Greater Des Moines LDEI

04/01/2026

Dames Karla and Erica are excited to welcome and host 20 Dames of the Greater DSM Chapter on April 10, 2026! They love to showcase their Cyclone Nation, and what a great time to give back and promote students' love for food and travel both here and abroad!

April 1st and 2nd are the Days to Donate! This contribution ignites a challenge for the Greater Des Moines Chapter to donate to Forever True Day on April 1st and 2nd. (All donations must be in by noon on April 2nd!!!).

We are challenging our chapter to donate to Forever True Day! This challenge directly supports the Culinary Food Science Study abroad and Study USA programs by making a gift to the Nancy and Richard Degner Culinary Food Science Enrichment Fund.

Your donation will support: For the Love of Food & Puerto Rico 2027
Help the Cyclones explore Puerto Rico’s culinary heritage. This program allows students to explore food systems in Puerto Rico. They will visit coffee and chocolate plantations, rum distilleries, produce farms, and food processors! Students will immerse themselves in the culture and cuisine of Puerto Rico to develop a network in preparation for careers in the food industry. Join us in making a difference. Donate today using the link: https://forevertrueday.com/giving-day/94048/donate?des=698733&dept=94049

Please share and help us spread the word!

Giving Day Powered by ScaleFunder

12/09/2025

Thank you to our amazing programs committee for putting on a fun holiday get together for our Dames! Thank you to Dame Cynthia Hoque co-owner of HoQ, HoQtail, & Flora for hosting us! is a beautiful space and Des Moines is lucky to have to have you!

Happy holidays from !

12/08/2025

We wanted to take a minute to thank all of our wonderful customers, sponsors and Dames who made this year Wine & Pie Fundraiser another success year!

This event takes so much work, but this year felt extra sweet because we all worked together to make it a more manageable labor of love! Make sure to look out for orders to open again in October 2026!

11/16/2025

Our Dames have been busy making pies for our annual Wine & Pie Fundraiser! There are less than 20 pies remaining to purchase so get your orders in today!

Bourbon-Apple Pecan Crumble Pie

Cherry Lattice Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

These gorgeous gourmet pies come frozen and ready to bake in a real pie plate. Each pie is paired with a 750-ml bottle of a delicious, full-bodied Paso 46 Cabernet Sauvignon chosen by one of our local Dame sommeliers.

Special thank you to this year’s sponsors:

Spellman Law Firm

11/06/2025

After five successful years and more than $60,000 raised, Les Dames d’Escoffier Greater Des Moines Chapter is hosting its sixth annual Wine & Pie Drive-By fundraiser on Saturday, Nov 22nd, from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

This event supports:

The LDEI Greater Des Moines Give a Girl a Knife Scholarships

LDEI Greater Des Moines

Our slick pick-up will be on Nov 22nd, conveniently located at Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits in West Des Moines. We provide gourmet pies made by Des Moines’ top female food pros using top-quality ingredients and a bottle of Paso 46 Cabernet Sauvignon selected by leading local women sommeliers. Our Dames donate hundreds of hours and tons of talent, making dessert easier. Your pie package options include our top two favorite pies from years past:

Bourbon-Apple Pecan Crumble Pie

Cherry Lattice Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

These gorgeous gourmet pies come frozen and ready to bake in a real pie plate. Each pie is paired with a 750-ml bottle of a delicious, full-bodied Paso 46 Cabernet Sauvignon chosen by one of our local Dame sommeliers.

Too busy to pick up a pie? Add “Local Delivery” before checking out and, for an additional fee, a Dame will deliver your order to your doorstep within the Des Moines metro area on Nov 22nd.

Order through our website today!

10/28/2025

After five successful years and more than $60,000 raised, Les Dames d’Escoffier Greater Des Moines Chapter is hosting its sixth annual Wine & Pie Drive-By fundraiser on Saturday, Nov 22nd, from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

This event supports:

The LDEI Greater Des Moines Give a Girl a Knife Scholarships

LDEI Greater Des Moines

Our slick pick-up will be on Nov 22nd, conveniently located at Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits in West Des Moines. We provide gourmet pies made by Des Moines’ top female food pros using top-quality ingredients and a bottle of Paso 46 Cabernet Sauvignon selected by leading local women sommeliers. Our Dames donate hundreds of hours and tons of talent, making dessert easier. Your pie package options include our top two favorite pies from years past:

Bourbon-Apple Pecan Crumble Pie

Cherry Lattice Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

These gorgeous gourmet pies come frozen and ready to bake in a real pie plate. Each pie is paired with a 750-ml bottle of a delicious, full-bodied Paso 46 Cabernet Sauvignon chosen by one of our local Dame sommeliers.

Click the link in our bio to order before they’re gone!

08/01/2025

Some of our Dames had the pleasure of working with the incredible for some fun new headshots! We think she captured them and their personalities beautifully, don’t you?!

Thank you to for organizing and .ziemann.artistry for her magic touch!

06/17/2025

all member meeting was a huge success! It’s our biggest celebration of the year with new member inductions and presenting our scholarship recipients with their knives. 🔪

Thank you to all our Dames for the time put into making our chapter thrive. We especially appreciate our president and our board members for all they do.

Thank you to for hosting us and for the delicious spread! Both dame owned businesses btw. ♥️

05/16/2025

Our Dames got an incredible opportunity to explore the production kitchen Meals on Wheels. They package over 2000 meals a day at their facility, have a beautiful hydroponic garden and also house .dsm.

Thanks to our Dames who also volunteered to deliver meals and work in the garden. What an amazing place to have in our community!

04/10/2025

On April 26th Dame Lisa Lavalle is co-hosting with daughter’s Evangeline (also a member of ) and Genevieve, the Young Women’s Resource Center gala.

Join them at the Hilton downtown to help build a brighter future for our young women! And our community! Link for tickets in our bio.

04/01/2025

🎉Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago Chapter Vice President Jill Haas has generously donated $27,000 to support Iowa State University students in the Food Science and Human Nutrition program. What a difference Jill’s give will make in the lives of our future culinary, food science and hospitality professionals!

We have a special Les Dames d’Escoffier Greater DSM challenge! 📍Mark your calendars and make your difference this ! Donate to the “For the Love of Food and Italy Challenge” You can sponsor our students as they explore Italy’s food systems, Italian cuisine and culture.🍝 PLUS, every donation enters you in a drawing to win an exclusive pasta-making experience with Chef Karla Boetel and Erica Beirman!

https://forevertrueday.com/giving-day/94048/donate?des=698733&dept=94049