ABOUT US

The Mid-Atlantic Province is one of ten provinces of the Bailliage des Etats-Unis d’Amérique 

OUR MISSION

The Mid-Atlantic Province of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs serves members in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., & West Virginia.  Our Bailliages (chapters) host spectacular events throughout the year of culinary and vinous excellence, and most importantly, opportunities to unite with Chaîne friends in camaraderie and pleasures of the table.  Our events are simply Chaînetastic!

The Chaîne Mid-Atlantic Province was proud to host the 2019 USA Grand Chapitre and serve as host committee.  The 2019 Grand Chapitre celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Bailliage des Etats Unis d’Amérique, and was the first profitable Grand Chapitre in decades!

The Mid-Atlantic Province in collaboration with its Bailliages proudly presides over scholarship opportunities to deserving culinary, oenological, and hospitality arts students as well as charitable giving in support of long-term solutions to the problems of hunger.

Founded in Paris in 1248, the Chaîne is the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious international fine food and wine society.  The Chaîne is represented in all five continents and has more than 25,000 professional and amateur members in more than 90 countries. 

The distinctive character of the Chaîne, through its worldwide presence and influence, is devoted to the appreciation of fine wine and cuisine, preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table, and promoting excellence in all areas of the hospitality arts. 

Membership in the Chaîne is by invitation only.  Please let us know if you would like to explore membership by way of an introduction to a Bailli (chapter president) via the "Officers," "Bailliages" (chapters) and/or "Contact" sections of this website.

BRIEF HISTORY

Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs of the United States of America

Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Bailliage des Etats-Unis d’Amérique

The 2019 USA Grand Chapitre, our Diamond Jubilee, celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the 1959 formation of our Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in the United States of America.

 

The Bailliage des Etats Unis d’Amérique was born with our 1959 formation and selection of Paul A. Spitler as our first Bailli Délégué.  Mr. Spitler’s initial achievements include the launch of the “Premier Chapter,” known today as the Bailliage de New York, which held a “Le Premier Dîner” on October 20, 1959; and hosting the Constitutional Committee dinner at New York’s Biltmore Hotel on January 14, 1960, which was selected as the location for our first USA Grand Chapitre held in 1961.

 

Soon after the launch of New York, Atlanta and Pittsburgh held their inaugural dinners followed by Beverly Hills, San Francisco the New Jersey chapters.  By the end of the Chaîne's first decade in the United States, there were eighteen chapters in twelve states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. 

 

Our French Heritage

In 1248, Louis IX, the French King later canonized as Saint Louis, ordered the establishment of professional guilds including that of the “Ayeurs,” or goose roasters, to bring order to the various trades, develop young apprentices and improve the technical knowledge of tradesmen and masters.

 

During the reign of Louis XII, the knowledge of the Goose Roasters Guild was extended to include the preparation of other meats and poultry, including game, taking the name “Rôtisseurs” in 1509.

The historic coat of arms of the Rôtisseurs upon which the modern Chaîne seal is based, was granted by royal warrant in 1610 under King Louis XIII and features two crossed turning spits and four larding needles in the center, surrounded by the flames of the hearth on a shield.  In today’s Chaîne seal, the historic coat of arms is encircled by fleurs-de-lis and two chains, between which sit the name of the Society and the two foundation dates.   The inner chain represents professional members, while the outer chain symbolizes non-professional members and the bond that unites all members.

 

For more than four centuries the Confrérie des Rôtisseurs cultivated and developed the culinary arts. It met all the requirements of professionalism demanded by the “Royal Table” until 1793 when the guild system was dissolved during the French Revolution.

 

The Rôtisseurs were almost forgotten until the revival of the Chaîne in 1950 when Jean Valby, together with gastronomes "Curnonsky" (elected Prince of Gastronomes) and Dr. Auguste Bécart and professionals Louis Giraudon and Marcel Dorin revived the society founding the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.  Following recovery from World War II, three gastronomes and two professionals joined in Paris with a common goal - to restore the pride in culinary excellence which had been lost during a period of wartime shortages.  In that year, La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs was officially incorporated and the seal and coat of arms were restored by Act of the French Government.

 

The Chaîne Today

Today, the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious international fine food and wine society.  Our international headquarters remains in Paris where the society was founded.  The modern Chaîne, although in an international and contemporary setting, is still based on the traditions and practices of the ancient French guild.

 

The distinctive character of the Chaîne, through its worldwide presence and influence, is devoted to the appreciation of fine wine and cuisine, preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table, and promoting excellence in all areas of the hospitality arts.  Each year the society sponsors young chef and sommelier competitions that attract contestants from across the U.S., while the Chaîne Foundation provides scholarships for deserving students in the hospitality arts.

 

Internationally, our invitation only society is represented in in more than 80 countries on 5 continents and has nearly 25,000 professional and amateur members. Our Bailliage des Etats Unis d’Amérique, which reaches north to Alaska, west to Hawaii, and southeast to the Caribbean and Atlantic islands, boasts almost 5,700 members in nearly 130 Bailliages.  Our U.S. National Administrative Office is located at Chaîne House, on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison New Jersey.