MEDINA COUNTY, Ohio — Her cooking skills are already well known in northeast Ohio, but now an area chef is being recognized at the international level.
The award recognizes extraordinary lifetime contributions within the food, beverage and hospitality industries.
Every other year, recipients are determined by nominations and votes from LDEI’s 2,400 members in 43 chapters around the world.
“LDEI’s Grande Dame Award is one of the highest honors for a woman in,” LDEI President Deborah Mintcheff said. “We are extremely proud to celebrate these two successful, inspirational women with the 2022 Grande Dame Award. Their accomplishments are nothing short of phenomenal.”
“It’s just really humbling to receive the award,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer is not only a chef, she’s also an food instructor and has written several cookbooks.
In addition, she used to run “What’s Cooking?,” a kitchen store, cooking school and catering company in Cleveland.
“I took some classes with Julia Child and I was like ‘I love this,’” said Shaffer, who started off with a career in human resources before moving from a cubicle to a kitchen.
Much like Julia Child, Shaffer admits she’s had a few kitchen mishaps.
“Even today there are things that I try and I cook and I think ‘hmmm okay, I’m just never going to make this again, but I’ll eat it,’” she said.
At age 70, Shaffer says she’s on to her next adventure.
“I’m taking real estate classes,” she said. “You have to stick your neck out there and follow your passion.”
