WITH ATLANTA MOMS WHIPPING UP SUCCESS –

by Emily Webb

Atlanta’s for foodies! The metro Atlanta area is a marvelous place for trying new foods and enjoying delicious dishes. These impressive restaurant-owner moms are balancing the food scene and family life. We spoke to them about how they combine their love of family and food.

Foodie Mom: Pinky Cole

Pinky Cole is the founder and CEO of Atlanta-based chain Slutty Vegan, which is a vegan restaurant featuring a menu of delicious burgers, sandwiches and more. She is the mom of D Ella Hayes, 20 months, and Derrick Jermaine Hayes Jr., 9 months.

n Slutty Vegan: Multiple locations. sluttyveganatl.com

Do you have a hard time convincing your children to eat plant-based?

When I try to give my daughter vegan pizza, if she sees cheese pizza, she looks at it like she wants it. So, I improvise by removing the cheese and allowing her to eat the dough. It’s challenging sometimes, but she likes fruits, and that saves me because I like to eat fruit, and she eats a lot of what I eat.

Do you have any tips on how to encourage your children to try new items/ cuisine?

I’ve learned what they like and don’t like based on the things they eat. My daughter loves avocados, so I know if she doesn’t want anything else, I lean into that. My son basically eats anything.

What do you hope your children learn from you based on your business/ entrepreneurship?

Be confident in all things that you do and own your space. Don’t allow anyone else to define how you choose to show up.

Foodie Mom: Jasmin Willis

Jasmin Willis is a chef, entrepreneur and co-owner of two restaurants. After working in the food scene, she opened a breakfast boutique, Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast, in 2018; Cherried Mary’s Ice Cream Parlor opened in 2022. She is the mother of 3.5-year-old Charlie Mae.

n Cherried Mary’s Ice Cream Parlor: Roswell. 678-682-3223. cherriedmarys.com n Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast: Roswell. 678-878-3105. graciousplentybb.com

Does your family life inspire your business/ restaurant pursuits?

Absolutely! Even before Charlie Mae was here, I always knew I didn’t want to be a chef working 60+ hours a week, missing bath time. The entire reason my husband and I went with a breakfast concept with Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast was to be able to balance a family life. Our second concept, Cherried Mary’s Ice Cream Parlor, has allowed us to continue this balance while also expanding. Since having Charlie Mae, our desire to create environments and products of genuine goodness has only increased. We want a place where all parents feel safe and proud feeding their children.

What’s the best advice you received from a fellow mom about parenting?

Parenting isn’t about controlling your children’s emotions; it’s about controlling yours.

What advice would you give a new mom?

Your children don’t measure happiness with expensive things, schools and trips. The best thing you can give them is a happy parent. Don’t let false standards set by society turn you into a ball of stress. Make the mess. Make the memory! Mothers do not need to be a business owner to be a superhero. There is such beauty in every form of motherhood, and we need each of them.

Foodie Mom: Sai Untachantr

TydeTate Kitchen has a stall at Chattahoochee Food Works and a recently opened restaurant in South Downtown. Offering a home-style comfort Thai menu with weekly specials, Sai Untachantr is the co-owner with her sibling. She is the mother of Tyde, 7; Tate, 5; and Ocean Kate, 7 months.

n TydeTate Kitchen: Chattahoochee Food Works: Atlanta, 678-327-4978; South Downtown: Atlanta, 404-907-4452. tydetatekitchen.com

Atlanta is a fantastic town for foodies. Do you have any tips on how to encourage your children to try new items/cuisine?

I let them experience all types of cuisines and form their own opinions, even with food I don’t particularly care for.

What advice would you give a new mom?

Find the good in every moment. Be present in your parenting journey because they’ll be grown before you know it.

Who inspires you?

Parenting is a momentous task. Without my mom, I would not be the mom that I am.