December 2023 by Austin Woman Magazine

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40 FEATURE

ALLISON ELLSWORTH: POPPI POWER BY REGINE MALIBIRAN PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON

48 FEATURE

IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY BY GEORGIA VALLES PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGINA ESTRADA

ATXWOMAN.COM | 5

December CONTENTS 16

STAFF PICKS What is a (new) local favorite food and/or beverage spot?

A CHAT WITH Valerie Gonzalez and Herlinda Lopez-Wood

GIVE BACK Kerbey Lane Cafe CFO Christina Ayer

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

ARTS IN REVIEW The Nutcracker Suite

58 28 64

LEADING GREEN WITH ECO BRANDI Lisa Barden

SIPS AND TIPS Danya Declusin

DINNER WITH Sophie Nathal

60 ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

34 PAOLA GUERRERO-SMITH 35 ALASKA OGDEN 36 MINA IBANEZ 37 JEN D. RODRIGUEZ 38 KERRY WHITE

6 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

THE FEED The Dirdie Birdie

MENTAL HEALTH IS WEATH Mind, Body and Food Harmony

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Ashley Cameron

LURLEEN LADD A Collection of Soulful Christmas Classics

Album Release December 1st

Scan to Listen

8 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.

VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4

KIP GARVEY COO

Contributors

This month, we asked our contributors: What’s a holiday tradition that you have?

MICHELLE BERMEA

Director of Advertising + Sales

STACY COALE

JORDAN FARIS

Director of Events + Marketing

Media Sales Executive

CY WHITE

CHANEL INGRAM

Managing Editor

Media Sales Executive

GEORGIA VALLES Writer, “It’s All About Family,” pg. 48

• Taylor Swift has been her Spotify top artist for four years now. • She is currently getting a creative writing certificate.

NINA GLORIA

KATHERINE KEMP

Production Coordinator

Media Sales Executive

• Fall is her favorite season. “During the holidays, I love making a whole

ABBY SCHWARTE

day out of baking with my family and

JAIME ALBERS

Creative Director

Media Sales Executive

DARBY KENDALL

watching a Christmas movie at the end of the night.”

Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial: Janaye Barabin; Brandy Clark Burton; Ashley

Cameron; Regine Malibiran; Haley Noble; Hannah Nuñez; Shonté Jovan Taylor M.Sc., Ph.D.(c); Georgia Valles; Cy White Art: Ashley Cameron, Cape Bottle Room, Consumable

Content, Regina Estrada, Fareground, Kerbey Lane Café, Casandra Klepac, Sam Lewis, Romina Olson, Delicious Tamales

ROMINA OLSON Photographer, “Poppi Power,” pg. 40

• She is a fourth-generation Austinite. • She shares the same Birthday as Leonardo DiCaprio, on 11/11. • She loves cloud watching with her two sons. “My oldest son was born on Christmas Eve,

INTERNS

so now we throw him a party on the 24th

Samalie Apira, Maggie Fipps, Taylor Harbin, Haley Noble, Hannah Nuñez, Georgia Valles

and then open more gifts on the 25th.”

AW MEDIA INC. MELINDA GARVEY

TERRY MITCHELL

Co-owner/Co-founder

Co-owner

SHURONDA ROBINSON

GRETEL PERERA

Co-owner

LANA MACRUM

ANA RUELAS

Co-owner

LYNELLE MCKAY

NEHA SAMPAT

Co-owner

SAMANTHA STEVENS Co-founder

CY WHITE Writer, “The Mother Ginger (Snaps) of Austin,” pg. 28

• She can speak three languages. • She thinks Exorcist: Believer is a horror comedy. • Her favorite video game series is The Legend of Zelda. “A time-honored tradition of cards, music and family goes down in my household. Just

loud laughing, bubbly and love.”

To offer feedback, email feedback@awmediainc.com. For submission information, visit atxwoman.com/jobs. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at atxwoman.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 | 7401 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78739

ATXWOMAN.COM | 9

Editor’s LETTER

hat’s that fragrance in the air? Sugar? Spice? Everything nice, perhaps? There’s a little ginger, a sticky sweet cherry limeade and strawberry lemon, the tantalizing scents of a legendary local bakery, delicious tamales. All of these things and more flavor our December issue. (See what I did there?) Yes, dear reader, it is our food issue. What perfect timing! We’re at that part of the year where food and drink are the thread connecting us all, where we come together and fellowship with our most sacred parts of the community. This issue is an actual smorgasbord of some of the most incredible women in the food and beverage industries in Austin. Our cover woman, Allison Ellsworth, founder of the wildly successful Poppi, is a legend in the making. Her desire to create something that would allow us to live in the nostalgia of some of our favorite soft drinks without guilt blossomed into the viral beverage brand we know today. Her story is as compelling as her meteoric rise. Speaking of legends, Joe’s Bakery deserves its flowers for the powerful family legacy that still charges on long after the founder and patriarch transitioned. Now, the women of the Avila family are at the helm, and are keeping the tradition of family-forward business and baking alive. Family is certainly a common theme throughout this issue. Ballet Afrique’s adaptation of The Nutcracker Suite centralizes the Black family, and by extension Black love. China Smith brought together some of Austin’s most venerable Black leaders to play the ever-popular Mother Ginger, and in doing so has exalted Black motherhood. Mother-daughter team of Valerie Gonzalez and Herlinda Lopez-Wood have harnessed the memory of their abuela’s tamales to create a multi-million-dollar family-owned business that continues to thrive and honor her. This is truly one of our most sumptuous issues of the 2023. Food puns aside, it is that time of the year again, dear reader. A time when many of us make merry and commune with those we care about the most. That being said, I realize that’s not the case for so many people. For anyone who finds these last few weeks of 2023 challenging, I wish you peace and the gift of rest. To every one of our readers, thank you for blessing Austin Woman with your support over the years. From us to you, happy holidays. Editor’s Picks: Favorite food films CY WHITE EDITOR

Ratatouille (2007)

The Menu (2022)

Antique (2008)

Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses.

10 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

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Texas’ Banned Book Crisis

The Filigree Theatre Rings in 5 Years with Antigone

Representation has a bigger effect on children’s minds than many of us are aware of.

Now in its fifth season, The Filigree Theatre opens with Antigone, under the direction of Elizabeth V. Newman.

@ austinwoman

@austinwoman

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Don’t forget to visit and subscribe to the Austin Woman YouTube channel!

From local rebates to federal tax incentives, there’s lots of money available for going green.

WIN THIS! Tickets to Ballet Afrique’s The Nutcracker Suite Ballet Afrique presents a theater-going experience unlike any other. Founding creative director China Smith based her reimagining of the holiday classic on Duke Ellington’s groundbreaking jazz-infused interpretation, The Nutcracker Suite. Now in its 15th year, the production features a cast of some of the Austin community’s biggest and brightest dancers as well as Austin Woman’s own Shuronda Robinson in the captivating and iconic role of Mother Ginger (dubbed affectionately Mother Ginger Snaps). It’s an evening of fun, feast and family. Follow @austinwoman and @balletafriquedance and leave a comment for your chance to win two (2) tickets to Ballet Afrique’s musical extravaganza, The Nutcracker Suite.

14 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

“The Filigree Theatre Rings in 5 Years with Antigone” photo courtesy of The Filigree Theatre. The Nutcracker Suite photo courtesy of Ballet Afrique.

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Staff PICKS

What is a (new) local favorite food and/or beverage spot? The Austin Woman staff are always on the prowl for something new and delicious! JORDAN FARIS, MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVE If you’re looking for the best upscale Greek food in Austin, Yamas is the spot! I brought my husband here for his birthday because Greece was one of our favorite vacations with the most delicious food, and Yamas definitely made us feel like we were back in Santorini. The food is incredibly fresh, and the flavors are impeccable. Everything we ate was incredible. They also brought my husband a traditional baklava for a birthday surprise (without me even asking; I only put it in my reservation comments), complete with a party sparkler and the entire waitstaff singing a traditional birthday song. It was so sweet. At the end of the meal, a woman I assumed was one of the owners brought us over their famous Yamas shots, an after-dinner aperitif that was also delicious and fruity. 10/10 food, experience, service and ambience. This will be our go-to Greek date night moving forward!

KATHERINE KEMP, MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVE Sazon Ramen is the BEST ramen I’ve ever had. The paitan is my favorite. It’s a creamy broth ramen made from a mixture of chicken and pork broth. Comes with arugula, ajitama (umami egg), red onions and your choice of chicken or pork chashu. The broth is delicious, and I always have leftovers. I like to get a spice bomb and drop it in for a blast of heated flavor. They have a sister location in West Campus called Daiboku at 609 W. 29th St. The menu is a bit different from the Airport location. If you’re a ramen lover, check out the paitan at Sazon.

