As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is important to recognize the incredible achievements of women around the world. Today, we focus on the stories of four women who are making waves in the culinary world: Pinky Cole, Kardea Brown, Angel Gregorio of DC Spice Suite, and Tyla-Simone Crayton.
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women around the world, and what better way to do that than by honoring four incredible trailblazers?
Meet Pinky Cole, Kardea Brown, Angel Gregorio, and Tyla-Simone Crayton – four women who have made an impact in their respective fields and are inspiring countless others to follow in their footsteps.
Pinky Cole
Pinky Cole is the founder of Slutty Vegan, a vegan fast food restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia that has taken the culinary world by storm. Cole started her business out of a food truck and quickly grew her following to over 300,000 on Instagram. She has appeared on several national television shows and is known for her creative spin on vegan comfort food.
Pinky Cole was a young entrepreneur who had a vision of bringing plant-based fast food to the masses. Inspired by her own vegan journey, she founded Slutty Vegan, a food truck that quickly gained a cult following in Atlanta, Georgia.
As the popularity of her business grew, Pinky expanded her operation by opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant and offering an array of delicious and creative vegan burgers, sandwiches and sides.
But Pinky’s mission was never just about food – she wanted to use her platform to bring awareness to issues like animal welfare and sustainable living. So, she made sure every meal served at Slutty Vegan was cruelty-free, and partnered with local nonprofits to champion their causes.
Thanks to her dedication and hard work, Slutty Vegan has become a cultural phenomenon and Pinky Cole has become an inspiration to entrepreneurs and vegans alike. Her story and impact continue to grow, and she is now considered one of the rising stars in the food industry.
Kardea Brown
Kardea Brown is a chef and television personality known for her work on the Food Network’s popular show “Delicious Miss Brown.” Brown, who is from the Gullah community of the South Carolina coast, specializes in Southern comfort food with a modern twist. Her passion for cooking began at an early age and has led her to become one of the most celebrated chefs of her generation.
She is best known as the host of the Food Network’s series “Delicious Miss Brown”. The show premiered in 2019 and features Brown preparing her own recipes, which are heavily influenced by the cuisine of her hometown and her Gullah heritage. The show also incorporates elements of Brown’s personal life and her experiences growing up in a large family on the South Carolina coast. Brown has published a cookbook called “The New Soul Food Cookbook: Healthier Recipes for Traditional Favorites” and has made guest appearances on other Food Network programs.
Angel Gregorio
Angel Gregorio of DC Spice Suite is a culinary entrepreneur who has made it her mission to celebrate the diversity of spices from around the world. Her store, DC Spice Suite, is located in Washington D.C. and offers a wide variety of herbs, spices, and seasonings from Africa, India, the Caribbean, and beyond. Gregorio is also an advocate for food justice, working to promote access to healthy, affordable food in underserved communities.
Angel Gregorio was tired of being boxed in by the traditional restaurant scene. She had a vision for something more eclectic, more creative, more synesthetic. And so she created The Spice Suite, a one-of-a-kind spice shop and culinary incubator located in a humble strip mall in Washington D.C.
From the outside, you might miss it. But inside, The Spice Suite is a dream come true. The air is heavy with the smell of exotic spices, and customers gaze entranced at the array of colors, textures, and flavors. But more than just a shop, The Spice Suite doubles as a community space, a workshop for cooking classes, a hub for foodies, and a platform for up-and-coming chefs to showcase their unique styles.
Angel wanted to create a space where people could come together around their love of food, experiment with new flavors, and build relationships that transcend cultural barriers. And she succeeded. The Spice Suite has become a gathering place for locals, a must-see spot for tourists, and a beacon of hope for those looking to shake up the restaurant industry.
Recently, Angel Gregorio made headlines for purchasing a property with the intention of building a strip mall specifically for black women-owned businesses. This strip mall will be called The Black Girl Magic Mall and will be located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The goal of the mall is to provide a space that celebrates and supports black women entrepreneurs and business owners.
So if you’re ever in D.C., don’t miss the opportunity to step inside The Spice Suite. You might just leave with more than just a bag of spices – you might just leave with a new understanding of what food can be.
Tyla-Simone Crayton
Tyla-Simone Crayton is the mastermind behind Sienna Sauce – a line of deliciously unique sauces that are taking the culinary world by storm. At just 16 years old, Tyla-Simone is already an entrepreneur and CEO, inspiring the next generation of young female entrepreneurs to take risks, follow their dreams, and make their own path. She has been featured in several media outlets including Forbes and recently made history as the youngest person to ever pitch her product on Shark Tank.
Tyla-Simone Crayton had always been a lover of food. Growing up in Louisiana, she learned the art of cooking from her grandmother, who taught her all the secret techniques and recipes passed down through generations. When Tyla-Simone moved to Houston, she noticed that there was a lack of flavorful condiments to accompany her meals. This inspired her to create her own sauce – Sienna Sauce.
The recipe was a secret blend of sweet, tangy and savory flavors with a little kick that Tyla-Simone perfected over time. Her friends and family loved it so much that they encouraged her to start selling it. Tyla-Simone took their advice and decided to make it into a business.
At first, Sienna Sauce was sold at local farmers markets and small events, where it gained a loyal following. Tyla-Simone’s dedication and hard work soon paid off and Sienna Sauce was picked up by several local grocery stores. The popularity of the sauce was spreading like wildfire and it wasn’t long before Sienna Sauce became a household name, winning several awards along the way.
Despite the success of her company, Tyla-Simone never forgot her roots. She always made sure to give back to the community that supported her. She started a program that taught young girls from underprivileged backgrounds how to cook and create their own recipes from scratch, giving them valuable skills and opportunities for the future.
Sienna Sauce has become a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance. Tyla-Simone’s passion for food created a company that not only brings joy to people’s taste buds but also contributes to the community in meaningful ways.
These four women are not only inspiring, but they’re also changing the world and paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.
In honor of International Women’s Day, join us in celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of four trailblazing women who are making a difference in the culinary world. From Pinky Cole to Kardea Brown, Angel Gregorio, and Tyla-Simone Crayton, these women have shattered barriers and left an indelible mark on the industry. Let’s take a moment to recognize the contributions of these incredible women, and thank them for the impact they have made on our society.