Our past campaigns have brought some incredible women into our NuMarket community who we are so proud to know. Naama of Lighthouse has worked tirelessly to make the industry a better, more sustainable place. Irene of Mei Mei is advocating for small business and teaching business owners what it takes to make it. The entire Rebel Rebel team is making the wine world a more inclusive space and do so much to celebrate their neighbors and fellow small businesses. We could literally go on and on. 

Today, I wanted to introduce you to a woman in the Houston community who inspires me every time I see her both IRL and on my Instagram feed: Chef Sasha Grumman. You may know her from a little show called Top Chef, but I know her as someone who is not only extremely talented but extremely passionate about using her platform to advocate for the things that matter to her like transparency in the food and beverage industry, equal pay, and women's rights/healthcare.

What has been the most difficult thing about being a female chef with a platform?

In regard to being a female chef on social media, I think the most difficult thing for me is to be sure about something before I post about it. Whether it’s someone asking for my chef services for pennies or about a new abortion law in Alabama, I want to make sure I’m informing you and not just flying off the handle. I want to make sure that I’ve thought through what I want to say and how I want to say it. I’m not scared to shake it up as a female chef with a platform. If I’m not pushing the boundaries and making people think every once in a while, then what’s the point?

Any advice you can offer to other women in the industry who want to be a chef / business owner?

If you want to be a chef / business owner, go work in a kitchen. You don’t NEED culinary school. Hands on experience is the best experience. Put your head down and work. If someone mistreats you, document it. Ask thoughtful questions. Don’t party with your coworkers every night. And definitely don’t party with your boss. Take notes. Read books. Listen to podcasts about finances and eating right. Treat your body right. Take care of yourself, work hard and keep your eyes and ears open. Listen, nobody is an overnight success. Figure out what kind of life you want, set your sights somewhere in the clouds and stick to it because anything is possible in this business. Shatter those glass ceilings for yourself and the next generation.

How does your love for food and advocacy for women’s rights overlap?

I think my love for food and advocacy for women’s rights overlap because the same women I march in the streets with are the same women I cook with in the kitchen. Our bonds go far beyond beautiful watermelon radishes and perfectly fried chicken. We know that if we want to keep growing in this industry, we have to support all women. That means supporting causes like abortion rights, trans rights, gay marriage rights, etc etc etc. There are not enough women in this industry. We have to give every woman a boost when we can. Show up for one another. If you’re proud of a woman in the hospitality industry - go tell her!! Right now! We are so much stronger together. 

Who are some women in the industry that inspire you?

Honestly, so many female chefs in the industry have inspired me - how much time ya got? I could chat your ear off for hours about how I think Kiki Louya in Detroit is just a total empowering badass in her community or that Valerie Gordon in Echo Park, CA is so elegant and refined and glamorous and that is all reflected in her food or how Evelyn Garcia is just a magical person and such a gift to our industry or how Courtney Storer in LA so gracefully crushes her job as a culinary producer on The Bear; on and on and on!

‘Tis the season for ~*resolutions*~. Some will be kept, and some won’t actually make it to the second week of January 2024. That’s okay, we’re not here to judge. Wellness is a hot topic this time of year as people prioritize their health, but that can mean something different for everyone. In my own personal search of understanding what wellness means to me, I checked out Netflix’s new-ish documentary “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.” I was fascinated by these centenarians and the five vastly different places in the world they called home. In the show, Dan Buettner, host and author of the book the series is based on, narrows down all of the things these very happy 100-something year olds were all doing to age so gracefully:

• move naturally

• have a positive outlook

• eat wisely

• and the one that spoke to me the most, connect.

Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California are the places, called “Blue Zones,” identified to have the most people living past 100 and leading happy, independent, and healthy lives. While a whole lot of walking and eating so many beans is a cornerstone of what helps them achieve this almost super human status, we’re skipping past that to talk about the emphasis these places put on finding community and prioritizing connection. We talk about community a lot at NuMarket. I mean, it’s communities of people, supporters, and regulars like you that have made SO👏 MUCH👏 GOOD 👏 happen for really incredible people and businesses this year. New bakeries, new pizza ovens, new kitchens, new bars, new countertops, new shops have happened because of your belief in these individuals and all they do for your neighborhoods and communities.

