Inspiring, advancing, and supporting women in food, beverage, and hospitality to achieve excellence in leadership and philanthropy.

About Us

LDEI-Tuscan Italian is a USA-based 501(3)c, non-profit organization, that welcomes new members and would love to hear from any woman with at least five years of professional experience in food, fine beverage, or hospitality.

Les Dames d'Escoffier has an international board of directors, a council of delegates, and a management association that serves as the administrative director. There is an annual conference all members can attend that is held and directed by one host chapter.

The first chapter of LDEI was in New York City in 1976 when 50 women became Les Dames d’Escoffier, in response to the all-male Les Amis d’Escoffier which was created in 1959 in Boston.

Formed in 2022, the Tuscan Italian Dames’ vision is to:

• Share knowledge with each other, other professional women in our field, and the public.
  
• Support our members.
  
• Offer leadership throughout Italy’s culinary world.
  
• Provide educational opportunities and create scholarships.
  
• Host philanthropic events for the larger community to support our causes (primarily scholarships).
  

Membership

Membership must be voted on by the Board and the Membership. Internationally, the criteria is the same for all members:

lesda_mesdescoffiertuscany

Tuscan Italian Chapter

silvia mariani

President

Silvia Mariani is the President of the Les Dames d’Escoffier Tuscan Italian Chpater. She is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in public relations, marketing, and communications industries.

She also has strong entrepreneurship skills in lobbying and media relations, international marketing, digital strategy and copywriting, and Web 4.0.

Mariani is the founder, CEO, and owner of:

Making Business Happen Italy and

Making Business Happen USA LLC

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Camilla fondelli

board member

Camilla is one of the founding members of Les Dames d’Escoffier Tuscan Italian Chapter. Since 2003 she has worked on communication and marketing projects for the promotion and valorization of the territory where she lives, also participating in the organization of events

in Italy and abroad.

With the experience in Making Business Happen, she developed her skills in the management of internationalization projects as Temporary Export Project Manager. Camilla is also a Sommelier and tour leader, thus cultivating her passion for wine and the promotion of Tuscan excellence.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Katy Lapini

board member

Katy is half manager and half athlete…she lives her life halfway between a tailleur and a volleyball playsuit. She is the PR and Brand manager at Frantoio Pruneti, and her personal goal is to build a safe and valuable brand reputation for Pruneti.

Thanks to her exuberant personality and my background in languages ​​literature and intercultural studies, she is focused in promoting every single minute a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, educating the consumers to a good Culture of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and helping them in making a conscious choice.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Angela santarelli

board member

Angela Santarelli has an Advanced Sommelier Certification from the United States Sommelier Association and an Italian Wine Specialist accreditation from the North American Sommelier Association. Her most recent education has been with WSET where she holds a Level 3 Certification.

Angela enjoys creating unforgettable experiences for people whether it’s learning about amazing Italian wines & food or creating unique travel.

She specializes in wine education and in private and unique wine & food tours where her roots began,

her beloved country of Italy.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Irene moore

Founding member

Co-Founder of the South Florida Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Irene is a culinary and wine journalist and content creator, specialized in food, wine and travel. She has interviewed many culinary and wine notables, and her feature articles have appeared in more than 30 print publications and websites in the United States and Europe.

She has written about restaurants, wine, culinary events, culinary culture and travel for InboundDestintions.com, AzureAzure.com, MiamiCurated.com, SoFLaNights.com, New York Observer, Modern Luxury Miami, Boca Raton Magazine, SOMM Journal, and Edible Palm Beach Magazine.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

barbara seelig brown

Barbara Seelig Brown is a cookbook author, teacher and culinary notable, who has spent a career refining just how to manage a healthy diet and prepare beautiful meals while keeping to a busy schedule. Barbara is a source we can trust to guide us toward a healthy lifestyle.

Barbara’s refrain is the importance of approaching the preparation of nutritious meals simply and enjoyably. She can be heard in her kitchen challenging her audience to “Put on your Bunny slippers, pour a glass of wine, and cook!”

A passionate interest has taken Barbara to wine regions where she’s studied fresh regional specialties to complement indigenous varieties. Her wine knowledge is integrated into a healthy and stress-free cooking style with wine in hand and on the stove!

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Marie-charlotte piro

Marie-Charlotte is the CEO of Olio Piro, a worldwide distribution company of the award-winning extra virgin olive oil Piro, produced by her brother in Tuscany. Founder and CEO of the distribution company, Olio Piro LLC, Marie-Charlotte leads Piro's sales and marketing efforts as well as strategic partnerships. With a passion for excellence and a successful background in luxury marketing,

Marie-Charlotte has introduced Olio Piro to top chefs at award-winning restaurants and a growing list of fine food stores, resorts, and eateries across the U.S. She and her husband William Harbour, and their sons Hendrix and Remington divide their time between Greenville SC, and the Lake George Region in Upstate NY. Marie-Charlotte Piro is a passionate cook, a hiker and a runner, and likes to dine her way through any destination.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

Julie hartigan

Tuscan Italian Chapter

jennifer bajsel

Jennifer Bajsel, chef and owner of Getting Saucy, began her professional cooking career in 2011. Jennifer started as a home cook over 20 years ago and is known for creating high-quality, flavorful dishes that cross international borders. Her specialty and passion are cooking authentic dishes from Italy.