CHANEL INGRAM, MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVE It starts, as it so often does in Austin (or in this case, Round Rock)—in an unassuming little shopping center. Unicornverse opened just this summer, to my everlasting obsession and delight. The baristas dress in Belle’s classic blue dress and white apron, and yes, they aim to please. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a French culinary fairytale as soon as you cross the threshold. A gold-gilded unicorn greets you inside, while teal roses cascade across the ceilings and walls, immersing you in the fairytale. The pastry case dazzles with a vibrant array of colors and flavors, complemented by a coffee selection catering to every palate. While no patrons have greeted me with a few rounds of “Bonjour!” as of yet, it feels as if it could happen. On Saturday mornings, you’ll spot little girls in their Disney princess best. The pastries not only look divine but taste equally heavenly. Try the raspberry croissant. It’s delicious! Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes! While to-go options are available, the real magic happens when you linger in this fairyland. Unicornverse is not your neighborhood Starbucks; plan to stay a while. Take the trip to Round Rock, bring your bestie, indulge in a brunch that feels straight out of a tale as old as time and savor the hour-long love affair between a woman and her coffee. 16 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

ATXWOMAN.COM | 17

A Chat WITH

Just Like Our Abuela Made

Mother-daughter duo Valerie Gonzalez and Herlinda Lopez-Wood gift foodies of San Antonio and Austin with familiar tastes of their childhoods. BY CY WHITE magine Christmas morning in a small home in Laredo, Texas. The house is buzzing with the sounds of family, music, merriment. The air is a cornucopia of scents: fresh holly, cinnamon and spice…homemade tamales. Growing up surrounded by extended family and her beloved grandmother, Valerie Gonzalez remembers the traditional tamalada activities that took place every Christmas Eve in her family household. But the love that made up Gonzalez’s upbringing didn’t dull her powerful dedication to her community. As an active participant in the Chicano movement of the 1970s, her ardor for fighting alongside her people came second only to her love of that annual Christmas Eve tamalada tradition. An ardent student and activist, Gonzalez graduated from UT Austin with a bachelor’s degree in social work and her master’s in the same from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. This is where the official first chapter of Delicious Tamales began. Armed with her abuela’s recipe, $500 and a new husband, Gonzalez opened up the first official Delicious Tamales in 1980 in The Alamo City. Gonzalez carried those familiar sights, sounds and scents with her throughout her life. She passed both the family’s traditions and her passion for activism on to her own daughter, Herlinda Lopez-Wood, preparing her for the role as her mother’s right hand. In 2006, with her daughter at her side, Gonzalez embarked on a new chapter of Delicious Tamales when she gained sole ownership of the business. Now with six locations in San Antonio and two in Austin, Gonzalez and Lopez-Wood continue to bring innovation to a family tradition, gifting Central Texas with an abuela’s love.

CultureMap Austin nominated Delicious Tamales as Best New Restaurant. (Congratulations!) What were your reactions to the nomination? We are beyond grateful to have gained so many new customers in such a short time and to feel right at home in Austin. We strive to provide a product that lives up to its name. Austinites have welcomed us with open arms, and the nomination was like icing on the cake. We are thankful for all our Austin customers who voted for us as the Best New Restaurant in 2022.

Tell us about what inspired the decision to go from a home kitchen to Delicious Tamales, the business. Even before the first Delicious Tamales store opened in the 1960s, making tamales was a tradition that involved our entire family: abuelas (grandmothers), tías (aunts), primos (cousins) and all the siblings. The popularity of our tamales at Christmastime led us to seriously consider year-round production to generate enough income to meet the needs of our growing family. It was a risky move, but from the beginning our tamales were well received in the Westside of San Antonio, where our neighbors were grateful to have a favorite, tasty and inexpensive homemade meal, without the time and labor to make tamales themselves. As the popularity of our tamales grew, so did Delicious Tamales. It’s amazing how much we gain when we put in hard work and maintain the high quality of our tamales, so they taste just like the ones our abuela made more than 60 years ago.

Any surprises you want to share about the future of Delicious Tamales? The new year will bring exciting new options! Once the holiday rush is over, we’ll be developing new recipes to introduce, and we’re experimenting with new flavors. We are also exploring ways to introduce Delicious Tamales to customers in other Texas cities, including Dallas and Houston. We don’t know what that looks like yet, but food trucks are a possibility. The world is our oyster; or as we like to say, “El mundo es nuestra hoja (corn husk).” We can’t wait to open to see and share with you what’s inside.

18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

Advocacy and activism are important values for Delicious Tamales. What drives both of your dedication to activism? We are proud to say Delicious Tamales is led by two strong women. We each have our own histories and experiences with activism. Valerie was very much a part of the Chicano movement during her days at UT in the ’70s. Herlinda was a member and supporter of Amnesty International during her high school years and while in college. Our values also impact the culture that exists within our company. Delicious Tamales supports and advocates for those who’ve faced challenges in the past and who need a helping hand. Our company hires individuals who have completed their legal obligations and who are now ready to be active and productive members of our community. We believe it’s important to see the good in everyone.

Read more about Delicious Tamales’ ambition to create a scholarship program, where you can find Delicious Tamales near you and more at atxwoman.com.

Photos courtesy of Delicious Tamales.

A 10-Year Quest for the Best

Sponsored Content

WELLA

Founder and CEO Deborah Nease also shares a passion for promoting sustainable and accessible products across Texas. In recent years, Wella has been working hand-in-hand with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to preserve and protect local Texas honey bee populations, using local honey in their honey-sweetened peanut butter protein bar. For them, responsible sourcing and good ingredients are the start of any good local product. Strengthening their local community and ecosystem is a cause that’s very near and dear to their company’s heart. Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hi there. I’m Deborah Nease, founder and CEO of Wella. Entrepreneur by day, wanderlust lover-of-dogs traveler by night. I’m passionate about better-for-you food innovation, the magic that happens when breaking bread with those you love and lifting up local Texas talent.

What does being a Quest for Texas Best finalist mean for you individually and Wella as a whole? Our grain-free cereal was a huge shift for us. Lauren, my oldest daughter, almost didn’t present the idea to our team because she wasn’t sure it fit our product lineup. She thought it might be too “out there” for customers too. So, making it to the top 10 in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best was the most amazing validation she could have asked for! Sky’s the limit, what are your wildest dreams/goals for Wella? Being a household staple brand and accessible to as many families as possible, famous for making people feel delighted and fueled with every bite.

What inspired the desire to create Wella? Our unwavering belief that nutritious, whole foods are essential for enhancing overall well-being. We saw a problem: eating healthily on the go was tough. So, Wella emerged from a craving for clean, real whole-food snacks, free from preservatives and chemicals. Our mission: crafting tasty, healthy snacks for your on-the-go cravings! Tell us a bit about the partnership between Wella and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. To put it simply, we innovated our way into a love affair with bees. During the development of Wella Bars, a delectable honey-sweetened peanut butter protein bar, it ignited a strong desire to raise awareness about the challenges faced by honey bee populations and to support initiatives that promote pollinator habitats and bee education programs. In light of this mission, we’ve proudly supported the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Our partnership has taken many forms over the years, from corporate sponsorships and monthly donations to event sampling and event support and beyond. Why have you taken on the cause of preserving and protecting honey bees? Because pollinators are the unsung heroes of our food diversity! By championing honey bee conservation, we proudly live up to our name “Wella,” which signifies our commitment to improving and making things better for the environment and future generations. What other initiatives are close to your hearts? Responsible sourcing! Wherever possible we work directly with suppliers to ensure our ingredients are grown and harvested in a way that protects both people and the planet.

10 YEARS OF QUEST FOR TEXAS BEST CENTRAL TEXAS 2022 First Place Winner: Ashley Cameron, Love and Cookies 2021 Second Place Winner: Arpit and Elora Bhopalkar, Bhoomi 2019 First Place Winner: Courtney Ray Goodson, Uncle Rays 2018 Grand Prize Winner: Kristen Fields, mmmpanadas 2018 Third Place Winner: Tiffani Diorio, Pennymade 2017 Grand Prize Winner: Sascha Biesi and Yauss Berenji , Skull & Cakebones 2016 Second Place Winner: Alex Worthington, Culinary Cowgirls 2016 Grand Prize Winner: Julie Albertson, The Texas Pie Company 2016 First Place Winner: Gloriana Koll and Keesha Waits; Cleverly

QUEST FOR TEXAS BEST FINALISTS 2021 Finalist: Mark and Marta Gabrick, Gabrick Barbecue 2021 Finalist: Jessica Wuesthofen, Imperfekt Bites 2019 Finalist: Kaysha Mangumm, Kuhdoo Soap Co. 2019 Finalist: Melissa Pace, Smokey Denmark 2018 Finalist: Farrah Sibai, AFIA 2018 Finalist: Becky Nichols, Loving Libbie 2018 Finalist: Kristen and Robert Strong, Pretty Thai 2017 Finalist: Jamie Bowers, Bola Pizza 2017 Finalist: Sarah Rioux and Nicole Pinedo, Ladybird Provisions 2014 Finalist: Christine and Nolan Stilwell, Sweet Heat Jam

ATXWOMAN.COM | 21

Give BACK

Kerbey Kindness

Kerbey Lane Cafe keeps its roots in the community. BY HALEY NOBLE

erbey Lane Cafe began operation in 1980 in Austin. The familyowned and -run business focuses on providing quality madefrom-scratch cuisine to the surrounding community. As time went on and the cafe gained popularity, more locations were opened; currently there are 10 in and around Austin. Today, Kerbey Lane is still family operated, and the focus remains the same: Hire great people, serve great food and give back to your community. “Our founders, David and Patricia, were very committed to the Austin community,” explains Christina Ayer, CFO of Kerbey Lane. “They are both still living in Texas, and Patricia is still involved in the business.” From the passion to help local areas, Kerbey Kindness was created. The platform is designed to use money earned from selling certain menu items to give back to local nonprofits. Each quarter of the year, the funds support a different nonprofit. The choosing of beneficiary nonprofits revolves around Kerbey Kindness’ four core pillars: nutrition, health and wellness; education; family; and animal welfare.

Ayer began her journey with Kerbey Lane in high school, working as a hostess. While working toward her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, she worked in restaurants, always preferring local businesses. “I’ve always been drawn away from big corporations,” Ayer admits. “I wanted somewhere that I was a face, and not just a number in the organization.” After returning to Austin for work, she met her future husband, Mason Ayer, son of Kerbey Lane founders David and Patricia. The founder couple happened to be needing someone in accounting. So, nine years ago, Christina began working in the accounting department at Kerbey Lane, shortly before her marriage to Mason. “I like to say that was either a great idea or a horrible idea,” Christina laughs. “But it’s working out great so far.” The desire and determination to keep kindness alive at Kerbey Lane has greatly inspired Christina, as well as other staff. Though the business has grown tremendously since the 1980s, the principles of kindness remain at the forefront.

“

Our founders, David and Patricia, were very committed to the Austin

living in Texas, and Patricia is still involved in the business.

