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
LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1
Recent Collaborations
Get Tickets Join Let’s Talk Womxn on March 31 from 6–9 PM at Moe’s Cantina River North as we close Women’s History Month with our Retro Revolution Dance Party. Spend the evening in an unabashed celebration of women empowering women. By 150 of Chicago’s Let’s Talk Womxn leading food and beverage entrepreneurs, this celebration is…
Let’s Talk Change
Women’s Leadership in Restaurants & Franchises
Let’s Talk – A Women’s Networking Celebration
CHICAGO INNOVATION PRESENTS TASTE OF INNOVATION. PANEL + LTW CULINARY EXPERIENCE 5/20/2025
CHICAGO INNOVATION PRESENTS TASTE OF INNOVATION. PANEL + LTW CULINARY EXPERIENCE 5/20/2025 Tickets $53-$70. This event spotlights innovation in the ever-changing world of food and drinks. This year’s event features: – Food industry innovators discussing 2025 emerging trends that excite them – Tasting stations curated by Sanctuary & Let’s Talk Womxn restaurants – Libations from…
CHICAGO HUMANITIES AT SANCTUARY. IMMIGRATION, SANCTUARY & FOOD 5/9/2025
CHICAGO HUMANITIES AT SANCTUARY. IMMIGRATION, SANCTUARY & FOOD 5/9/2025 Tickets $50. Join Chicago Humanities at Sanctuary, a new women-centric cocktail den and restaurant, for an evening of feasting and provocative conversation celebrating differences. Feast on global gourmet food stations — crafted by Chicago’s Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs — meet the restaurateurs, enjoy statement cocktails (cash…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experience 5/18/2025
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experience 5/18/2025 Tickets: https://www.nationalrestaurantshow.com/home/dinner-experiences/ Tickets $300. National Restaurant Association Show and Let’s Talk Womxn Exclusive Dinner Experience. Experience a culinary feast like no other crafted for the Show attendees and their guests. A five-course dinner, with five leading Chicago culinary concepts, cocktails & wine, hosted by Let’s…
More Than March – Milwaukee
Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-tickets-1247308185359?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
More Than March – New York
Ticket: https://www.wonderville.nyc/events/more-than-march-2025
More Than March Bash Boston
Kick off Women’s History Month with Let’s Talk Womxn Boston! For one special night on Thursday, March 6th, experience tastings from 18+ of Boston’s top women in food and beverage. You’ll meet LTW Boston members, enjoy their delicious creations, experience fabulous comic relief and celebrate together with a fabulous DJ and so much more to…
Sanctuary & Let’s Talk Womxn Invite You To…
Join us at 3/13 6pm at Sanctuary for a Let’s Talk Womxn dinner feast and conversation. Bring your daughters and mentees. On cultivating fearlessness in ourselves and our daughters. With partners The Chicago Network, Harvard Club of Chicago, Girls in the Game, WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times. $120 standard ticket, all inclusive (conversation, dinner, wine, tax, gratuity).…
More Than March Bash
Join Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago on 3/2 4-8pm at Moe’s Cantina for Chicago’s definitive women power celebration and an unforgettable feast & drinks by 30+ of Chicago’s 130 incredible womxn restaurateurs and F&B entrepreneurs! Shimmer in stylish silver or come as you are to celebrate, feast, drink, dance, connect and just have fun. Packed with action with…
What Women Want: Fortifying Our Democracy
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…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24 Registration free at Maximizing Your Digital Presence for Growth.