Chef Jennifer is now a celebrity chef having appeared on “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Chopped” airing on the Food Network. She is also host of an Italian cooking show called “Getting Saucy TV” which streams on the “Eat This TV” network. Chef Jennifer in the brand ambassador for Taste Italian! which introduces Made in Italy products to American consumers. She is also the food contributor to the regional publication “Living Magazine.”

Jennifer is a dual member of LDEI in both Dallas and Tuscany.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

liliana stredie

Liliana Stredie is a private chef in Tuscany and the founder of the family business Liliana's Tuscany. Together with her sons she offers catering services for weddings, birthday parties, private events, and for tourists from all over the world who come to visit Tuscany.

Liliana is a member of the Tuscan Chefs Association and has also obtained important recognition with the Silver Award at the 2022 National Cooking Championships.

Liliana teaches cooking in Tuscan schools and organizes cooking classes for children with disabilities and with difficulties in social integration and for blind adults.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

heather kurima

Heather Kurima began her culinary journey over 30 years ago when she began catering small parties and worked in a small café in New Jersey. She is currently director and Executive Chef at the Culinary School of Fort Worth and teaches at North Side High School in Fort Worth ISD.

She has been heavily involved in community organizations such as the Tarrant County Restaurant Association, Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association and Fort Worth Sister Cities International.

Part of her 20 year involvement with Reggio Emilia, Fort Worth’s Sister City, she has been involved in culinary exchange with Istituto Angelo Motti - Sezione Turistico. Through this exchange, Heather has developed a deep connection with Italian cuisine, and culture.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

patrizia vigolo

Patrizia has been working in the world of wine for the last 14 years and she has developed numerous skills ranging from sales to promotion and positioning of a brand in the national and

international markets with a special focus on the multicultural aspect.

More to it, last year her professional career led her to become a business coach. The empowerment of individual corporate figures, their performance and above all coherence with their value and their motivation, have always been fundamental leading her to become an AICP (Italian Association of Professional Coach)

business coach.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

chiara ulian

Chiara graduated in Pharmacy at Padova University in 1998.

Due to her great passion for travelling, more than 10 years ago, she founded www.MyVeniceTravelGuide.it a company specialized in tailormade luxury experiences in Veneto and Italy ..a true local immersion in the local life style .

She can help organizing memorable holiday or events in Italy.

She is also an official Sommelier wine expert, with a WSET certification (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 2, so she can design unique and tailor made wine experiences around Italy.

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Robbin is an award-winning photographer and media producer focused on the small production wine and food sector.

The James Beard Foundation has awarded her several grants: the 2021 National Scholars Grant and is a two-time recipient of the La Toque Scholarship in Wine Studies. Additional grants include the Christine Ansbacher Wine Educator Award from Les Dames d’Escoffier and an unnamed award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals. In 2013, she won the Premio Famiglia Fede (Trust Family Prize) to attend the full-immersion Italian master's program at Middlebury College in Florence.

Prior to founding Vineyard Adventures, she was the Tasting Coordinator for Food & Wine Magazine’s Wine Guide working alongside Anthony Giglio. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award and is currently in the Level 4 Diploma program.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

caterina corvino velez

Caterina is the Director and Brand Ambassador for Ruffino Fine Wine Estates. She travels the country showcasing unique Tuscan expressions and enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of wine through education and tasting experiences.

Prior to her current role, Caterina held sales management positions throughout her 18-year tenure at Constellation Brands. Her adventure in wine sales began as Director of Hotels and Corporate Accounts at Domaine Select, a New York Italian fine wine importer. Her professional journey began in hospitality; first, in her family-owned Italian fine dining restaurant followed by Beverage Director and General Manager responsibilities at The Patina Gro

up’s elite Manhattan dining establishments.

Caterina has earned wine certifications from Associazione Italiana Sommelier, The Sommelier Society of America, and WSET.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

mayta scotto

Mayta is originally from Porto Santo Stefano and is currently an architect in Miami, Mayta has always carried the taste of Maremma Toscana in her heart. One day, during a trip to Italy, destiny led her to the food truck, 'Il Tuo Banco.' Right there, at the market, she met Alessio, whose profound knowledge of flavors and culinary delights won her over with his selection of cheeses.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

chiara quattrone

Chiara Quattrone is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years of experience in administrative and accounting fields.

She is the founder of Chain4Italy, an innovative web app that uses blockchain technology to narrate and authenticate the history of wine.

Chiara actively promotes and educates on the significance of storytelling for high-quality products.

Driven by her passion for food and wine, innovation, and business development, she firmly believes in the power of collaboration and shared knowledge.

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Tuscan Italian Chapter

DIAne wheeler

Diane’s experience in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a long one. Her interest in food started when she was very young,

learning all the traditional Calabrese Recipes from her grandparents. She still tries to keep the family traditions alive.

She graduated from San Francisco State University and continued her path in hospitality where she worked for Hilton hotels in

the Catering Sales Department. Next, she learned the distribution/ wholesale business. In this space, she has been an

International Specialty Foods buyer, She has sold food for many years, and currently she is in the manufacturing of charcuterie.

She has been a Dame for 28 years. She is currently the President of the New England Chapter.

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