—Christina Ayer, CFO of Kerbey Lane

22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

Photos courtesy of Kerbey Lane Cafe.

community. They are both still

“That culture has been sort of ingrained into the rights of Kerbey Lane, going back to the very beginning,” Christina emphasizes. “For me, I like that it’s top of mind every day. We have our core values, called the three C’s: care for our food, care for our guests and care for each other. Within her department at Kerbey Lane, Christina keeps these company values in her attitude as well and uses them to further her leadership skills. “The area that I’m able to directly impact in my role is caring for each other,” Christina says. “I have a small accounting team, and it’s just really about empowering them to be leaders.” Besides Kerbey Kindness, leadership at Kerbey Lane Cafe are currently working on the revival of volunteering chances among team members. “We are now engaging with team members in our stores and offering them quarterly volunteer opportunities,” Christina explains. “This is not just volunteering with organizations receiving Kerbey Kindness. With this, we can have outreach to other organizations with those volunteer efforts.” Currently, Kerbey Kindness is giving back to Thinkery, an innovative children’s museum located in Austin. You can help give back by dining at Kerbey Lane and purchasing the special pancake of the month. The community has remained of the utmost importance to everyone at Kerbey Lane, including Christina. She hopes for all to see the value within their communities and take opportunities to nurture it. “I love that outreach to the community is such a big part of who we are. I grew up here, so I feel that caring for each other and the community is important. I mean, it’s where we’re going to raise our kids. I really just want to leave the best legacy that I can for the company and for Austin.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 23

Blue Goo Bakery

shellEy moon designs Sustainable Fine Jewelry Driven by our award-winning dedication to sustainability and ethical practices, every piece of Shelley Moon Designs jewelry is carefully conceptualized in Austin and meticulously crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold. Shelley Moon Designs’ sustainable jewelry offers a significant advantage in its durability compared to traditional pieces. This enduring quality directly translates to reduced overall waste. Unlike fast fashion jewelry made from materials prone to quick deterioration, Shelley’s sustainable pieces are crafted to withstand a lifetime. By purchasing her sustainable jewelry, you actively support eco-friendly practices crucial for our planet’s preservation. Wearing these pieces with confidence assures you they’ve left no harmful impact on the environment. That sense of positive impact? Absolutely satisfying! Price: $150 to $7500 shelleymoondesigns.com @shelleymoondesigns

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Teakeasy Tea

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@teakeasytea

24 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

Decorated holiday sugar cookies Gift boxes with varying quantities of cookies are available. Christmas and Hanukkah themes will be available. Hand-decorated holiday-themed sugar cookies. Gift boxes and DIY cookie kits available. Price: $6 to $30 • bluegoobakery.com @bluegoobakery @bluegoobakery

Soy Society Wellness

Aromatherapy Soy Candles: Each clean-burning soy candle is handmade with 30% to 100% therapeutic-grade essential oils for real aromatherapy. At Soy Society Wellness, we’re your gateway to an aromatic oasis. Our intention candles are meticulously handcrafted, each one infused with the purest essential oils to bring you the true essence of aromatherapy. Experience the transformative power of our room-filling fragrances as they envelop your space in a calming embrace. We’re not just a candle brand; we’re an invitation to ignite your senses and explore the art of intentional living. Join us for candle making classes in-studio; check out our availability for your group activity. Let Soy Society Wellness be your guide on a journey of mindfulness, well-being and the soothing allure of real aromatherapy. Price: $32 to $38 soysocietywellness.com/our-collection @soysociety

@soysocietywellness

Nature’s Treasures of Texas

Gemstone Perfume Oil Bottle Necklace Available in a variety of stones and styles! These natural stones have been carved into elegant gemstone perfume oil bottle necklaces with a removable cap. Perfect for carrying your favorite oil or perfume with you anywhere on the go! Each stone has its own unique energetic benefit. Chain included. Price: $28 • naturestreasuresatx.com/products/polishedgemstone-perfume-oil-bottle-necklace-aroma-oil-bottles-brazil @NTRocksTX

@naturestreasurestexas

Wine & Food Foundation

One year Wine & Food Foundation “Connoisseur” Membership

Explore the world of wine with your partner, best friend or coworker! The Wine & Food Foundation hosts about 50 wine and food events annually, from intimate wine dinners with local chefs to educational classes and more extensive “sip & stroll”-style tastings. Through our unparalleled events, we curate a community of individuals seeking connections with like-minded people. We then harness the collective power of this incredible community to support philanthropic initiatives that align with our core values. Our 2023 beneficiaries are Urban Roots, Lift Collective, the Sustainable Food Center and Keep Austin Fed! Recipients will receive a 12-month membership to the Wine & Food Foundation at the Connoisseur level, welcome gift, discounted event tickets for all events, invitations to monthly membership happy hours, early access to event registrations, access to members-only VIP upgrades.

$250 regular price | Promo Code: giftwff 20% off ($50) awmgift 20% off ($50) winefoodfoundation.org/events/giftwff @winefoodfdn @winefoodfdn

A Wink of Yellow

Gifts for the entire family

Effortless gifting! Austin-based A Wink of Yellow is a lifestyle brand based offering beautifully curated collections to make your fashion, décor and gifting needs effortless.

Hey Gorgeous Waxing and Skin Studio Free Brow Wax! Bring this coupon in for a free brow wax. Offer valid for new clients only. Price: $25 heygorgeousaustin.com @HeyGorgeousStudio @heygorgeousaustin

Price: $50 to $200 awinkofyellow.com @awinkofyellow @awinkofyellow

Beaux Medspa

GL02 Oxygen Facial Perfect for all skin types and tones, including teens and pregnant mamas. The perfect gift does exist! Our gift certificates always fit. The Glo2 facial is the perfect holiday glow up. This pregnancy safe, customizable treatment exfoliates the layers of dead skin, makeup, sunscreen, etc., while infusing oxygen and active ingredients into your skin to maximize the glow. “Experience Oxfoliation” with effervescent bubbles, enhanced nutrient absorption through LUX ultrasound, intense hydration and a detoxifying lymphatic massage to sculpt and invigorate. Perfect for all skin types, tones and ages. Purchase before Dec. 20 and receive a complimentary $50 gift certificate for future use. Price: $199 • beauxmedspa.com @beauxmedicalspa @BeauxMedspa

Blue Suede

Holiday Gift Box We’re more than just shoes. Come and treat yourself to a glass of wine while picking up the perfect gift. Choose from our premade gift box that includes a clear purse, mini bottle of Prosecco, free glass of wine in-store, Deuxmoons travel candle, edible drink glitter, signature Blue Suede quote napkins, wine bottle topper and optional add-on gift card. Or pick out your own gift from VoChill wine chiller, LOU Shades sunglasses, an assortment of handmade local jewelry or our incredible Deuxmoons candles and apothecary. We have something for everyone! Gift box: $50 • LOU Sunglasses: $30 VoChill: $44.95 and $49.95 • Earrings: $140 bluesuedeaustin.com @bluesuedeaustin ATXWOMAN.COM | 25

THE COLLECTIVE ATX

Heather Gordon Spa and Wellness

Facials + Massage Heather Gordon Spa & Wellness (HGSW) is a full-service esthetics spa located in the heart of South Central Austin. HGSW services traverse the realms of skin care, massage and healing. Moving from simple or complex, acts of maintenance, restoration, correction, prevention and support of the skin and the body, we have cultivated and crafted with special attention to these acts to offer, even if in just the most minor of ways, aid and support of the mind and the spirit through the skin and the body. Scan QR code for online booking. Price: $150 • heathergordonspa.com @heathergordonspa @heathergordonspa

Earlybird CBD

Earlybird Gummies Austin-based recreational hemp company Earlybird makes gummies that are designed to make you feel good. Each gummy is formulated with a micro-dose (~2.5mg) of THC and ~12.5mg of CBD naturally derived from hemp. Spark some joy during the holidays with Earlybird gummies. They’re perfect to take the edge off and relax this holiday season. They’re also a great gift for colleagues, friends, parents and grandparents. Shop holiday sales online at earlybirdcbd.com. Price: $9.99 to $59.99 earlybirdcbd.com @earlybirdcbd @earlybirdcbd

26 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

The Collective ATX launches new fashion pop-up, Retail Therapy. Looking for that special outfit for the holidays? Retail Therapy, the new boutique pop-up inside The Collective ATX, is your one-stop shop for all your fashion and hair care needs. From casual to festive, Retail Therapy has you covered. Specializing in luxury hair brands including Oribe, Kérastase R+Co, The Collective ATX offers a wide range of products to protect, enhance and beautify your hair. Located in the Lamar Union Plaza, The Collective ATX is Austin’s favorite salon for the modern

and

woman! thecollectiveatx.com @thecollectiveatx_ @needsomeretailtherapy

TULA Life Balanced, Inc.

To-Do List Take Over: On Demand-ish Personal Assistants. Give the gift of time with TULA Balanced! TULA is an on-demand personal and virtual assistant service created to take over your to-do list, whatever that might be! You input your to-dos into our app, and our team of amazing, resourceful, trusted, vetted personal assistants gets to working crossing off those to-dos so you don’t have to! TULA does everything from errands, laundry, home organization, research, travel planning, appointment scheduling, gifting and shipping (wrapping, too!), vendor sourcing and supervision, to event planning! TULA makes the perfect gift for anyone who needs a little more time in their day, and who doesn’t? TULA gift cards can be purchased in any amount from $100. Well, the sky is the limit! Price: Any denomination - $100 minimum tulabalanced.com @tulabalanced @tulabalanced

Dos Olivos Markets

International Gourmet Products All of our products are chosen by our team of experts based on their quality, tradition and health benefits. These products are not found anywhere in the U.S., and each one has a story behind it. All products at Dos Olivos Markets come from artisanal and gourmet traditions. The taste of each product is unlike anything else since they are brought especially from the part of the world where they originated. Gifts from Dos Olivos Markets are a guaranteed way to let someone know how much they mean to you. Price: $20 to $100 dosolivosmarkets.com @losolivosmarketsonline @dosolivosmarkets_online

Pam Friedman is Managing Director and Principal of Robertson Stephens Wealth Management. She was recently recognized as 2023 Woman Financial Planner of the Year by Wealth Solutions Report.* With over 30 years of experience, as a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Pam is passionate about educating her clients to help them develop their financial plan through all of life’s transitions. Pam is on a mission for women to be more informed about their money, especially in the context of their relationships. Develop a comprehensive wealth plan uniquely customized for your life’s journey.

