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Let's Talk Womxn - Entrepreneurs. Food & Drink.
Let's Talk Womxn - Entrepreneurs. Food & Drink.

LET’S TALK IS A COLLABORATION OF WOMEN RESTAURATEURS TO BUILD COMBINED ECONOMIC POWER. IT IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS NOT AN ENTITY, IT IS AN ACTION-LED MOVEMENT BY WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS AS PEERS.

National Collaborations

buildingbetterrest4

What Women Want: Fortifying Our Democracy

What Women Want: Fortifying Our Democracy


globalgourmet

Global Gourmet Dinner

Global Gourmet Dinner

Harvard Business School Women’s Association &
Let’s Talk Womxn

Oct 2, 6-8PM. At Vermilion. Chicago.

We invite all Chicago food aficionados to an epic multi-concept gourmet feast with wine & cocktail pairing

Hear “behind the business” restaurant insights

Tickets $150
Email: admin@hsbwa.org by 9/27
Vermilion. 10 W. Hubbard St. Chicago, IL

Women boosting women in business


buildingbetterrest2

Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm.

Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm.

Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm. Tickets $60 for gourmet food stations, event & soapboxes by 10 leading nationwide women restaurateurs. Cash bar. Real opinions, insights & revelations with no holy grails by real restaurateurs! A dynamic gourmet evening for ALL who love dining out and restaurants. What’s working with our restaurants today? What’s not? How can we build better? On innovation, food trends, immigration, local & sustainable, wages, tipping, herd hypes & fads, fine dining norms, ethnic or global fare, pricing, charity & causes, economics, policy, elitism and much more. Gourmet Interactive Food Stations by: Mexican (Tacotlan). Mediterranean (Imee’s Kitchen). Vietnamese (Saigon Sisters). Soul Tacos (Taylor’s Tacos). Indian (Vermilion). Dessert (La Matriz).

Make your reservation for Let’s Talk Change here. Limited by availability


may19-2024

Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experiences 5/19/24

Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experiences 5/19/24

The National Restaurant Show is proud to partner with Let’s Talk Womxn to curate unforgettable dining experiences for you at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 19th. Join us for gourmet collaborative dinners, each showcasing not one, but two-three Let’s Talk Womxn entrepreneurs and their concepts. Exclusively crafted, these unique dining experiences are open to all and offer a chance for diners to bond over their mutual passion for food. Your Let’s Talk Womxn hosts will not only craft unforgettable meals, but also share insights into their culinary journey, businesses, and collaboration movement as restaurateurs. Prepare for an evening of inspired conversation and cuisine that cannot be replicated elsewhere. See the details for these seven dinners at La Luna, The Dearborn, Vermilion, 1308, Saigon Sisters, Dandy Crown and Bistronomic


Book Here


womenleaders

LTW National Restaurant Association Show Women Leaders & Owners Reception

LTW National Restaurant Association Show Women Leaders & Owners Reception

Let’s Talk Womxn invites all women in food and drink to attend the first Women Leaders & Owners Reception it is cohosting with the National Restaurant Association Show. The largest food service and restaurants convention with over 55,000 attendees. We invite ALL women to attend, meet, explore ways to promote our businesses and careers beyond platitudes & hear from industry leaders Michelle Korsmo (President & CEO National Restaurant Association), Adrienne Trimble (VP Chief Diversity & Cultural Officer Sysco), Kelly Higginson (President & CEO Restaurants Canada), Rohini Dey, Ph.D. (Founder, Vermilion & Let’s Talk Womxn). Presented by Sysco, a longstanding champion of our Let’s Talk Womxn.