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…
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…
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…
More Than March
Click Here: Press Release & Participants Ticket link: https://www.exploretock.com/letstalkchicagowomxn “More Than March” is Chicago’s woman-power celebration of the year. Blends unabashed social & cerebral facets. Tasting stations & diva cocktails by 30+ leading Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs. DJ, black & bling drag show, dancing, the works. Come in BLACK draped in BLING to revel in…
More Than March Boston
3.07.24 at Boston Harbor Distillery. 7pm. Ticket link: http://tinyurl.com/4wtarnmj
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
City Cohosts
Lisa Gutierrez
Liz Joy
Nicki Laborie
Anne Quatrano
Kate Taylor Martin
Thy Mitchell
Denise Taylor
Melissa Guzman
Josie Smith
Lindsey & Lisa Rusch
Elizabeth Almeida
Doriana Isufi
Yasmin Curtis
Kavita Kumar
Molly Matelski
Josalyn Holmes
Jessica Perjes
ShaVonne McCants
Michelle Allen
Deborah Van Trece
Rosa Thurnher
Jen Ziskin
Nancy Cushman
Nancy Matheson-Burns
Rohini Dey, Ph.D.
Carla Chalkley
Joby Bowman
Terri Graber
Paula Haines
Alli Jarrett
Sharon Haynes
Ouita Michel
Anomalous Campbell
Dana Spandet
Marilupe Moreno
Desta Maree Klein
Barbara Sibley
May Fridel
Naama Tamir
Kat Cirar
MacKenzie DeVito
Jacqueline Nicosia
Angela Lawrence
Some News
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
@letstalkwomxn Boston cohost @jen_ziskin heralds @letstalkwomxn as “her village” while creating villages of her own. Owner and wine director of her @la_morra_brookline and @punchbowl_brookline, Jen is also the executive director for @massrestaurantsunited. Thank you Jen for all you do for Let’s Talk Womxn and for your staunch support of women owners in Boston and beyond. Jen shares why this is important to her on @diningplaybook with LTW member @msjennyjohnson. And congrats on coming soon to 23 years at La Morra!!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs strongertogether
@letstalkwomxn Houston member Christine Ha @theblindcook needs no introduction from winning Master Chef season 3! Enjoy these drool worthy photos and videos from her restaurants @theblindgoathtx and @stuffedbellyco. Swipe all the way to the end to see Christine’s takeover of our IG page a few years ago and the wisdom she and her husband often share with their restaurant teams! Truly #strongertogether
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs
Chicago! Keep following us @letstalkwomxn to see what all our members and cohosts are doing!
Special pours this weekend with @catanpisco
Incredible happy hours @nobodysdarlingbar
Tonight make dinner special @twofishcrab
Find a new favorite @bombayeatschicago
Join the global listening party @parachutechicago
Get ready for a fun fall with @lexingtonbettysmokehouse
This Monday plan to join @magslegacycakesandmore @exquistesharedkitchen
Get ready for the return of @classiccobbler
Join @lalunita_logan for Vino & Vinyl next weekend 8/29!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
@jodiafyfe Founder & CEO of @theparamountgroupchi @paramountevents and owner of @edeninchicago is an original member of @letstalkwomxn and brings so much expertise. Beyond thrilled to have her as a member and collaborator!
Jodi shares her reason for being a member for LTW.
“To meet a lot of women within this restaurant and hospitality industry and also to help support one another.” Truly #bettertogether
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs
Another great round of @letstalkwomxn Chicago happenings!!
Marg Club @antiquetaco is a perfect end of summer treat!
Plan your next two Sundays @necessary_coffee_pr
A very special happy hour this week with @erischicago
Save the date for @archies.chicago fall neighborhood market!
@exquisite.catering @pastamonsterchi @magslegacycakesandmore @iceboxxchi and @mickeyscheesecakes all team up for an epic collaboration!
@fronteragrill has your summer dessert!
Enjoy a weekend special @twofishcrab
@demerachicago can cater any of your summer events!
Join the book club @katherineanneconfections
Check out the multiple popups @vjosachicago
Its dj time this weekend @lalunita_logan
Karaoke on the 26th @nobodysdarlingbar
Get your birthday treat @moescantina
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Some of the core pillars of @letstalkwomxn are collaboration and building a community together.
