In 2015, a local publication photographed an entirely male — and almost all white — line-up for the cover of their “Best Restaurants” issue. While the issue included several profiles of woman-led establishments, it failed to acknowledge them on the cover. The magazine responded saying there was only room for 12 chefs at the photo shoot, and thus they were forced to choose the best of the best to include on the cover.
In response, 22 women restaurateurs wrote an open letter published by the Star Tribune. “We pledge to hold the media accountable. We are committed to fostering the development of our diverse and talented young food industry workers for the next generation. It takes a village.”
For this magazine, we sent out a call for women-led restaurateurs, women chefs, and food-related entrepreneurs. We welcome others — especially those in Greater Minnesota. Send your suggestions to [email protected] womenspress.com with the owner, name of establishment, address, and website.
Note added May 30: After the disruptions in the community related to the killing of George Floyd, we are adding this list started by City Pages about Black-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities.
Restaurants: Twin Cities
Barbette (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Birchwood Café (Mpls.) — Tracy Singleton
The Bird (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Book Club (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Bread & Pickle (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Broders’ Pasta Bar (Mpls.) — Molly Broder
Buttered Tin (St. Paul) — Alicia Heinz
Dusty’s Bar (Mpls.) — Carrie McCabe
Eastside Eat + Drink (Mpls.) — Jamie Malone
Fig & Farro (Mpls.) — Michelle Courtright
Gigi’s Café (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Grand Café (Mpls.) — Jamie Malone
Hai Hai (Mpls.) — Christina Nguyen
Hello Pizza (Edina) — Anne Kim
Hola Arepa (Mpls.) — Christina Nguyen
Dulceria Bakery (Mpls.) — Dulce Monterrubia
Lat 44 (Golden Valley) — Ann Ahmed
The Lynhall (Mpls.) — Anne Spaeth and Annette Colon
El Burrito Mercado (St. Paul/Minneapolis) — Milissa Silva
Mortimer’s (Mpls.) — Carrie McCabe
Nightingale (Mpls.) — Carrie McCabe
O’Cheeze (St. Paul) — Haley Fritz
Pat’s Tap (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Patisserie 46 (Mpls.) — Elizabeth Rose
Pie and Mighty (Mpls.) — Rachel Swan
Pizzeria Lola (Mpls.)— Anne Kim
Red Stag Supperclub (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Rose Street Patisserie (St. Paul) — Elizabeth Rose
Tiny Diner (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Trapeze (Mpls.) — Kim Bartmann
Victor’s 1959 Cafe (Mpls) — Nicky Stavrou
Wendy’s House of Soul (Mpls.) — Wendy Puckett
Young Joni (Mpls.) — Anne Kim
Zoe’s Cafe (Mpls.) — Zoe McCrery
Food: Greater Minnesota
Aroma Pie Shop (seasonal starting in May; Root River Trail in Whalan) — Karna Hudoba
Britton’s Cafe — Bonnie Jacobson, 5 E. Chapman St., Ely