Following a large wave of French immigration to the US, the Société Culinaire Philanthropique was formed in 1865 to serve a new community of French migrant chefs in New York. The original mission of this organization was to care for their colleagues, to support worthy causes, and to promote the culinary arts. 159 years later, the Société’s mission still resonates and is ever-evolving.

Part of the membership criteria is completion of formal training in French culinary techniques.