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Investment advisory services offered through Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC, an SECregistered investment advisor. © 2023 Robertson Stephens Wealth Management, LLC. All rights reserved. *See www.rscapital.com/disclosures for more information.

shop your Christmas décor with up to 50% OFF retail prices!

Austin Habitat for Humanity 27 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2023

ATXWOMAN.COM | 27

Arts in REVIEW

The Mother Ginger (Snaps) of Austin Ballet Afrique’s interpretation of Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite is a

here’s something divine about being surrounded by Black women: shea butter embraces; sticky red lipstick kisses on foreheads; sugar, spice and…gingersnaps. It’s a veritable healing circle of kindred spirits, with generations of strength, grace, poise, tenacity and love (always love). This is the energy surrounding Ballet Afrique’s interpretation of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic The Nutcracker. Based on Duke Ellington’s masterful jazz reimagining of the ballet, The Nutcracker Suite, the Ballet Afrique production began its journey in 2008. Fifteen years later, the jazz-soaked dance celebration continues to enthrall and entice Austin audiences. A particular poignancy ripples through Black and Brown communities when experiencing the show for the first time. “[There are] two very important things,” China Smith, founding artistic director of Ballet Afrique and former Austin Woman cover woman, begins. “Number one, if we don’t create productions like this, then artists do not get a chance to work. There’s so much talent here in Austin that we just don’t see because they’re gigging, they’re working. So having a steady gig like The Nutcracker for professional dancers is very rewarding. Number two, going to The Nutcracker is a tradition for AISD schools to provide [children] this diverse 28 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

perspective. The ballet opens, and there’s a big mansion and people are walking in these dresses and it’s a whole fantasy world. To be able to imagine yourself…” Smith pauses, gathering her words as if plucking from a memory of her childhood experiences with The Nutcracker ballet as a Black child growing up in Austin. “[You think,] ‘Do I fit in as a person of color in the world of fantasy and sugar and sweets and make believe? Is there a place for me?’ Just that visual of this party scene. There’s no mansion, but it’s full of love. That first scene that you see when it opens up is about family, and it’s an opportunity for people to see Black families loving each other.” Central to the messaging of strength, loyalty, joy and love is the role of Mother Ginger. Historically, the physicality of the costume design meant that men often took the role out of necessity. However, as is the case with the passage of time, advances in technology, fashion and theater opened the role to woman-identified folx who proudly wore the title. The role itself goes through a code switch when in the hands of Smith and her iconic dance company. “In this universe where Duke Ellington is the composer, I’ve turned everything upside down,” Smith reveals, her voice dripping with mirth and a charming bit of sass. The words morph into a smile that reaches her eyes. “It’s through the lens of Black people. So, Mother Ginger is Mother Ginger Snaps.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 28

Hardy (JanayThaMUA). Shot on location at Huston-Tillotson University.

BY CY WHITE

Photos by Sam Lewis. Styling by Violet Crown Costume Company. Makeup by Janay

celebration of Black strength, Black resilience and Black joy.

(l to r) China Smith, Ora Houston, Shuronda Robinson, Dr. Nicole Cross, Natasha Harper-Madison and Terry P. Mitchell

This year, Mother Ginger Snaps will be represented by Adisa Communications founder and president, Austin Woman’s own Shuronda Robinson. “It’s such an iconic part, at first, I thought, ‘Wow!’ I mean, what do you do? What do you think?” Robinson says, awe coloring her tone in the stardust and magic that make up the iconic character. “I’m honored by it, and I’m actually looking forward to having some fun with it.” As with Robinson, every woman who’s played Mother Ginger Snaps has very vivid memories of when they received the call from Smith. “Honestly, I felt honored,” says multi Emmy award–winning Spectrum News anchor and 2019’s Mother Ginger Snaps Dr. Nicole Cross. “The trend had been to choose someone who’s made significant impact in the community. So just the invitation was like…I was awed by that.” That awe manifests as a wistful smile that stays on her face as she speaks about her experience as the ruler of the Land of Amusement. “I love people, and I desire to help them live their best lives. So to be a part of a production that would allow families in my community to get dressed and get together and go out and sit together and create a moment together, that’s magical for me.”

Shuronda Robinson

ATXWOMAN.COM | 29

China Smith

Natasha Harper-Madison

For Terry Mitchell, a mother (whose then 2-year-old daughter joined her onstage as one of the Bonbons), multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, co-founder and owner of Black Leader’s Collective, co-chair of The Black Fund, Austin Woman magazine board member and last year’s Mother Ginger Snaps, the imagery of a Black mother caring for her community hits close to home. “Black women are the backbone of our community, of our demographic of the nation,” she says. “For Austin specifically, I think about those doing the work and on the front line, overwhelmed and doing it from behind the scenes. “The Mother Gingers that have literally taken the role [in the ballet] are the Mother Gingers of Austin,” Mitchell continues. “I’m honored to be in the sphere of these brilliant women and do this work on behalf of my community. We are the matriarchal figures of our community. It tells our little girls and little boys to love and honor and respect our mothers and the Black women in our community. We were your original protectors, and at some point it will be your responsibility to protect us.” Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin’s sitting council member of District 1 and 2019’s Mother Ginger Snaps, expresses the same gratitude. “I just found that China’s interpretation, this Duke Ellington presentation of this classic that we made our own, that [Smith] made ours, it was an honor to be able to participate and an honor to look at an audience and see…” She trails off with a chuckle, pure joy dancing across her gaze. “I bet people’s cheeks hurt,” she says, laugh now full and open. “You know, I bet if there was room for people to dance, they would have, which I think is probably what Miss China was hoping to achieve.”

30 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

Terry P. Mitchell

The richness and complexity of being a Black woman in this country lends itself to the true significance of the role of Mother Ginger Snaps. “I think it represents an opportunity for the audience, the larger Austin audience in particular, to see that we have a lot of talents,” the venerable Ora Houston, first Austin City Council representative for Austin’s District 1 and 2018’s Mother Ginger, muses. “Minority communities have a lot of talents, and they’ve just never been invited into productions or spaces where they could demonstrate those talents. Like all children, they have to be taught; somebody has to see something in them and say, ‘I can make that better.’ “As I looked out in the audience, the audience was very mixed,” she continues. “I thought, ‘That’s what this is about.’ The Nutcracker can be about all kinds of people, but you have to be able to have a vision to see that this can be done.” It’s the ebullience and joy that’s so missing in mainstream media telling Black and Brown stories. We are a multifaceted, multi-tiered people whose contributions to culture continue to propel it forward, continue to inspire, strike with awe and profoundly transform any space we enter. It’s no wonder, then, that Smith’s vision was to bring together all of these women at different moments in their respective journeys to portray a woman who epitomizes the unyielding, soulstirring joy that has a unique fervor when gifted by a Black mother. What China Smith has created is 15 years of relentless representation, unapologetic joy and, yes, a space of infinite Black Girl Excellence. Through her vision, Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite inspires young Black and Brown dreamers to stand eight feet tall and continue to elevate the legacy of Black excellence. Her contributions to Austin’s community seem never-ending, and the women who she’s selected to represent her Mother Ginger Snaps sing her praises and continue to lay flowers at her feet. “[China] gives children who look like me and you an opportunity to see that there’s something else and that they can be things they’ve never even thought,” Cross proclaims. “They have an opportunity to see kids who look like them and adults who look like them. Middle schoolers who look like them, doing something they’ve not seen anywhere broadly in their lives.”

Ora Houston

To read more thoughts and insights from the Mother Gingers, read the full article at atxwoman.com. Ballet Afrique's The Nutcracker Suite will take place on Jan. 6, 2024 at the Paramount Theatre. Get your tickets at tickets.austintheatre.org.

Dr. Nicole Cross

THE GIFT OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC This year, Ballet Afrique has launched a very special Gift of Black Girl Magic Campaign. Through a partnership with Carrying Hope, a nonprofit that supports Austin-area children living in the foster care system, donors will be able to give the magical experience of Ballet Afrique’s Nutcracker to children who need it most. The first 100 tickets donated through the Gift of Black Girl Magic Campaign will be directed toward children who will spend their holidays in group homes and their caregivers.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 31

CONNECTS CLUB

The Perfect Gift For Everyone

SCAN TO PURCHASE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP

Abuse can change the entire course of a child’s life.

But it doesn’t have to.

Providing prevention, justice & healing for over 30 years. 32 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

ATX

WOMEN to WATCH Our pages are full of stories of Austin’s most engaging, empowering and successful women, and this section is specially designed to provide you access to even more incredible role models and success stories. Be part of this amazing group and share your story with thousands of women. Contact us at sales@atxwoman.com or call 512.328.2421 for more information.

