A Chat with Chef Sasha Grumman of Top Chef on Advocating for Women in and out of the Kitchen
"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."
March is Women's History Month, a month meant to celebrate the women before us who have made their mark on the world as well as celebrate women today who are changing things for generations to come. If I'm being totally honest, it's been difficult to narrow down exactly who to share about... which is a great problem to have.
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.
"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."
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!