Nasdaq-LTW1600

LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1

LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1

Click here to read more


Recent Collaborations

City Cohosts

#109-Doriana-Isufi-Molly's-
Doriana Isufi
Chicago
#44-Yasmin-Curtis-Two-Fish-
Yasmin Curtis
Chicago
Kavita-Kumar---Thai-Chili-2
Kavita Kumar
Arizona
#5-Molly-Matelski,-Chicago-
Molly Matelski
Chicago
Josalyn-Holmes---Royal-Tea-
Josalyn Holmes
Atlanta
#40, Jessica Perjes, Ambassador, Tacotlan
Jessica Perjes
Chicago
ShaVonne-McCants---Edible-E
ShaVonne McCants
Atlanta
Michelle-Allen---MMELO-Bout
Michelle Allen
Columbus
Lisa-Gutierrez---Dos-Herman
Lisa Gutierrez
Columbus
Liz-Joy---Joy-Ice-Cream-Soc
Liz Joy
Milwaukee
Nicki-Laborie---Bar-Reyna--
Nicki Laborie
Toronto
Anne Quatrano
Anne Quatrano
Atlanta
Kate-Taylor-Martin---Nutbar
Kate Taylor Martin
Toronto
Thy-Mitchell---Traveler's-T
Thy Mitchell
Houston
Denise-Taylor---Bonfire-Win
Denise Taylor
Houston
Melissa-Guzman---The-Caribe
Melissa Guzman
Miami
Josie-Smith---Bubbles-&-Pea
Josie Smith
Miami
lisaandlindseyrusch
Lindsey & Lisa Rusch
Columbus
ElizabethAlmeida
Elizabeth Almeida
Boston
Deborah VanTrece
Deborah Van Trece
Atlanta
Rosa Thurnher
Rosa Thurnher
Atlanta
JenZiskin
Jen Ziskin
Boston
NancyCushman
Nancy Cushman
Boston
ancy Matheson-Burns - Let's Talk Womxn - Boston
Nancy Matheson-Burns
Boston
#1-Rohini-Dey,-Ph.D
Rohini Dey
Chicago
Carla Chalkley
Carla Chalkley
Cincinnati
Joby Bowman
Joby Bowman
Cincinnati
Let's Talk Womxn - Teri Graber
Terri Graber
Cincinnati
Let's Talk Womxn - Columbus - Paula Haines
Paula Haines
Columbus
Alli Jarrett
Alli Jarrett
Houston
Sharon Haynes
Sharon Haynes
Houston
Ouita Michel
Ouita Michel
Louisville & Lexington
milwaukee-Anomalous-Campbell
Anomalous Campbell
Milwaukee
Dana Spandet
Dana Spandet
Milwaukee
Marilupe Moreno
Marilupe Moreno
Milwaukee
Desta Maree Klein
Desta Maree Klein
Minneapolis - St. Paul
Barbara Sibley
Barbara Sibley
Greater NY
greater-ny-May-Fridel
May Fridel
Greater NY
Let's Talk Womxn - Naama Tamir
Naama Tamir
Greater NY
Kat Cirar
Kat Cirar
Seattle
MacKenzie DeVito
MacKenzie DeVito
Seattle
Jacqueline-Nicosia---ARDO,-
Jacqueline Nicosia
Toronto
Angela-Lawrence---Chubby's-
Angela Lawrence
Toronto

Our Credo

  • The goal of Let's Talk Womxn is to build the camaraderie, counsel, visibility, bargaining and economic power of its women entrepreneurs. Together.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn launched in the thick of the pandemic in 2020 for women restaurateurs to learn from & support each other. It has explosively evolved to much more. It is a magical innovative B-cube model of “competitors as collaborators.” Started for women restaurateurs, it has grown to include all women entrepreneurs and makers of food and drink.
  • Started with 15 restaurateurs in Chicago in 2020, LTW has grown to 850+ women entrepreneurs in 15 cities in the US and Canada, with three additional city offshoots. Many more US and international cities are in the LTW waitlist and pipeline.
  • LTW launched 3 additional cities in 2020 who morphed to offshoots: Let's Talk Womxn Philadelphia, Let's Talk Womxn DC and Let's Talk Womxn LA. These morphed into Philly Sisterly Love, DC Women in Food & LA RE:Her (see inception GMA, NewsNation, LA Times).
  • This action movement is entirely voluntary. And kept lean deliberately with no dues, overheads, bureaucracy, fancy office, CEO. The frills and financial drain of many conventional entities in our industry. All LTW support and revenue flows to its women entrepreneurs to boost their core businesses.
  • The crux is monthly sessions by city with "Deep Dives" into business issues to learn from each other, share counsel and referrals. "Pulse" is to know and help each other. Complete candor & confidentiality underlie these business sessions.
  • Each Let's Talk city is cohosted, nourished and led by leading city women restaurateurs. Founder Dey cross-pollinates learnings across all LTW cities & nationally, founds new cities, runs the sessions, seeds initiatives and builds sponsors & external national forums for LTW.
  • Additional LTW collaborative initiatives - apart from ongoing, all-year learning and counsel - focus on amplifying visibility, boosting aspirations, cross-promoting each other, bolstering revenue, and unstinting referrals and access. See details here LTW National Press Release 2023. Much more is afoot on both the city & national levels.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn participate actively in keynotes, talks, panels & forums to share their collaborative positive empowering B-cube model for parity. This model extends across sectors, applies within corporations for "intrepreneurs," and across countries.
  • For entities, corporations and cities who champion women entrepreneurs, backing Let's Talk Womxn is a natural choice. All LTW members are owners, employers and tastemakers with a mass following at the intersection of dining, consumer and retail. We are sponsored directly or via our 501c3 fiscal sponsor. LTW works actively with its city CVBs, SRAs, COCs, corporations and other partners.
  • The X factor in Womxn is an algebraic expression of explicit openness to women owners of all sizes, stripes, color, creed, format, scale, race, orientation, identities, startups or celebrities. All are peers.
  • Within six months of inception, LTW was included in NRN Power List Top 50 for inclusive impactful leadership alongside industry giants. A multitude of awards, accolades and media has followed organically along the way.
  • Women entrepreneurs in culinary are tired of the deluge of manuals, guidelines, conferences & webinars. Positive intentions that cause glacial change.
  • Women owners are tired of being on the fringe of involvement, whether on boards, policy, the media spotlight, or financing. This is dictated by economic power, PR heft, the fawning-over-the-beloved-few "TV celebrity" herd mentality. Let's Talk aims to redress this.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn deliberately has no mission statement, no statement of values and no five-year plan. The universe abounds with these well-meaning, murky, unaccountable, lofty articulations.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn is founded and led by Rohini Dey, Ph.D. Vermilion restaurateur in Chicago. Formerly McKinsey & Co., former World Bank, and former trustee/founder/chair of the James Beard Foundation Women's Leadership Program for a decade (2011-2021).