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | | 33 33

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

PAO L A G U E R R E R O - S M I T H BUENOS AIRES CAFÉ, LLC | CO-OWNER

eina Morris, chef and founder of Buenos Aires Café, sold her Hill Country Galleria location and decided to join her daughter, Paola Guerrero-Smith, at their eastside restaurant. The decision was driven by her desire to spend more time with her family and continue pursuing her passion for creating exceptional culinary experiences. The motherdaughter team has elevated their business to new heights by welcoming Sara Montero as their events manager. Montero’s expertise has revolutionized the catering and bakery options, expanding the range of offerings and extending the love and joy beyond the restaurant’s walls. The team is excited to launch their new venture in 2024, Vinos Del Sur, a unique collection of South American, family-owned and boutique wines. This story highlights the significance of pursuing your passion and cherishing time with family. It’s a testament to hard work, dedication and the love for creating extraordinary culinary experiences. buenosairescafe.com 34 | DECEMBER 2023 34 | AUSTIN SPECIAL WOMAN PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

ALASKA OGDEN

EMERGE RECOVERY T X | CLINICAL INTERN

laska Ogden, a dedicated clinical intern and student of psychotherapy at Pacifica Graduate Institute, brings a wealth of experience to her work. With a dual Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and conflict transformation, Ogden has spent 12 years immersed in the field of substance-use disorders and harm reduction. She works from a Jungian and transpersonal orientation, and her areas of focus are complex trauma, addiction and the development of personal mythos. Her approach is non-pathologizing, collaborative and empowering. She is currently practicing under the guidance of Andrea Shiftlet, LMFT-S, as she walks the path to licensure. In her work at both Emerge Recovery—a trauma program for women and recovery—and her depthbased consulting practice, Ogden weaves together the art of dreamwork, chthonic curiosity, mythic wisdom, archetypal insight and intuitive guidance. Her commitment to transformative healing is not only professional but also a deeply personal calling. alaskaogden.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | | 35 35

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

MINA IBANEZ

LOS CHIL AKILLERS | CHEF

our years ago, Mina Ibanez was 47 and broke, and her friends advised her to retire to spend time with her granddaughters. But Ibanez had the experience of running a restaurant, a passion for cooking and original recipes she had developed herself. She did not retire. On May 8, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, she opened Los Chilakillers, a new concept Mexican mercado restaurant in North Austin serving chilaquiles. Los Chilakillers is a fusion of Austin and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Ibanez brings her passion for creating unique flavors just for you to enjoy. What are you waiting for? Just visit Los Chilakillers today! The only chilaquileria in Austin. loschilakillers.com

36 | DECEMBER 2023 36 | AUSTIN SPECIAL WOMAN PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

JEN D. RODRIGUEZ

3 S M A L L P L A T E S L L C | E X E C U T I V E C H E F, O W N E R , F O U N D E R

en D. Rodriguez is the executive chef and owner of 3 small plates catering, specializing in chef-curated culinary journeys, one plate at a time. The Texas native creates various flavors and cuisines for guests to enjoy Europe’s visual splendor, borrowing inspiration from her European travels, her family’s experiences and her passion for cooking. She discovered this passion as a child while cooking with her grandmother. She has since served a range of Austin community groups as well as chef partnership with Austin Film and Food, You Grill Girl, Taste of Black Austin and SXSW Future of Food. In 2021, she received the Woman’s Way Business Award for Culinary and Beverage Arts, and in 2023, she won the ProPlayer Foundation BBQ and Boots’ Tasting Table of the Year. Currently, Rodriguez serves as a curator for Future Front Texas and as a co-chair for the Austin Les Dames Escoffier programming committee. 3smallplatescatering.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | | 37 37

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

KERRY WHITE

HOUSE WINE AUSTIN, LLC | FOUNDER & COO

n 2008, Kerry White found a 1940s-style home, and House Wine was established. Within its walls, she combined her interior design career with her passion for wine, creating a vibe so welcoming that patrons feel like they've been invited to a house party. Comfort and thoughtful wines unite, bringing people together for conversation and contemplation, no television in sight. White definitely created something special, and Austin knows it. House Wine has won Best Bar Ambience as well as the Austin Chronicle s̕ Best Wine Bar, People’s Choice Wine Bar, and was a finalist for Best Wine Selection. Her mission for House Wine is simple: The staff and community must be as diverse as Austin herself. Family-owned, sustainable, organic, biodynamic and natural wines from across the globe fill the racks, and the bar is committed to expanding palates with an amazing offering of 85 wines by the glass. The bar also hosts a wine club and wine classes instructed by Gretchen Meinhardt, GM, WSET3. And because Austin isn’t Austin without its thriving community of artists and musicians, House Wine also hosts events with silent auctions and fundraisers, donating to organizations like SAFE, Caritas and HAAM. housewineaustin.com 38 | DECEMBER 2023 38 | AUSTIN SPECIAL WOMAN PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

ATXWOMAN.COM | 39

New AffiniPay CEO Dru Armstrong on teams in life and work. BY JENNY HOFF PHOTOS BY KOREY HOWELL

40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

Energized by her own success story, Allison Ellsworth is stocking the shelves for a healthier generation. BY REGINE MALIBIRAN PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON

STYLING BY ASMA PARVEZ, WITH INSPIRATION FROM NORDSTROM, THE GARDEN ROOM AND ARBOR EYE CENTER. SHOT ON LOCATION AT POPPI CORPORATE OFFICE, AUSTIN

ore than seven years ago, Texas native Allison Ellsworth brewed the basis of Poppi out of a mason jar in her home kitchen. At the time, Allison was working in the oil and gas industry and frequently traveled as part of her responsibilities. She met her husband and co-founder, Stephen Ellsworth, through their mutual careers. “I met him in Utah at the mall, which is not a typical place,” says Allison. “I went to go buy a backpack, and he helped me. Then he asked to take me to ice cream and got my number. Then we were inseparable.” She spent a lot of time in small-town hotels, where grocery stores and gyms would be 30 minutes or more away from where she stayed, if that. “Fed up” by a medical condition that was exacerbated by her lifestyle and cost $15,000 over five years to diagnose and treat through standard means, Allison searched for a way to keep her digestive system healthy. During the process she learned of the benefits of apple cider vinegar. According to recent clinical trials, apple cider vinegar may benefit those looking to lower their blood sugar levels, manage their diabetes or improve their heart health. “After two weeks, it really did change my life and how it made me feel,” Allison shares. “My digestion got better. I was sleeping better. I also cut out gluten. Just making those two really big changes, I was shocked.” There was only one problem: she couldn’t stand the taste. She leveraged her passion for cooking and created the first version of Poppi, a flavor-infused apple cider vinegar drink. It was originally called Mother Beverage as a reference to the “mother” bacteria and yeast of vinegar. Allison’s father, who is her “biggest fan, biggest supporter, biggest inspiration,” encouraged her to start sharing her drink with her neighbors and sell it. Motivated by her own health experiences, Allison was satisfied with simply helping her neighbors live better lives through a hobby, citing cooking as a “love language.” ATXWOMAN.COM | 41

I was so excited for everyone to

feel as good as I did. Allison Ellsworth

42 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

About two years into her marriage, amidst her experimentation with apple cider vinegar, Allison and her husband began seriously discussing starting a family. Their jobs allowed them to take several months off at a time and during one of their breaks in December 2015 they moved down to Dallas where Allison had family and friends. Within one month of trying, they expected their first child. “I’m not one to sit still,” says Allison of her first pregnancy. “I was so excited for everyone to feel as good as I did. So on the weekends, I started going to the local Dallas farmers market.” Allison persevered, working outside in the Texas summer heat while pregnant, and three weeks later, a buyer for Whole Foods approached her at her booth with an offer to join the shelves of the grocery store. Up until that point, Allison hadn’t seriously considered selling her beverage. But once the possibility was made real, she immediately had to act. “I looked at Stephen in that moment,” Allison recalls. “I told him, ‘I’m not ever going back to work again. We’re doing this. And I think you should seriously think about quitting your job.’” Her husband reminded her of their circumstances: they had recently bought a house, and she had just started her second trimester. But Allison could not be dissuaded, intuitively feeling like pivoting to entrepreneurship was the right choice and inherently trusting herself and her support system to figure it out along the way. Her father and sisters, entrepreneurs themselves, encouraged her, and her husband applied his logic and strategy toward a successful business plan. That business plan involved investing their savings, raising $125,000 to open a production facility and pitching to venture capitalists on Shark Tank, the longstanding entrepreneur reality television show that has helped launch dozens of companies. For beverages specifically, being on the show typically leads to selling out of product. At that point the Ellsworths were established within Whole Foods and were seeking capital and partnership to expand their business. Allison was nine months pregnant when she and Stephen pitched on the show. Serendipitously, the guest shark during their episode was Rohan Oza, whose marketing and investment portfolio includes major brands like Coca-Cola and Glacéau as well as success stories like Bai. “I remember talking to Rohan afterwards, and he said, ‘If you are willing to go on Shark Tank at nine months, I knew you were serious about your business,’” recalls Allison. (She gave birth to her second child less than two weeks after filming.) Allison is outspoken about prioritizing motherhood and entrepreneurship at the same time. She believes that women don’t have to put their dreams on hold, that they can pursue the fullness of the lives they want to live.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 43

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LOCATION: POPPI CORPORATE OFFICE, AUSTIN 31 Navasota St., Suite 270 | drinkpoppi.com

“A lot of the time we feel like we have to choose or wait,” shares Allison. “We have to say, ‘Oh, let me have kids first, and then I’ll start my career.’ Yes it’s harder to do it at the same time, but it’s so rewarding. You can do it.” Allison credits her family for helping her balance growing a business and raising young children. On top of her father and sister’s entrepreneurial support, her mother moved closer to her to be with the children while she built Poppi from the ground up. And of course, Stephen is right by her side through it all. “I don’t know how I would do it without him,” says Allison. “He will always choose to be on my team, and that’s such an amazing feeling. It’s a true partnership that we have because we do such different things.” While Allison runs the creative side of the business and represents the brand’s story through marketing, Stephen oversees operations, product innovation and finances. She values the way he balances her out and how he fully understands the complexities of her priorities because he’s with her every step of the way. For the Ellsworths, whose busy lives might not always include time for romantic getaways, making each other feel loved manifests as being each other’s rocks. In January 2022, after eight years in Dallas, the young family moved to Austin. “Austin is a really special and creative space for entrepreneurs,” says Ellsworth. “We moved down here to foster a better culture for Poppi. Austin is the cultural leader of Texas so it made perfect sense for Poppi to be at the center of that!” Under Oza’s mentorship, their business rebranded from Mother Beverage to Poppi, a flavorful guilt-free drink with only 25 calories and fewer than 5 grams of sugar. Their messaging shifted from focusing on apple cider vinegar and more toward being a healthier soda alternative. In March 2020, Poppi launched with a mission to “take on big soda.” “[March 2020] has a double meaning for me,” says Allison about the unpredictability of the pandemic’s onset. “We had been working on the rebrand for so long before this. We [were determined] to launch this product.” Because of the rebrand, the Ellsworths had to turn down retailers who were interested in stocking their shelves with their product after the show aired. Despite that obstacle, they still garnered more than $1 million in sales during their hiatus. After eight months of being on hold and with exciting new changes, the Ellsworths were understandably eager to get their business up and running again. Benefiting from the lockdown’s emphasis on health and online sales, Poppi took the number one spot on Amazon’s new products list three weeks after launch. On a whim, Allison also took to TikTok during a time when not many brands had tapped into the social media platform’s marketing value yet. “I just sat down one day and told my story and went viral,” says Allison. Her impromptu video resulted in 100,000 sales over 24 hours. “I always try to tell other people to just get on and tell your story. If you just stay positive and you’re authentic and real, you’ll find your community.” The couple’s business savvy is paying off. According to Allison, Poppi is starting to outsell brands like A&W, Fanta and Crush. What started as a DIY kitchen project to alleviate her own personal health problems has now grown into an up-and-coming player in the beverage industry. The difference, Allison believes, is the consistency of her original intentions for her business.

