Zen Cooks
An unexpected email from a friend showed up in my inbox in late January, “Peapod is 
looking for Chicago’s next best food product! Fill out an application NOW!” As I was out of the country, I sent a text to Jane who dropped everything to get in our application immediately.
We were busy preparing for a Chef Demonstration class at Green City Market, when another email popped up. “Congratulations you are a semi-finalist in the Windy City Live/Peapod’s Chicago’s next best food product.” With almost 200 original contestants we were among the final 31.
Jane and I arrived for our taping at WLS studio on Saturday, February 20th after a series of ridiculous yet humorous round of phone calls and texts determining our outfits, hairstyle, food choices and talking points.
As we walked in the door we were nervous, but thrilled to be greeted by a number of other female food artisans we have met along our journey. Women such as Vivi Lamb and her delicious sauces and Diane Garber with her divine vegan truffles.
The kindness and support each of us shared that afternoon was truly gratifying. When Jane and I won one of the coveted spots as a finalist both of those women were among the first to congratulate us.
So in honor of them and others, Jane and I are highlighting women in the culinary arts by featuring chefs from COOKGIRL.
COOKGIRL was founded by Food & Wine alum Kate Spencer. She wrote about her vision below:
“I spent 20 years in food media in marketing/advertising, with 17 of those years at Food & Wine. My inspiration to start COOKGIRL was based on the fact that the food world has really been a “boy’s club” for years and there are so many amazingly talented women who deserve the spotlight. The biggest challenge for female entrepreneurs in any industry, but particularly in culinary, is access to capital. COOKGIRL’s mission is to promote the businesses of female chefs and provide grants to the next wave of talent through the COOKGIRL FOUNDATION.”
Jane and I were excited when Kate asked us to be part of a holiday market last December to raise funds for her foundation.
As female food artisans and social entrepreneurs we loved being in along side other women such as Rumi Spice. Rumi was started by two Veterans (females) who wanted to help re-build Afghanistan after the war.
So this month, as we continue to pursue the dream of being selected as Chicago’s next best food product, we are sharing recipes and background about 3 amazing chefs (among them our very own Chicagoan Stephanie Izard) who are a part of the COOKGIRL family.
Enjoy!
PS- If you live locally we invite you to tune in on March 3rd (tomorrow) at 11 am/Channel &/Windy City Live and share a place with us on the stage! Finally, a HUGE shout out to another fabulous female, Dawn Watkins, producer at Windy City Live who has been fielding all of our texts you’re AWESOME!
Zen Moment
Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing. Whether it’s sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.
-Phylicia Rashad