Talk to us on Instagram

Meeting up our LTW Greater NY comrades. Always invigorating in person. At Barbara’s La Palapa, our regular hang out! @la_palapa

Amy Scherber @amysbread
Naama Tamir @lighthousebk
Barbara Sibley @barbaragsibley @la_palapa
Joanne Kwong @msjojokwong Pearl River Mart @pearlrivermart Pearl River Foods @pearlrivermartfoods
May Fridel Passion for Spices @passionforspices
Monica Calderon @grandaisybakery
Rohini Dey @deyrohini @vermilionchicago @letstalkwomxn
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxngreaternyc #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
...

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Thrilled to share our @letstalkwomxn collaboration action movement with all women owners, our followers and partners. We invite all women owners in food & drink to join us across 15 cities or launch new cities with us. We invite all our followers to get to know us. We invite all city & corporate partners who champion women entrepreneurs to back us. See our renegade LTW credo and reach out on letstalkwomxn.com. JOIN US. ENGAGE WITH US. WORK WITH US.

Here’s what makes us renegade: We’re women employers and tastemakers making our cities stronger together. We boost each others businesses all year long. We’re not just March pretty parties & panels. We pool our real world women owner expertise and referrals. We overcome isolation. No fees. No BS. No elitism. Open to all. LTW forums, events, media boost us financially & with visibility. We are 100% volunteer run, zero overheads, all funds raised by us are for us. No CEO, staff and swank offices!! We don’t ask our members for at-cost, donation, draining event participation. We’re restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries, beverage makers, distilleries, confectioneries, catering, stores, and more. All vital ambassadors of all our cities, enriching their soft power and strength with pride.

#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
...

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Join @letstalkwomxn Chicago members Mary Aregoni and Laurence Noguier for a @letstalkwomxnchi collaboration. Expect a stupendous IndoChine Feast meshing rich Vietnamese and French cuisines and culture with @saigonsisters and @bistronomicfood iconic fare. This four course dinner with French wine pairings is $160. Tickets are on OpenTable for Bistronomic. On Sept 26 at Bistronomic.

#letstalkwomxn
#letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourvalue #strongertogether #chicagofood #chicagorestaurants
...

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Namaste France. Bonjour India. A Silk & Spice four course sumptuous regal dinner with wine pairings. A @letstalkwomxnchi collaboration by @bistronomicfood @vermilionchicago and @enjoymmmmwines. Meet owners @laurencenoguier1 @deyrohini for a conversation smashing culinary stereotypes. Tickets at Bistronomic.net.

Feast on the most unlikely pairing of cuisines and cultures. Often viewed as polar opposites, relations between France and India is steeped in history and deep connections since the 17th century driven by the quest for spice, silks, gemstones and more. This evening celebrates the nexus of the Silk and Spice routes and the rich culinary heritage of both regions. Dress in your regal best to win $100 dining by both Vermilion and Bistronomic.

Hosted by Let’s Talk Womxn Laurence Noguier and Rohini Dey, Ph.D. Featuring Let’s Talk Womxn Molly Matelski Mmmm Wines. Meet your women restaurateurs and hear their take on cultures, cuisines and collaborations that demolishes all stereotypes.

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourvalue #strongertogether
...

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7 dinners, 2-3 @letstalkwomxn collaborating for each one, 1 night of curated dining experiences for #chicago, cohosted with @nationalrestaurantshow. Dinners Sunday 5/19! Deadline for tickets 5/10. Tickets in link in bio!

Dinner #1 @vermilionchicago and @taylorstacoschicago and @enjoymmmmwines
Dinner #2 @1308_chicago and @nakornkitchen
Dinner #3 @thealbionmanor and @nobonesbeachclub
Dinner #4 @bistronomicfood and @prettycoolicecream
Dinner #5 @thedearbornchi and @erischicago
Dinner #6 @saigonsisters and @savory.crust
Dinner #7 @laluna_pilsen and @bittersweetpastryshop

#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #strongertogether #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #womeninbusiness #knowyourvalue
...