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“I got really excited to share [Poppi] with people versus, I think, a lot of people who start businesses to get rich,” says Allison. “It just feels so good to [help people] cut sugar out of their diets or help someone with stomach problems or give a mom a better beverage for her kids. There’s so much opportunity.” With its bright and bold packaging, a can of Poppi invites whimsy and fun for its drinkers. It’s available in unique flavors like raspberry rose, ginger lime and strawberry lemon as well as nostalgic favorites like root beer, grape and orange. “I love our grape flavor because how often is it acceptable to drink grape soda as an adult?” says Allison. “With our flavors, we tap into that emotion that someone might feel with soda that they can’t have anymore. What Poppi does is give everyone the freedom to love soda again.” Competing with the established brands of big soda is a major undertaking. According to Beverage Digest, Coca-Cola’s market share in the 2022 carbonated soft drink industry was more than 46%, with PepsiCo and Keurig Dr. Pepper following at 24.7% and 21.3%, respectively. “The big sodas own everything,” says Allison. “They own every stadium; they own McDonald’s; they own every fountain; they own everything. If you want to go sponsor Coachella or really get your name out, Coke already has a contract, so you can’t. We always have to get creative in a lot of the things we do.” Instead of accepting big soda’s brand and commercial ubiquity as an unconquerable obstacle, Allison and the Poppi team consider it to be an opportunity for innovation. Restricted from being in outlets such as football stadiums and movie theaters, Poppi strives to create new moments of nostalgia for future generations. “What does that new occasion look like? [Instead of fast food,] you partner with ghost kitchens and Uber Eats,” says Allison. “What’s hard with the big established brands is that they’re just so used to doing things the way they do and don’t move at the speed of culture.” For the holiday season, Poppi is releasing a new limited edition flavor, cranberry fizz. Along with bundling it with some of their permanent flavors in a holiday variety pack, they’re partnering with beauty brand InnBeauty Project to create lip oils featuring Poppi’s flavors. The Sips & Lips duo will be available online directly to the consumer as well as on sephora.com. “Their brand is this better-for-you lip oil,” says Allison. “We’re better soda, so both [are] for the next generation.” From the people she helps lead a healthier life, to her growing staff, to her own young family, Allison is steadfastly committed to the community she’s grown through Poppi. Her company has expanded from two people to over 120 in the past three years, and Allison, a genuine leader at heart, speaks of how “rich and fulfilling” it is to see her team “get promoted and succeed.” As her children grow, she and Stephen want to instill this same work ethic for whatever they choose to pursue in life. “[We don’t want to] work our butts off to build such an amazing future for our children that they never learn anything hard along the way,” shares Allison, whose kids are ages 7, 5 and 1. “We’re very aware of raising respectful, hard-working young men because I think people can lose sight of living through experience if you just give your kids everything.” With a clear vision, a strong team and a generational purpose, Allison Ellsworth and Poppi are here for a good time and a long time. ATXWOMAN.COM | 47

Joe and Regina

Sophia De'La O, 102nd birthday party — (from l to r) Paula, Rose, Sophia (center), Regina, Carolina, Josie (Joe's sister)

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It’s All About Family

Regina Estrada welcomes us into her home and her family legacy. BY GEORGIA VALLES PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGINA ESTRADA

n Joe’s Bakery’s only off day, Regina Estrada and her mother, Rose Ann Maciel, sat in Estrada’s home, accompanied by her dogs. Estrada and her mother are all smiles, excited to talk about the family business that has seen three Avilas at the helm. “It’s all about family,” Maciel says. Joe’s Bakery has served Austin for more than 54 years, and it all started with Joe Avila’s dreams of creating good food with a great community. “The beginning of the story is not our story,” Estrada says. “It’s my grandparents’ and [my mom’s] parents’.”

Estrada recounts the business’ origins in 1962. “You know, having the opportunity to start a business, I think it was something really special back then,” says Estrada. Avila, along with his wife and Estrada’s grandmother, Paula, started the business, and Joe’s Bakery has been providing Austin with great food and community since. Joe, baker and owner of the restaurant’s namesake, had about a fourthgrade education, and Paula, who had about a sixth-grade education, is a businesswoman.

Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos & Henry Cisneros

(early '90s)

ATXWOMAN.COM | 49

Rose, Carolina, Paula

, Regina (1982)

Paula Av 50 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

ila

Joe’s dream started in his parents’ store, La Oriental Grocery & Bakery in East Austin. Once the family business moved a few doors down and was in Joe’s hands, he created the authentic Tex-Mex/Mexican bakery and restaurant Austinites know and love today. “I have always said Joe’s Bakery is my grandfather’s boyhood dream,” Estrada emphasizes. “But over the years, it has been how we have supported that dream. My grandmother supported and fulfilled that childhood dream. My aunt, mother and myself have also come in and carried it on. It’s really important to recognize it was his passion.” Paula had always been a pillar of support to Joe’s dream and eventually took a more active role in the bakery, bringing in her sisters and her granddaughter to help carry out the legacy. As business owners, they did not focus on baking but did bring in family recipes to share with the community. “We are not bakers,” Estrada explains when speaking on how other family members have come in to support the business. Maciel; her sister, Carolina; and Estrada manage the family business today.

“

I have always said Joe’s Bakery is my grandfather’s boyhood dream. But over the years, it has been how we have supported that dream. My grandmother supported and fulfilled that childhood dream. My aunt, mother and myself have also come in and carried it on. It’s really important to recognize it was his passion.

—Regina Estrada

Paula, Rose and cousin Rosie ATXWOMAN.COM | 51

In February 2022, Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop won one of the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classic restaurants.

“I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Estrada says. “I knew that I would never get an opportunity to work with my mother, my aunt or my grandmother. Twenty years later, I’m still here. It’s been a learning experience. There’ve been some really great highs and lows, but there have been some really great accomplishments that we’ve been able to make memories together as a family.” The restaurant has seen many generations come in and out. There is an overwhelming sense of hospitality within the walls of the restaurant, and each employee is there to welcome you into their humble community. Joe’s Bakery is a business that continues to be authentic to its core values, and these values have been the hallmark of their continued success. “It is a team effort,” Estrada explains. “I think it’s one of the things that sets us apart. Since the beginning, we’ve never asked our employees to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves. What sets us apart is how we are still very involved in day-to-day operations.” Ask any customer coming into Joe’s and they will tell you how welcoming every person is. “Our employees are part of our Joe’s Bakery family,” Estrada continues. “We

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spend a lot of time with them more than our own families.” Many customers have noted seeing the same people at the bakery, and they can feel those core family values when they walk through the door. Even as owner, Estrada is out on the floor nearly every day, making sure everyone feels welcomed. “From the beginning, hard work has always been the driving force,” says Estrada. “We have always done our best to run the business and provide our employees with authenticity.” As multiple generations of women running the business, they have faced some difficult times, but have come out stronger because of it. As a result of Joe’s passing in 2010, the bakery became a woman-owned business, which comes with its own challenges. For many years—sometimes even now—people came in to speak to “the male in charge.” “They didn’t want to deal with women,” Maciel says. It was a struggle she, Paula and Estrada—the actual frontwomen of Joe’s Bakery—constantly came up against as they continued to run the business. Nevermind having to contend with the constant threat of gentrification around East Austin. Estrada advises women working in small businesses to “prioritize what is important to you and your life.” For her, that is being a mother and treating people the way you want to be treated. “I am a mother first,” says Estrada. “My priority is being a mother, and I run the business second.”

Eat Tacos and Vote: Rose, Paula and Regina

Their dedication to the “Golden Rule” is the foundation of their community work. They provide pastries and gift cards for schools observing National Teacher Appreciation Week, use their storefront as a safe place for youth to promote their organizations to the community and, most importantly, Estrada explains, “We have provided cultural representation for our Mexican-American roots, embracing our Tex-Mex culture and sharing it with the world.” As a business dedicated to its community, during the peak of COVID-19, the restaurant doubled as a general store, selling toilet paper and other essentials. In addition, the business has been home to voter registration stations in front of the restaurant and in past years has given discounts to customers wearing “I Voted” stickers. “Unfortunate incidents happen that you can never prepare for because there are so many outside factors,” Estrada explains. “There are so many types of disasters that small businesses are presented with; you really have to be the jack of all trades.” Despite the hardships the Avila family has faced since opening, the business continues to thrive. In February, The James Beard Foundation awarded Joe’s Bakery the title of “American Classic.” The Foundation describes this honor as a distinction for “locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community.” The legacy of Joe Avila lives not only within the restaurant, but within Austin’s Latin American community and all those who have encountered the humble family business.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do,” Estrada explains. “You know, every time we have this opportunity to share our story and are able to recognize and celebrate what we’ve been able to maintain and accomplish is a part of our family history, this is going to be what we share with our family. This is our legacy.”

