If you didn’t know, today is International Women’s Day, a date that has been celebrated for more than 100 years! Celebrations began in 1914 in Germany. Originally, the date celebrated women’s suffrage, now the day observes and uplifts women killing it in a multitude of industries. Here at Food Before Love, we’re taking this time to spotlight our favorite women in our industry and we hope you’ll do the same. Celebrate the women you look up to using #InternationalWomensDay and if they’re in the hospitality industry, tag us too!
Now, here are the women we’re celebrating today–and always–for International Women’s Day.
Lauren Beamon, Elle Audrey New York
Lauren is the creator and owner of Elle Audrey New York an event planning firm in NYC. Since 2010 she has specialized in helping plan and conduct one of the most important days of a couple’s life, their wedding. She also has a knack for planning corporate events, birthdays and baby showers.
Noëlle Santos, The Lit. Bar
After the last Barnes and Noble closed down in the Bronx in 2014, Santos made it her mission to bring books back to the Bronx. She went to work on The Lit. Bar one part bookstore, one part wine bar and one part community center. The Lit. Bar will feature shelves of books by local indie authors. The Lit. Bar’s permeant space is currently under construction.
Shannon Evans, owner of Studio No. 7
After a decade of working in events at Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., Shannon Evans decided to branch out and do her own thing. She opened Studio No. 7 a restaurant, bar and art gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves curating memorable experiences including her Midnight Barbecue dinner party series.
Elle Simone, SheChef Founder
SheChef is a networking organization made especially for people of color working in the food and beverage industry. Created by Elle Simone in 2014, SheChef’s goal is to connect new and old chefs and restauranteurs with one another while also highlighting black and brown chefs that often go unnoticed in the industry. She does this through a social media campaign called #BrownChefChronicles. SheChef hosts workshops and exclusive events and connect members with scholarships and job opportunities as well.
Robin & Andréa McBride, McBride Sisters Wine
Robin & Andréa McBride have an incredible story. Growing up, they each didn’t know the other existed. Andréa grew up in New Zealand and Robin in California, both in areas known for winemaking. In 1996, they found their way to one another and quickly learned of their shared love of winemaking. In 2010, they created McBride Sisters Wine; together they have perfected two wines from New Zealand – a Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling Brut Rosé, and two wines from the Central Coast of California – a Chardonnay and Red Blend.
Eden Hagos, Founder of Black Foodie
After a bad experience at a European restaurant, Toronto native Eden created Black Foodie, an online community that spotlights food and foodies from the black community. She wanted to create something that uplifted and celebrated black people in the food and beverage industry. Since it’s inception, she has created an online community of more than 20,000 people and has hosted events in three different countries.
Chef India of Chef India & Co.
Atlanta, Georgia native Chef India has always had a passion for food. She’s been able to turn that passion into a thriving business that helps her clients “increase the value of how you view food.” Chef India & Co. specialize in designer catering, menu development and culinary consultant, just to name a few.
