Chers Confrères et Consoeurs:

Normally in Seattle, summer comes after July 4th.  This year it looks like the reverse; it feels like a typical fall day with swirling wind and temperatures barely reaching 65. Let’s hope for a quick turnaround and have the heat and sun back in our beautiful state! As you know, our last event was an intimate dinner at Madison Park Café and just around the corner is our Annual Scholarship Auction Picnic. Our new partner, Chef Michael Young, owner of the Olives Café & Wine Bar has designed an amazing menu for us which should please all, even those with the most discriminatory palates. After many consultations with weather gurus and competent wizards, it looks like we should almost be guaranteed to have some decent weather on August 23rd. If this is true, I will give you the names of these wise men should you plan an outdoor party.

Besides our local events, there are also regional and national events, called Assemblage or Grand Chapître. All Chaîne members are invited to attend these events. It is always a great opportunity to meet fellow Chaîne members from different part of the country and the world. Let’s not forget that the our Gastronomical Society is an International Organization present in 76 countries with a total of 21,000 members.

Two major Grand Chapîtres are coming up, the first one in New York and the second one in Victoria, BC in October.  The dates are September 30 to October 4 and October 22-26.  The Grand Chapître in New York will be held in conjunction with the International Jeune Commis competition. As you may know our local competitor, Varin, will be representing and competing for the United States. I am attaching the list of activities and the registration package. Having attended several of these Grand Chapîtres events in the past, I can assure you that they are very unique and grandiose, and I am encouraging you to attend if you can. You won’t regret it!

If you have any questions regarding one of these Grand Chapîtres, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you have a chance, please log on to our website. You will notice some changes on the home page and also now when looking at the event pictures, you can now see them as a slide show.
www.seattlechaine.com
http://www.seattlechaine.com/htmldocs/members/events.shtml
Did you know that you can also access the Chaine directory on line?
http://www.seattlechaine.com/htmldocs/members/members.asp

As a reminder, the Chaîne picnic and scholarship auction will be hosted at the Baxter’s residence on Sunday, August 23. Invitations will be e-mailed in mid July.

Bien amicalement and vive la Chaîne.

Bertrand