@letstalkwomxngreaternyc member Stephanie Gross @steph21g and her husband embody that at @wondervillenyc with multiple collaborations and events that bring businesses and fans of music, arcades, and art together!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
From small beginnings to 4 locations that are built around both quality as well as giving back to their community @letstalkwomxn @letstalkwomxnhouston member Janice Goldsmith Jucker @jjucker co-owner of @3brothersbakery is a taste maker, innovator, and embodies the Let’s Talk Womxn movement!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
@barbaragsibley has been a longstanding national cohost for @letstalkwomxn and for @letstalkwomxngreaternyc. Barbara warmly shares her wealth of entrepreneurial wisdom, hosts our LTW initiatives at her iconic @la_palapa, and shares the gospel of Mexican cuisine and culture across her NYC locations. President @lesdamesny and Director @holidaycocktaillounge, mother, she wears many hats!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
@ouitamichel cohost of @letstalkwomxn @letstalkwomxnkentucky is an inspiration.
Inspiring countless chefs and preserving while literally serving up Kentucky food culture!
Thrilled to have her as part of the movement.
Featured businesses of @ouitamichel
@hollyhillandco
@hollyhillinn
@zimscafe
@thirstyfoxlex
@wallacestationofficial
@hollyhillevents_ky
@midwaybakery
@windycornermarket
@smithtownlex
@pennyslex
@honeywoodrestaurant
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Cheers to the tastemakers of @letstalkwomxn and the craft cocktails they serve up!
@theblindfinchspeakeasy @marychalmersthorn @letstalkwomxnhouston
@holidaycocktaillounge @barbaragsibley @letstalkwomxngreaternyc
@bianca_chestnuthill @cheftimandnancy
@la_morra_brookline @jen_ziskin @letstalkwomxnbos
@doshermanoseaston @foodtruckmillionaire @letstalkwomxncolumbus
@hojokoboston @cheftimandnancy @letstalkwomxnbos
@tacosagogo @letstalkwomxnhouston
@rising_eagle_publick_house @letstalkwomxnbos
@honeywoodrestaurant @ouitamichel @letstalkwomxnkentucky
@bonfirewings @letstalkwomxnhouston
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Chicago! There’s always no shortage of @letstalkwomxn member businesses with specials, special events, you-have-to-try dishes, and you-have-to-check-out restaurants!
@necessary_coffee_pr has limited edition drinks!
@nobodysdarlingbar has a special pop up this Sunday!
Two members @sarah.stegner @prairiegrasscafe and @tigistreda @demerachicago collab on teaching about seasonal vegetables!
At the end of the month @thedandycrown is hosting a speed dating special night!
@lorenzosfrozenpudding is part of XL Fest and putting out the call for vendors and content creators!
@loveluvv_sparkling is doing a special event for the 9th Annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic! Get your tickets now via presale link!
The new Retro Rewind pop up @treehousechicago is now open this weekend!!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
@letstalkwomxn @letstalkwomxnhouston member Mary Cuclis @marycuclis owner and chef of @kritikitchen brings fresh dishes made with passion and personal stories.
At the beginning of this year, Mary celebrated 3 years alongside industry accolades alongside thrilled guests. Cheers to all the success for Mary!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Privileged to have Priya Paul as cohost of @letstalkwomxn Delhi this year. Priya @priyapaul is an innovator, developer and collaborator.
Priya has earned numerous awards and accolades as an entrepreneur. Encapsulating all that the Let’s Talk Womxn stands for.
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Developing and launching a successful food product is the holy grail for many restaurateurs & entrepreneurs. Hear how @justyasminc founder @twofishcrab and @twofishfoods_ launched her product in 2021 and is now in over 5000 stores. No small feat in 5 years. From direct online (DTC) to independent and big box retailers. The larger lessons new concepts, business growth and grit are valid for all our @letstalkwomxn members. This monthly session is joint across all our cities for all LTW members. Wed 8/5 11am CST. Yasmin is also CoHost LTW Chicago.
Candid monthly sessions to sustain real world learning from each other. Sharing our business expertise, expanding our solution sets and horizons. Building camaraderie, collaborations, visibility & support.
1. Add questions + insights+ ideas for future deep dives here.
2. All women-owners in food/drink in any city are welcome to join LTW. No elitism. Restaurateurs, bakers, bars, cafes, beverage makers, distillers, food CPG, farm owners and more.
