The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is the
largest gastronomic organization in the world and, in the second of its two
karmas, can lay claim to being the oldest. The Society was originally founded in
Paris in the year 1248, and today, more than 70,000 persons participate annually
in its activities. Members include many of the crowned heads of Europe as well
as other persons of highest talent and distinction. Bailliages (national
chapters) in more than 130 countries coordinate their programs through the
Chaîne's International Headquarters in Paris.
In the United States the Chaîne has
approximately 145 local chapters with almost 7,000 members and associates. Our
National Executive office is located in the
Chaîne House at Fairleigh Dickenson
University, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940-1099
Underlying our phenomenal growth is our
sense of purpose. That which distinguishes the Chaîne from other organizations
involved in wine or food is the interrelation between amateur and professional.
In the Chaîne, we strive for a balanced membership representing knowledgeable
men and women who, due to their interest in learning or their more traveled
backgrounds, are in a position to enjoy the pleasures engendered by good
cuisine, good wine, and good company; world-renowned lecturers, authors, and
critics; professionals involved in food preparation, service and administration
in hotels and restaurants, and wine, food, and equipment suppliers. Other
societies, by comparison, tend to promote the wines of a given region, restrict
their membership to a single social stratum, or are active in a limited number
of cities or countries.