“

You know, every time we have this opportunity to share our story and are able to recognize and celebrate what we’ve been able to maintain and accomplish is a part of our family history, this is going to be what we share with our family. This is our legacy. —Regina Estrada ATXWOMAN.COM | 53

Leading Green BY ECOBRANDI

Food Hero

Lisa Barden serves people and the planet while rescuing food. BY BRANDI CLARK BURTON

ne of Austin’s most influential women in food is not who you’d typically call a foodie. Lisa Barden, the executive director of Keep Austin Fed and vice chair of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board, spent most of her career behind a computer. “After 21 years in IT at UT Austin, I was ready for a change of pace,” Barden reflects. “I dabbled with some new career directions, but got my first taste of the food world as a volunteer food runner for Keep Austin Fed.” Little did she know this would be the start of her life in public service and her first step on the path to becoming a respected community leader. It was a three-year journey from volunteer, to half-time program EcoConcepts in Action: director, to full-time executive director. She was the first paid staff Become a Keep Austin Fed food runner member because she helped raise the money to do it. “I told the Attend a Keep Austin Fed virtual orientation. board, ‘I can’t work for free, but I’ll help find funds to cover salaries.’ Join the notification list and start picking up “runs” as a And I did.” Barden started expanding her community engagement volunteer food runner; do a shift sorting food at one of the hubs; by volunteering to serve on the advisory council for both Coming of or help out with a free mobile market. Age Austin and the City of Austin Zero Waste Advisory Commission, Do as many or as few shifts per week or month as fits “always raising awareness for the need to simultaneously prevent with your schedule. Every time you know you are making a food waste and address food insecurity.” difference. Learn more at keepaustinfed.org. In the seven years since Barden stepped into a staff role at Keep Austin Fed, the scale and impact of the organization have mushroomed. The demand grows greater still. When she took over, there Carrying the messages of preventing food waste and feeding were an average of 55 volunteers completing 250 food runs each month. Now, our hungry neighbors, Barden continues to step up to serve in “We have about 120 active volunteers monthly. But we’re doing 700-plus food multiple community leadership roles. Currently, as vice chair runs every month, so we can always use more volunteers.” Each month, about of the Austin & Travis County Food Policy Board, she takes the 95,000 pounds of fresh and nutritious donated surplus food is delivered from goals of addressing health disparities and ending food injustices area grocery stores, shops, events and restaurants to organizations that help seriously—while working to ensure a healthy and equitable food feed individuals and families struggling with food insecurity. system. As if that weren’t enough, she is also the co-chair of the Donating unsold food helps both the givers and receivers. Food businesses public policy committee for One Voice Central Texas. “The One benefit in multiple ways by reducing food disposal costs and potentially Voice coalition advocates for policies and resources to assist our receiving tax benefits. Plus, donating surplus food helps ensure that the food local health and human service nonprofits to ensure a thriving they put so much work into bringing to market isn’t going to waste. “There are community,” she explains. “I am a firm believer that we are hungry people all over Austin. It is completely unacceptable that nearly 15% of stronger together and that we will only be able to effect change Austin-area residents don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and when we all collaborate to make a difference.” a third of these are children,” Barden laments. “Getting these food donations delivered provides critical resources to our community.” Brandi is a long-time evangelist for food waste prevention and Barden is on a roll this fall, snapping up top awards and prize checks. At recovery. She organized a campaign to boost food donations in the recent Philanthropitch event, Keep Austin Fed took home the largest Austin and mentioned Keep Austin Fed in her 2009 TEDx talk called combined monetary award from the judges, sponsors and audience in support “Trashing Food.” of further expanding their cooler capacity. Having cold storage allows for donations that happen after hours or that are too large for a single recipient Learn more about One Voice Central Texas and support organization to be safely stored at a safe temperature until distributed. Just the organizations in that network that serve our last month, Barden also claimed the first prize grant in Impact Austin’s Health community’s most vulnerable at onevoicecentraltx.org. Share your input on the Austin and Travis County’s & Well Being category. “I hope this is a sign that people are really grasping the first-ever Food Plan. Learn more at shorturl.at/fnorv. win-win of food recovery and that we can soon grow our staff, expand our volunteer base and extend the reach of our services,” she reflects. 54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

COCINA DE ORIGEN Y BELL AS ARTES

2330 W. North Loop | Austin, Texas | 512.459.4121 | www.FondaSanMiguel.com ATXWOMAN.COM | 55

Sips AND TIPS

A Woman in Wine Danya Declusin shares her experience within the Austin wine community. BY HALEY NOBLE

ine bar and shop Cape Bottle Room brings South African libations to the Austin area. Co-founder Danya Declusin knew she wanted to highlight these wines, as their South African origin makes them unique to the Austin community and Texas as a whole. She has an extreme passion for her work and strives to curate an experience for each guest, with carefully selected wine options and a desire to create a sense of community. As a woman and mother in the wine industry, Declusin has overcome her share of obstacles but insists that the jump into this work was worth every second.

When curating your own wine list, what do you take into account? I want to do several things. I want to represent South Africa and its more notable varieties and sometimes notable wineries. I also want to try and appeal to the Austin and Texan palettes. I feel like Texans definitely love big, bold reds, and there are a lot of really phenomenal ones in South Africa. If I’m meeting with a younger group of people, I want to throw in a lot of natural and orange wines and highlight what South Africa does well on that front.

Personally, it’s definitely challenging as a female to have kids and run a business. But in terms of different relationships, I feel like I surround myself with a lot of other female business owners, and they are all very collaborative, so it hasn’t hit on that front. There have definitely been times I’ve experienced people referring to my husband as an authority when, really, I’m there every day and he comes in like once a month. There are still some old-school mindsets on that, but a lot of that comes more so with customers than it does with collaborators.

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Photos courtesy of Cape Bottle Room.

As a woman in the wine industry, have you faced any challenges?

Danya Declusin shares some of her favorite wines and wine pairings.

In that circle you’ve surrounded yourself with, what about having that community of fellow female business and restaurant owners is special or inspiring? A lot of women in Austin specifically work in the wine industry and the food industry, so I feel like it’s supported well here. I feel like they’re here so much, so many of us have experienced the same attitudes toward us being owners or holding higher positions. We’ve all dealt with the same struggle, in that sense. When you have a lot of women who also have children, that complexity is ever-present.

Is there any advice you have for women wanting to start in the wine industry? I feel like if there’s any advice, it really is just to take the risk and have confidence. There are so many people out there now, and there are so many women who want to build up and support other women, that it’s worth taking. I hear from so many women who are constantly saying, “I keep thinking about doing this,” and there is just so much interest in starting a business. I wish I had started my business years ago, but I guess everything happens when it’s supposed to.

My current favorite wine is Perdeburg Cinsault. It’s a very light-bodied red that I often serve chilled. You get a lot of tart cherry and strawberry notes, and it is so versatile. You can pair it with meats or pasta, anything with tomato. You can drink it any time of year. It’s a red wine for white wine drinkers and a perfect red to start any meal. Secondly, South Africa’s sparkling wine Cap Classique is so underrated. It’s made in the traditional method of champagne. Our staff favorite is Silverthorn Genie, which is 100% shiraz. It’s dry, but you get a lot of red berry notes. You can pair it with anything: a charcuterie board, dessert or rich meats. Plus, I love drinking sparkling during the holidays. Learn more about Danya Declusin and Tap Bottle Room at atxwoman.com.

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Dinner WITH

Food Is a Love Language

Sophie Nathal always intended to keep her French roots close, but never could’ve predicted exactly how that would evolve.

n 2011, Sophie Nathal made the move from Paris to Miami, and her life forever changed as a result. The transition was rough, but Sophie soon met her husband, Eric, and immediately found a sense of home in his culture’s warmth. One night after a bottle of wine, Sophie recalls going back and forth with Eric, who was born and raised in Mexico, about the French and Hispanic food that surrounded them growing up. Between them, they shared everything from the sound of crisp baguettes to the smell of fresh tortillas in great detail, and without even realizing it, they’d painted an entire picture of a dream restaurant that perfectly combined the couple’s passion for food. The next morning, they began their journey of making that dream into reality and can now revel in their years of hard work and success. Austin Rotisserie first started as a pop-up in 2018 but has evolved into both a brick-and-mortar (opened in 2021) and a food truck. The menu includes everything from specially imported French bread to cultural fusions, like its Kinda French Quesadilla, and only continues to grow as its customer base does. The restaurant prides itself on its traditional French comfort food and stands as a symbol of how all walks of life can be brought together by a warm meal. 58 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2023

How did your relationship with food change when you moved to the States? Everything was really different. Things that used to be so accessible to me were no longer within my reach, and that took some getting used to. I couldn’t walk down the street to shop at my favorite French bakeries or buy everyday products at the grocery store anymore. Even the items that I could get here were so different. The yogurts have a different consistency and the bread is made with a different type of flour; it was the little things that threw me off. At first, the huge Latin influence in Miami overwhelmed me, but eventually, I embraced this whole new umbrella of food that I’ve come to love. Being surrounded by Hispanic culture was also a good reminder of home because there’s a lot of overlap in how we view food. For both cultures, food is a love language, something that brings people together and fills people’s spirits, but I’ve come to learn that belief isn’t as prioritized for many Americans. Going to Cuban bakeries was the closest I could get to home, because no matter what, they always had that freshly made quality that I love. Once I got the hang of it, I definitely started to enjoy going to local restaurants a lot more.

Photo by Fareground.

