The region’s top chefs, bakers and restaurateurs will gather this Sunday, Sept. 13, at Glen Foerd Mansion for Les Dames d’Escoffier Philadelphia’s annual Outstanding in Her Field Heritage Dinner.
The open-air celebration, scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m., brings together some of the biggest names in the Philadelphia-area culinary community for a shared meal along the river. But the real purpose of the event goes beyond what’s on the plate — it raises money for scholarships and grants supporting women entering the culinary field.
And there will be plenty to eat.
The menu will feature dishes from chefs and culinary figures including Joncarl Lachman, Adam Delosso, Chris Nguyễn, Valerie Erwin, Olga Sorzano, Angie Brown and Rachel Klein, with Sweet Amalia Oysters serving up a raw bar.
In a fitting tribute to one of this year’s honorees — baking legend Rose Levy Beranbaum — the event will feature a Grand Cake Table. Frosted Fox Cake Shop, Night Kitchen, Isgro’s, Sunflower Bakeshop, New June, Neo Bakes, Diane’s La Patisserie, Roux Culinary and others will contribute to the spread, alongside John & Kira’s Chocolates, Eclat, Franklin Fountain and Linvilla.
The cake table is also a nod to Beranbaum, whose book 'The Cake Bible' helped establish her as one of the country’s most influential bakers. The internationally known author has written 15 books, written for major food magazines and hosted a PBS show. 'The Cake Bible' has been inducted into both the IACP and James Beard Cookbook halls of fame.
Beranbaum is one of three sets of culinary leaders being recognized this year.
Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer, the creative force behind Canal House, will also be honored. Hirsheimer was a founding editor of Saveur magazine, while Hamilton later became the magazine’s test-kitchen director and food editor. Through their Canal House Cooking series, photography, recipes, and later Canal House Station, in Milford, New Jersey, they developed a style rooted in the Delaware Valley — seasonal, unfussy, and attentive to the pleasures of farms, markets, kitchens, and shared meals.
Michele Leff, founder and principal of 12th Street Catering, rounds out this year’s honorees. Leff started her career in 1982 with 12th Street Cantina at Reading Terminal and went on to build a catering company known for weddings, corporate events, galas and other large-scale celebrations throughout the region.
Although their careers have taken different paths, Les Dames d’Escoffier Philadelphia Co-President Lynn Buono said the three honorees share a common thread.
"What is important is what unites them — amazing integrity, blazing work ethics, their contributions to the food world, and a commitment to caring for their community," Buono said.
Les Dames d’Escoffier Philadelphia created its Outstanding in Her Field program in 2016 to shine a light on the women who helped shape Manayunk Restaurant Week returns this fall with its largest event yete the city's rich culinary history. Past honorees have included Susanna Foo, Aliza Green, Judy Wicks, Ellen Yin, Valerie Erwin and Melissa McGrath.
This year, organizers said, the celebration will also give some future culinary professionals a seat at the table — Les Dames D’Escoffier Philadelphia will team up with students from Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College who will aid with preparations in advance and during the event itself.
Tickets for the 2026 Heritage Dinner are on sale now at lesdamesphilly.org
MORE: Manayunk Restaurant Week returns this fall with its largest event yet
