The perfect picnic is made of champagne and fried chicken

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Get ready to upgrade your average picnic experience with Les Dames d’Escoffier International Birmingham’s annual Champagne and Fried Chicken fundraiser. This event is sure to dazzle all of your senses with baskets full of luxurious handmade foods, champagne, sweets, beautiful flowers and more. We have all the tasty details, so keep reading to find out what this year’s event will look like + how to order those mouth-watering baskets.

Who is LDEI?

We love to see women supporting other women, and that is the exact purpose behind LDEI. This is a worldwide organization of women whose mission is to inspire and support females in the food, beverage and hospitality industries.

The Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is full of local female leaders, and these members, “Dames” as they like to call them, are dedicated to passing on their knowledge to the next generation while growing our city’s food culture.

The fundraisers held by LDEI raise money that goes towards scholarships and grants for deserving women in these fields. This means doing everything from supporting college educations to growing women-owned businesses in the community.

Read more about Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) by visiting their website. 

What’s in your basket?

For a $150 donation, you’ll receive a basket for two crammed full of delectable goodies. Pick up your basket in their socially distanced drive-thru system on Sunday, October 3 from 3-5PM at Pepper Place.

This year, picnic tables will also be on site, so you can take your basket to your own favorite picnic spot or enjoy it at the event. A live band will be at Pepper Place to add to the ambiance while you sip and snack.

Wondering what’s in store? If you’re one of those people who likes to look up the menu beforehand, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find in this year’s basket:

• Southern Fried Chicken with chicken from Evans Meats 
• (vegetarian option) Vegetable Frittata prepared by Dame Joy Smith of Sorelle Café and Catering 
• New Potato Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette and Fresh Herbs prepared by Dame Kathy G. Mezrano of Kathy G & Co 
• Autumn Salad with Kale, Butternut Squash, and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette prepared by Dame Kay Reed of IZ Weddings & Events 
• Sour Cream Biscuits prepared by Dame Ashley McMakin of Ashley Mac’s 
• Fresh pear and Weybridge organic cheese from The Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm 
• Honey from Eastaboga Bee Company 
• Apple Galette prepared by Dame Kristal Bryant of K&J’s Elegant Pastries, Dame Maureen Holt of Southern Graze, and Dame Rebecca Williamson of Holmsted Fines.

This event would not be complete without champagne, and you can expect a bottled of chilled bubbly in your basket. Plates and utensils are included, as well as fresh flowers from Stone Hollow Farmstead to add a pop of color to your picnic.

Don’t miss out on an evening filled with delicious food and drinks all while benefiting a great cause. Go ahead and order your basket online today!

Time for Cocktails

If you’re looking for an extra buzz beyond champagne, you have to add a cocktail kit to your ticket. For an extra $25 donation you can enjoy one of two specialty cocktails crafted by Birmingham mixologists! 

Rachael Roberts of The Atomic Lounge has developed a refreshing, shaken vodka-based cocktail for those who like a light liquor.

Jessica Bennett of Avine created a stirred, boozy whisky old-fashioned if you’re feeling something dark and slightly sweet. Each cocktail serves two. 

Raffles, Cooking Classes + More

This event is more than your average picnic with opportunities to win raffles to the best restaurants in town.

There are two raffle options to purchase—Date Night and Family Night. Tickets for entry to each are $25, and remember more entries means a better chance at winning these amazing prizes. You can purchase entries along with your basket here.

Family Night Raffle: 

They are offering twelve $100 gift cards to some of Birmingham’s favorite restaurants and caterers, including these Dame-owned businesses: 

• IZ Café
• El ZunZún
• Dreamland Bar-B-Que
• Ashley Mac’s
• Urban Cookhouse
• Farm Bowl + Juice Company

Also expect to see gift cards to other notable restaurants in the community, including Helen and Automatic Seafood & Oysters.

Date Night Raffle:

You could win a year of once-a-month date nights in this raffle with twelve $100 gift cards up for grabs.

Several are Dame-owned or Dame-run restaurants including:

• Satterfield’s
• Village Tavern

Cooking Classes: Get a chance to cook with the professionals through an online cooking class with Becky Satterfield, Sherron Goldstein, Kathy G. Mezrano or Andrea Kirkland. Classes are only an extra $20 donation.

Spotify Playlist: For an additional $20 donation you’ll receive a curated Spotify playlist delivered to your inbox at the beginning of the month for six months. Each playlist features 2+ hours of music to create the perfect background ambiance for any meal.

Order Today!

All baskets, cocktail boxes, raffle tickets, cooking classes and playlists must be ordered in advance. Picnic baskets are selling fast, so don’t wait to get yours and guarantee a basket for pickup on Sunday, October 3 at Pepper Place Market.

Ready for a giveaway? Keep an eye out for our upcoming Facebook post on how you could win a free basket.

To learn more about Les Dames d’Escoffier International Birmingham visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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