3. No dues, no BS, no overheads, 100% volunteer run, renegade action movement of women owners. DM or email us to join, see letstalkwomxn.com.
6 years of learning from and boosting each other’s businesses together. 1000+ women entrepreneurs across 16 cities with 2000+ concepts.
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Summertime means patio season! Here’s some incredible outside spots from @letstalkwomxn cohosts, ambassadors, and members!
@bostonharbordistil new location!
@hojokoboston beautiful patio!
@emily.blacc shows off the vibe of @elponceatl
@rising_eagle_publick_house shows off the iconic space with a sidewalk show!
@jordan.posner captures the outside patio @brekkieshack
ambiance abounds @bianca_chestnuthill
Grab a tall beer 🍻 before heading to the patio @thistledraftshop
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
We have another great round of @letstalkwomxn Chicago special events and special dishes!
@loopieandnato have new flavors to an already stellar line up!
@tituncocktails share the story behind the brand!
Head tonight to a special art show with @savory.crust
Like live music?! Check out @necessary_coffee_pr at the end of the month and the start of next month!
Cast your vote for @soulveg
Test your trivia while enjoying incredible drinks @thedandycrown
Celebrate summer August 5th @antiquetaco
Looking for a great midweek deal?! Head to @twofishcrab
We’re loving the behind the scenes from @stephanieprenuer @brownsugarbakeries
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Janviér Ward @dopecreolegirl founder creole2geaux and Cohost @letstalkwomxn is a Columbus Ohio staple and important part of cohosting Let’s Talk Womxn, apart from bolstering our @letstalkwomxncolumbus initiatives and growth. Follow along to see her multiple locations, amazing dishes (that jambalaya!!), and all her new endeavors! She deserves every success.
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Let’s talk show stopping presentations! Celebrating memorable, beautiful, get your phone out presentations!
From the creative forces of
@_o_ya_ @letstalkwomxnbos @cheftimandnancy
@twistedsoulcookhouse @letstalkwomxnatlanta @chefdeborahvantrece
@bawriindia @letstalkwomxn Delhi @chefamnindersandhu
@hojokoboston @letstalkwomxnbos @cheftimandnancy
@punchlinebar @letstalkwomxn Delhi @chefamnindersandhu
@hollyhillinn @letstalkwomxnkentucky @ouitamichel
@kikliindia @letstalkwomxn Delhi @chefamnindersandhu
@elponceatl @letstalkwomxnatlanta @rosaatl
@micozumel @letstalkwomxncinci Diana Jaime
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Chef Amninder @chefamnindersandhu is a cohost for @letstalkwomxn Delhi! She is founding partner for @bawriindia which features intention, story, fire and flavor behind each dish! In both Mumbai & Goa. Also coowner of the incredible @kikliindia @barbetandpals @punchlinebar and luxury @tipai_wli concepts, Amninder embodies our LTW ethos of women entrepreneurs fortifying each other. And hosted our LTW Delhi launch.
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs strongertogether
Today through the end of the month lots of special events and special prices on some of Chicago’s best food and drinks!
@alostacosfoodtruck for block party!!
@erischicago for a special vintage eyewear sidewalk sale!
@go.banato for July pop ups!
@archies.chicago for a special pop up and watch party for the World Cup!
@nobodysdarlingbar for a special WNBA watch party!
@tacotlantacos for a special event to strengthen your business
@mspsgfree to start your morning right!
@bitoys_sweet_treats
@moescantina for daily specials!
@khmaichicago for authentic Cambodian fare!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
Donate
Donate to Let's Talk Womxn to directly support women restaurateurs and entrepreneurs.
Stay in Touch
Subscribe and get the latest news from Let's Talk Womxn.
JOIN US. PARTNER WITH US. SHARE US.
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.
- share our collaborative Let's Talk Womxn model, a force beyond DE&I initiatives
- leverage our expertise on all things restaurants, food, drink and entrepreneurship as 550+ frontline owner operators
- tap our pulse as consumers and women with a combined vast following
- partner with us to unconventionally and directly foster change and help women scale