Les Dames d'Escoffier International Names Ten Winners for Prestigious  M.F.K. Fisher Awards

LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Dianne Jacob of Oakland, California., a writing coach, editor, and author of the "The Meaning of Mangoes," has been selected as the grand-prize winner and Internet Category winner of the Les Dames d'Escoffier International's (LDEI) competitive M.F.K. Fisher Awards for excellence in writing. There were several winners across a variety of categories, but, the top prize earns Jacob a trip to the LDEI Conference at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 29, where she will receive a $1,000 prize. Click to tweet: http://ctt.ec/820I9

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The winning article, selected from among 80 entries, is about her parents' longing for mangoes after they escaped the Communist revolution in China. Her article was posted on Lucky Peach, David Chang's Internet magazine at http://luckypeach.com.

Maria Speck, Cambridge, Massachusetts, won first prize and $500 in the Book Category for her excerpt "One Pure Aroma" from Simply Ancient Grains (Ten Speed Press). She is a long-time food writer and author of two books.

Kathleen Squires, New York, New York, won first prize and $500 in the Print Category for "Comfort me With Egg Creams" from the Wall Street Journal. She is a former book editor and freelance writer.

Other prize winners are:

Book Category

Second Prize ($100): Toni Tipton-Martin, Aurora, Colorado, for the Introduction to her book, The Jemima Code (University of Texas Press, 2015).

Third Prize ($50): Meredith Leigh, Asheville, North Carolina, for "Pork" from The Ethical Meat Handbook (New Society Publishers, 2015).

Internet Category

Second Prize ($100): Ariel Kanter, Brooklyn, New York, for "On Love and Pie" posted at

www.Huffington Post.com

Third Prize ($50): Wendy Ulfers, an American living in Paris, France, for "Secret Eating" posted at https://atasteofmind.wordpress.com

Print Category

Second Prize ($100): Lee Dean, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for "The Perfect Meal" from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Third Prize ($50) tie: Carol Newman, Healdsburg, California, for "Tropical Depression" from Art Culinaire Magazine.

Third Prize ($50) tie: Martha Cheng, Honolulu, Hawaii, for "The Zippy's Seniors Club" from Honolulu Magazine.

Named for lauded culinary writer Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher, considered one of America's greatest food writers, the awards are reflective of the LDEI mission in which its 2,200 women leaders create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality professions. Through the annual M.F.K. Fisher Awards, LDEI strives to highlight women writers whose work reflects creativity and insight; illuminates the pivotal roles of food, beverages and the arts of the table; and/or contributes to our knowledge of those who grow, produce or prepare nourishment. 

LDEI is an invitational organization of women leaders in the United States, Mexico, Canada and the UK in food, fine beverage and hospitality whose mission is education, advocacy and philanthropy. For more information and to read the winning entries, ldei.org.

The deadline to enter the LDEI's 2017 M.F.K. Fisher Awards is March 31, 2017.

Media Contact: Hayley Matson-Mathes, Les Dames d'Escoffier, 8089419088, hayleymm@hawaii.rr.com

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SOURCE Les Dames d'Escoffier