Les Dames D’Escoffier Sonoma – the local chapter of Julia Child’s worldwide philanthropic society that supports professional female leaders in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries – is hosting a fundraiser Sunday afternoon with the alliteratively tantalizing title “Birds and Bubbles.” The event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on August 25 at Penngrove Park (11800 Main St.) and is described as “an upscale picnic” and “a picnic with a purpose.” Money raised will go toward grants and scholarships for women pursuing careers in the culinary arts, fine beverage and hospitality industries.

The event’s poster – featuring a roasted chicken thigh (the bird) exploding like a cork from a champagne bottle (the bubbles) – pretty much says it all. For $175, attendees get a picnic basket for two. The basket contains enough roasted chicken for two hungry people, with sides, cookies and elegant desserts made by some of Sonoma County’s best and fanciest bakers. Oh, and of course, there’s a bottle of bubbly in the basket, too.

Les Dames D’Escoffier currently has 45 individual branches throughout France, England, Canada, Mexico and the United States. The first branch was founded by Child in New York in 1976, and the Sonoma branch took shape in 2020.

According to the nonprofit’s website, it has over 2,500 members worldwide, including “chefs, cooking school owners, teachers, culinary historians, food editors, writers, hoteliers, vintners, wine merchants, distillers, restaurant owners, caterers, professors, chocolatiers, bakers, butchers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers.”

To learn more and purchase tickets for Birdsw and Bubbles, visit the website at Lesdamessoco.org/events.