Updated:
Women are and have always been an essential part of the restaurant industry. Thankfully, now more than ever, their stories are being told and uplifted through creative concepts, dynamic menus, innovative dishes, and thoughtful and thorough hospitality — and New York has no shortage of female energy. The landscape continues to expand, with recent additions like Chinatown’s Lei from Annie Shi (also of King), Rasheeda Purdie’s Ramen By Ra, and 8282 from Jee Kim. And meanwhile, trailblazers like Lee Campbell of Borgo and Alex Raij of Txikito continue to lead the charge towards a brighter and more delicious future. These are just a few of the women who are making waves in New York’s top restaurants.
Portraits of New York
In this series of portraits and interviews, photographer Clay Williams gets to the heart of the ever-changing New York restaurant scene and finding longevity in it, by capturing the stories of the people behind it.
Portraits of New York New York
Aretah Ettarh on the Keys to Longevity in Restaurants
“Restaurants, and kitchens in particular, are such a unique ecosystem where you can be a craftsman, a creative, a teammate, a coach, a leader, and more.”
Portraits of New York New York
Restaurants Are a Life Unto Their Own for Ayesha Nurdjaja
“The restaurant is a life unto its own; it is a living breathing object and needs love and care and gives it back.”
Portraits of New York New York
Rasheeda Purdie Is Building For the Long Run
After finding success with Ramen by Ra, first as a pop-up, and then as a stall on the Bowery, Purdie hopes to outlive the hype and build something lasting in the East Village for years to come.
Portraits of New York New York
For Jee Kim, It’s the People Who Make All the Difference
“Community isn’t just a support system; it’s what makes this work meaningful.”
Portraits of New York New York
Hillary Sterling on the Next Generation of Restaurant Workers
For Sterling, training and teaching the next generation of restaurant workers isn’t just good business, but a constant source of inspiration, and a reason for staying in the industry.
Spotlight: Alex Raij
Alex Raij is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur, having pioneered Basque cuisine in New York City, and is currently the chef-owner of Txikito, La Vara, and Saint Julivert Fisherie.
Portraits of New York New York
For Alex Raij, the Secret to Longevity Is Knowing Your Community
“It’s meant everything to us to be embedded in true neighborhoods and to be different things to different people through the years,” says Txikito, La Vara, and Saint Julivert Fisherie chef and owner Alex Raij.
‘Being a Woman Has Made Me More Innovative’: Alex Raij on the Gender Gap in the Restaurant Industry
Alex Raij is one of the country’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs, having pioneered tapas and Basque cuisine in New…
Where Txikito and La Vara Chef Alex Raij Dines Out With Family in New York
Where do chefs and restaurateurs go and, more importantly, where do they love to eat? In Resy Regulars, we ask…
▪️
This Is TASTE Episode 725: Alex Raij Takes the Resy Questionnaire
Rising Leaders
Whether they’re running kitchens, beverage programs, restaurants, or restaurant groups, these women have been at the forefront of some of this year’s most exciting new openings.
One of the City’s Most Covetable Bowls of Ramen Returns in the East Village
Chef Rasheeda Purdie, owner of Ramen By Ra, does things a little differently than most restaurateurs, but that’s no problem…
Annie Shi Shows Us What a Chinese American Wine Bar Can Be
“I’m trying to expand the conversation around what it means to be Asian or Chinese or Chinese American, and it doesn’t have to be what everyone expects.”
20 Questions with LaRina Pastificio & Vino’s Silvia Barban
The former “Top Chef” contestant and owner of two Italian restaurants in Brooklyn shares her opinions on the best slice in the city, the only way to drink a martini, and more.
Le Chêne Brings a Sophisticated Parisian Sensibility to the West Village
For her first solo restaurant, chef Alexia Duchêne showcases elevated French classics with a few playful touches in a sleek, art-filled space.
New York’s Sushi Akira Palms Precision and Seasonality Into Every Nigiri
Sushi Akira from chef Nikki Zheng in the Upper East Side is a sushi counter omakase by a Masa and Sushi Nakazawa alum.
At Hellbender, Chef Yara Herrera Cooks on Her Own Terms
Chef Yara Herrera’s quesadilla says it all. The open-faced, squash blossom topped, almost-pizza-like creation that comes to the table at…
Icons
Women who have been changing the culinary game in New York for years.
Every Day at Sylvia’s Is a True Family Affair
A glimpse into a day at the historic New York restaurant, from photographer Adreinne Waheed.
Five Ways Lilia Changed New York’s Dining Scene
A decade ago, Missy Robbins’ restaurant upped the ante on Williamsburg’s dining game — and it’s not done yet.
The Enduring Old-School, New-School Legacy of Rubirosa
If you’ve ever found yourself in seat 12 at Rubirosa’s bulkhead bar, near the far end away from the entrance,…
At 16, Dirt Candy’s Legacy Is a True Team Effort
At the end of October, Dirt Candy is commemorating its 16th birthday with an entire week of celebrations: a throwback…
Meet the Restaurant Owner Guiding the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Ka-Wana Jefferson considers herself to be a serial entrepreneur. With a résumé that includes the owner of Crown Heights cocktail…
In New York, Hana Makgeolli’s Alice Jun Is Building a Homegrown Sool Empire on Her Own Terms
In the back room of Hana Makgeolli in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, it’s mostly silent, with rice wine quietly fermenting in large…