The show explores how being connected to community provides a hugely important feeling of purpose and being a part of something bigger. We get it, you get it (we know you do because you’re here), and according to this random documentary I binged in a day, it’s basically a scientifically proven part of being happy, fulfilled, and maybe even 100 years old one day. Whether that’s true or not, we can definitely speak to how much connection means to the food and beverage industry. It’s what it’s all about, right? It’s basically a ongoing cycle of connecting and community:

You show up for and support your favorite businesses 🔁 They provide the food, drinks, community hubs, vibes, and people that make life worth living to 100 for.

So allll of that to say: if you need a resolution to be a little happier and healthier in 2024, maybe lean into the idea of community and connection because according to these Blue Zones, there’s something to it. Find the places, people, and businesses that make you feel like you’re a part of something special and show up for them. This could mean supporting your favorite vendor at the weekly farmer’s market, meeting your book club at your go-to cafe, or maybe even contributing to a NuMarket campaign to help your neighborhood bar remodel their patio. Will doing these things help you live to a hundred? Couldn’t tell ya’, but will all of these pursuits of community help us all feel more connected? Absolutely.

Happy Nu Years friends,

Isabel + Team NuMarket

🚨 DISCLAIMER: there are absolutely zero, zilch, no Black Friday Sales, empty discounts, and no buzzy holiday shopping lists ahead 🚨.

You can unclench that jaw, take a deep breath, and have a break from the holiday mayhem that is everyone’s inbox right now. Hi NuMarket friends, fam, and contributor community! Isabel here 👋. I’m hoping to bring you a little food for thought (and also just a food idea for that upcoming potluck on your calendar — can confirm this cheesy hasselback potato gratin is great).

I don’t know if it’s just me but every year my inbox is bombarded with more and more noise. Flashy ads tempting us with deals and discounts that promise the perfect gift for your partner’s sister’s best friend. Luckily, there’s a light at the end of the wild tunnel that is Black Friday... ahem, Thanksgiving week, and that’s Small Business Saturday. This day focuses on supporting small and being intentional about where you're spending your money. As most of you know, contributing to a NuMarket campaign is as intentional as it gets:

That initial contribution immediately helps a business you love and the great people behind it fund their growth. ➡️ You get to continue helping them when that 120% back in credits rolls in every month. Using those credits keeps the support train going way after the campaign ends and keeps you a part of their growth/community. ➡️ The business gets to do their thing with the support of their community and you get more and more of what you love. 

In a day and age when money is tight for a lot of people, especially during the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to understand how spending ~intentionally~ can make a huge impact for all involved. Whether contributing to a campaign or supporting local favorites, keep real people and the real businesses top of mind. Here are some fun ideas for the holiday season:

• Love your weekend coffee ritual? Purchase their beans to share with your buds.

• Know a cool neighborhood wine shop with a monthly subscription service? Support them directly by gifting it to your mom.

• Have a restaurant that’s your go to when you just need a big ol’ plate of comfort food? Nab a gift card to share with your neighbor.

Where you spend your money holds a lot of power.— and here at Nu, we’re fans of spending it to fuel real people who pour their hearts and souls into creating the delicious foods, community hubs, and tasty products that bring joy to our lives. These small business owners work tirelessly to make our communities vibrant and unique, and I think it goes without saying, they deserve our support now more than ever.

So happy Thanksgiving / Small Biz Saturday week to all who celebrate. Hope you find joy in deleting those noisy ads from your inbox, getting some quality time with the ones you love, and spending a little more intentionally to support really great people.

Cheers 🥂,

Isabel

Hi NuMarket community!

In case you don’t remember us, we’re NuMarket— the small team that helps real food & bev businesses grow with the help of their communities. I’m Isabel from team Nu! Like the rest of the team, i’m food obsessed, community obsessed, and just really excited to get to know you. If you’re wondering how you got here, it’s because you’ve contributed to a campaign to help support a great business, you’re passionate about food and the good people making it, or maybe you are one of those good people. Bottom line is that you’re here because you get it.

You understand how vital the businesses who run NuMarket campaigns are to our communities, and you understand the role that good people like you have in helping them thrive. We’re cranking up this newsletter because we have A LOT to say about helping these businesses do their thing, a lot to say about food, and the food & beverage industry as a whole. Maybe we just have a lot to say…

We hope you stick around for a while because we have people who are much cooler than us lined up to share some really great content. We promise not to spam you (even though I love Spam™) and we promise to bring some fun, thoughtful food + food people focused content to your inbox a couple times a month.

Excited that you’re here,

Isabel

(Ross + Vithu too)

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