In 1959 American gourmet and journalist Jeanne Owen from New York City, attended the Grand Chapître in London. During this event London Bailli Andre Simon introduced Mrs. Owen to Grand Chancelier Jean Valby. Mrs. Owen expressed an interest to Mr. Valby about starting a Bailliage (chapter) in the United States.
In New York City, Mrs. Owen called together a group of friends who shared her interests. At this first meeting it was decided to ask Paul Spitler, a known gastronome and prominent meat purveyor, to meet with Monsieur Valby in Paris and make the necessary arrangements to create a new Bailliage.
On January 13, 1960, Grand Chancelier Valby, along with Conseil Magistral members Doctor Charles Gruebel and Broos Hoogendijk, arrived in New York for the inaugural ceremonies. The following morning, on January 14th, a Constitutional Committee met at the Biltmore Hotel which was the location selected for the first Grand Chapître of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in the United States. One hundred-twenty professional and nonprofessional gastronomes attended this meeting and heard Monsieur Valby’s words; “The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs has now crossed the ocean to officially present its seal to the American star-spangled banner. Gastronomy taken as the ninth art deserves nonstop development in your beautiful country and it is my pleasure to salute, with gratitude, the first Chaîne des Rôtisseurs knot of American gastronomes formed by Paul Spitler.”
That evening, Paul A. Spitler became Chancelier and Bailli Délégué of the United States and Jeanne Owen was named Sénéchal and later, Chargée de Missions. A few days later at the inaugural dinner in New York City, founding dinners were also held by two other Bailliages – Atlanta and Pittsburgh. They were joined later that year by Beverly Hills. During the 1960’s a number of Bailliages were formed across the country so that by the end of 1969 there were twenty-two Bailliages, divided into five regions – Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Far West.