61 12

Link to full video in the bio. Thank you to @nationalrestaurantshow and @syscofoodie @adrienne_c_trimble for featuring @letstalkwomxn members Christine Ha @theblindcook owner of @theblindgoathtx @stuffedbellyco along with @letstalkwomxn founder Rohini Dey Ph.D. @deyrohini owner of @vermilionchicago Lisa Gutierrez @foodtruckmillionaire owner of @doshermanostacos and Nicki Laborie @nickilaborie owner of @reynahospitality @reynatoronto @reyna.newyork as they share about maximizing digital presence for growth.
#letstalkwomxn #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #womenempowerment #knowyourvalue #strongertogether
...

51 15

Join our @nationalrestaurantshow & @letstalkwomxn vital discussion on maximizing digital presence for growth. Presented by @syscofoodie. The most important marketing, visibility and strategic decisions entrepreneurs confront navigating our businesses in a rapidly evolving digital world. Expect insights and candor on what’s cost effective, what’s converting, and what’s vaporware to stand out effectively. Free registration in our linktree or at https://www.bigmarker.com/NationalRestaurantShow/Maximizing-Your-Digital-Presence-for-Growth.

Meet your panelists and moderator:
- Christine Ha @theblindcook, Houston, Member LTW. Restaurants @theblindcook @theblindgoattx @stuffedbellyco with contemporary & comfort Vietnamese fare.
- Nicki Laborie @nicki.laborie, Toronto & NYC, Cohost LTW. 30+ years restaurateur with @reyna.newyork @reynatoronto @reynaonking @ViewTheVibe straddling two major global cities with her Mediterranean fare.
- Lisa Gutierrez @foodtruckmillionaire, Columbus, Cohost LTW. Authentic Oaxacan fare at @doshermanostacos @doshermanoseaston.
- Rohini Dey, Ph.D. @deyrohini, Chicago. Founder @vermilionchicago, founder @letstalkwomxn. Restaurateur with lauded Indian-Latin & Indian-Chinese fare. Vermilion Chicago for 20+ years & 10 years in Vermilion NYC.
- Moderator Adrienne Trimble @adrienne_c_trimble, VP Chief Diversity & Culture Officer, @syscofoodie. Consistent champion of Let’s Talk Womxn with Sysco.

#2024restaurantshow #letstalkwomxn #strongertogether #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #chicagowomxnhangout #womenownedbusiness
...

112 13

Push the frontiers of innovation with @letstalkwomxnchi. Join the EmpowHER celebration of women entrepreneurship 3/28 9am-12pm hosted at @thehatcherychi. Alongside @makecitychicago @thewbdc @letstalkwomxn is delighted to present this panel on innovation by our cutting-edge women owners and operators. Meet Korina Sanchez co-owner @thirdcoasthospitality with amazing restaurant concepts & venues, Esther Griego owner of the historic @bittersweetpastryshop driving expansion, Taylor Mason owner @taylorstacoschicago who won @goodmorningamerica Best Taco in year one, and Geri Hernandez owner @savory.crust whose retail, food truck and wholesale formats reign supreme. This Let’s Talk Womxn panel on innovation is moderated by Leigh Uhlir, Dean @kendallcollege. Creating opportunity and showcasing our businesses is our LTW core #letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #strongertogether #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #womenownedbusiness ...

93 9

Join us for our stupendous annual More Than March Columbus celebration, part of our national @letstalkwomxn showcase of our women restaurateurs. All invaluable employers, tastemakers, innovators and the soft power of our cities. 3.11.24 at Dos Hermanos Easton @doshermanoseaston. 4-8pm. National advocate @Sysco. Meet us, feast, hear from powerful women. Male allies more than welcome!

Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-columbus-more-than-march-bash-tickets-845118170197

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #strongertogether
...

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More Than March Atlanta
3.10.24 at @restaurantlapanarda 6-8 pm.

Ticket link: https://resy.com/cities/atl/venues/la-panarda/events/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-2024-03-10

@syscofoodie Co-Presenting National Advocate
...

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More Than March Cincinnati
3.8.24 at The Grove Event Center. 7-10 pm.
Ticket link: http://exploretock.com/letstalkcincinnati
Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
...

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Reach out to Let's Talk Womxn. If you are a woman business owner in food and drink in a city we're in and would like to join us. Our forum is open to all and we'd love to have you.

To corporation, associations, and media, we're open to all help.

  1. share our collaborative Let's Talk Womxn model, a force beyond DE&I initiatives
  2. leverage our expertise on all things restaurants, food, drink and entrepreneurship as 550+ frontline owner operators
  3. tap our pulse as consumers and women with a combined vast following
  4. partner with us to unconventionally and directly foster change and help women scale
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