BY HANNAH NUÑEZ

VEGETABLE QUICHE WITH SALADE DE CHÈVRE CHAUD (WARM GOAT CHEESE SALAD) Ingredients: Warm Goat Cheese Salad 1/3 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/3 cup red wine vinegar Salt and pepper, to taste 2 cups baby arugula 2-ounce wheel goat cheese, skin on (I use aged bijou cheese from Vermont Creamery) 1 piece sliced brioche sandwich bread, cut in half into triangles Honey, for drizzling

Can you talk a little bit about the dish you’re sharing? I chose a quiche as the main dish because they’re absolutely delicious and very easy to make. Once you have the base down, it becomes so versatile and easy to personalize any way you want. You can add meats, vegetables and cheeses; the only thing you can’t do with it is make it vegan because it wouldn’t exactly be a quiche at that point. The side dish is salade de chèvre chaud (warm goat cheese salad), a very popular French salad that perfectly complements the quiche. How is this dish personal for you? This dish is the epitome of French comfort food for me. Growing up I would always make quiche with my mom; she would prepare the base, and it was my job to get all of the add-ins ready. It’s a cheap and easy recipe that to this day reminds me of home. When I wasn’t making it at home, I was buying it on the go from bakeries. When it’s sold, they cut it into triangles and wrap it up in butcher paper so you can easily just eat it while you’re walking down the street. Regardless, the dish carries such a warmth to it that feels homemade every time it’s shared. What does the phrase “comfort food” mean to you? I have an appreciation for the phrase because I’ve found that no matter where you go, it holds the same weight. Whether I’m in Paris or Texas, I will always be able to share this idea of comfort within a dish. Obviously, everyone has their own specific comfort food, so to narrow it down is really difficult. The first thing I notice is what it looks like, how it smells and what the taste is. All of those things have the power to bring you back to a specific point in time or jolt a certain memory that, all in all, brings relief. For me, a dish is automatically classified as a comfort food when I feel like I’m getting a big hug and taken back to a safe place. Because food is so connecting for me, I strive to make every one of my dishes at Austin Rotisserie someone’s comfort food because that level of content should be the standard. If a course has the ability to bring such joy and peace, why shouldn’t every meal be a comfort food?

Vegetable Quiche 4 carrots, diced 1 bunch of broccolini, stalks removed 3/4 cup creme fraiche 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded 1/2 cup gruyere cheese, shredded 3 eggs 1 tomato, diced 10-inch store-bought pie crust (Feel free to make your own if you have time!) Directions: Prepare the salad and toast: 1. Preheat the oven to 375°. 2. For the vinaigrette: In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, Dijon mustard and vinegar, and add salt and pepper, to taste. 3. Put arugula into a bowl and toss with vinaigrette. 4. Cut the goat cheese wheel in half. Place one half on top of each triangle of the bread. Place in the oven for 5 minutes or until toasted. 5. Drizzle the toast and goat cheese with honey. Prepare the quiche: 1. Preheat the oven to 375°. 2. Boil broccolini florets and carrots until tender, about 8 minutes. (The pre-dicing will allow the vegetables to cook faster in the boiling water.) 3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the creme fraiche, Swiss, gruyere and eggs until fully incorporated. 4. Add carrots and broccolini into egg and cheese mixture, and pour into premade pie crust. 5. Place quiche in the oven for 45 minutes, or until the quiche is firm but still wobbly. 6. Let cool for 1 hour before serving, or put in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving. 7. Slice quiche and serve on a plate with the salad and warm goat cheese toast.

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The FEED

Evolve Past the Expected

Meet the woman-led team behind innovative restaurant The Dirdie Birdie. BY JANAYE BARABIN

ocated in The Domain, The Dirdie Birdie is a woman-led immersive indoor minigolf restaurant and bar. Co-owner Lina Khasat, Culinary Manager and Chef Allison Hugunin and General Manager Dana O’Donnell work together to ensure that each guest at The Dirdie Birdie has a special experience. Khasat recalls how she developed the idea for the space. “Simply put, the concept of The Dirdie Birdie was created by adding together a few of our favorite activities: great food, drinks and fun and interactive experiences.” It was important for her to do something different, something that would set her apart from other restaurants in Austin. “There’s no shortage of great places to eat and drink in Austin,” she says, “but we wanted to create a memorable and fun experience to tie in to our curated food and beverage program as well.” Chef Hugunin, who joined The Dirdie Birdie in August, explains why she was eager to be a part of the team. “I was excited that the menu had a fun combination of crowd-pleasing classics such as chicken tenders and the Bird’s Nest, but also allowed space for more refined items like our tuna crudo and our braised short rib,” she says. “My background includes both fine dining and fast casual, so that mixture really jumped out at me. Also, there’s literally a putt-putt course in the middle of the space! How much fun is that?” She goes on to reveal her goals for the restaurant. “From a culinary perspective, I hope to create a consistent experience where customers are surprised by the quality of food and service they receive every time they visit us. I want fresh, quality ingredients prepared well and to offer flavors that people are excited about.

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Allison Hugunin

(from l to r) Lina Khasat, Dana O’Donnell and Allison Hugunin

The unique mini-golf course is an homage to Austin, and each hole is based on a different iconic part of the city. O’Donnell remembers how she felt when she visited the space during its construction. “I was immediately captivated by the potential of the space, even though the course was only partially completed, and the dining room and bar were yet to be set up.” The art installations are a large part of what makes the restaurant stand out. “As a proud native Austinite, playing putt-putt has been a cherished part of my upbringing, making this opportunity feel remarkably nostalgic,” O’Donnell continues. “Hearing their vision and goals for the place resonated with me deeply. It was at that moment I knew this was the perfect place to advance my career. The incorporation of each hole dedicated to different parts of Austin adds an extra layer of significance, evoking memories from my past and creating a truly special connection for me.” When Khasat began developing the idea, she hoped that her guests would share O’Donnell’s experience. Instead of putting herself in a box, she created something that was fun and innovative, something she hoped people could connect to. “The Dirdie Birdie name is meant to be vague enough to be a restaurant, bar or mini-golf venue but specific enough to be all three,” she says. “We wanted to evolve the classic game of mini-golf past the usual and expected with immersive spaces, surprises and behind-the-scenes technology. It almost feels like you’re playing the game through an art gallery at times. We hope it sparks lots of smiles, laughs, curiosity and conversation as you make your way through the space.” For the women at The Dirdie Birdie, the customer experience is their main priority. “We’re super focused on delivering the best possible experience on all facets and have made great progress in our first year in business thanks to our great team and feedback from our incredible guests,” O’Donnell emphasizes. “That being said, requests are coming in hot around more locations, and we just may have to visit that idea soon.” ATXWOMAN.COM | 61

Mental Health IS WEALTH

Mind, Body, Food Harmony

When the relationship with food becomes complex, it’s important to let go of what doesn’t nourish you. BY SHONTÉ JOVAN TAYLOR, M.SC., PH.D.(c)

ood, our bodies, confidence, the brain and feeling attractive—they’re all connected, and a change in one area can ripple through others. In my neuroscientist POV, the brain is the most captivating powerhouse of the human body. It serves as the command center that shapes our minds, hearts and behaviors, ultimately sculpting our destinies and impacting the world around us, for better or worse. We should also remember that internal and external factors, as well as subconscious and conscious elements, influence our self-perception and subsequent actions. As we approach the next few months—a period marked by a fluctuating mindset involving indulgence in food followed by regretful crash diets in the new year, which often foster feelings of regret, shame, guilt and self-criticism—it becomes imperative to confront these annual challenges and seek sustainable resolutions for a healthier, more balanced and empowering lifestyle. The Put It In Perspective technique, which I’ve coined the “PIIP technique,” can help you reframe and shift your perspective instantly. Simply say “Pip!” or “Peep!” to snap yourself into a new mindset. Use the E’s as a guide to refocus your thoughts and actions toward food, enabling a shift in perspective. Please note: I present these “E” perspectives not to deepen the sense of struggle, but to broaden the lens and empower you—especially when it comes to food. ETHOS: BRING FOOD CULTURE TO LIGHT

Ethos, in its essence, encapsulates the spirit, beliefs and values that shape a community or culture. It extends beyond to encompass the character and guiding beliefs of individuals. In most societies, food is a symbol of celebration, binding communities, sealing rituals and etching memories. It is a cornerstone of cultural dynamics and experiences. Food isn’t merely fuel; it is the medium through which our brains thrive. Each bite is a sensorial journey, engaging all five senses and weaving itself into the fabric of our memories, a timeline and record of our existence. So why do some people, particularly women, grapple with their relationship with food and, consequently, their existence? Cultural standards and expectations regarding women’s appearances and roles are deeply ingrained, fostering frustration and stress. From a young age, societal ideals dictate what the “perfect” body should be, leading to body image crises that shape emotional landscapes. EMOTIONS: THE HEARTBEAT OF DECISION-MAKING

In moments of joy and celebration, food takes center stage, an indulgence in the pleasure of the senses. Conversely, in times of sadness, stress and self-doubt, our relationship with food takes a different turn— comfort-seeking or a flight response that denies nourishment, sometimes spiraling into extreme eating disorders. When we can shift our emotions, we can shift our perspective, and thus our relationship with food. 62 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

EXPECTATIONS: TAKE SOCIETAL PRESSURES INTO ACCOUNT

As festivities beckon, laden with social engagements centered around food, the pressure to conform to a predefined physique intensifies. Domestic duties, entwined with societal expectations, become overwhelming, pushing us toward unhealthy eating habits. By recognizing the underlying forces that shape our expectations, we gain the power to transform our mindset when it comes to food. EMPOWER: CHOOSE YOUR TRUTH

By choosing your truth, you no longer need to feel invisible, disposable, minimized, misunderstood or inauthentic. Within the core of human existence lies a profound truth: Your inherent worth transcends the confines of societal expectations. Imagine this journey as akin to consuming food—there’s a choice in how you partake. Much like swallowing a morsel, life’s complexities can feel overwhelming. Societal expectations and personal challenges may make you feel as if you’re being consumed, lost in the vastness of it all. But remember, just as you control the pace at which you chew and savor your food, you dictate how you navigate through the complexities of life. EVOLUTION: A MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL JOURNEY

You are not merely a consumer of food; you are an architect of your well-being. As you evolve your relationship with food, do so with intention. Recognize that the issues surrounding food are deeply rooted in the intricate web of our brains, ethos and our ability to reframe. Value your food’s sustenance not just for its physical benefits but for the joy it brings, the memories it creates and the mindful experience it offers. In those challenging moments, when feelings of tension and anxiety provoke unwelcome associations with food, making you feel as though you are unraveling, morphing into a version of yourself you’d rather not be—far from your higher self—seize the power of PIIP. Let it be your compass to put life back into perspective, swiftly enabling you to reframe the narrative and assert your agency over the unfolding story of your life. EAT FROM JOY. EAT FOR NOSTALGIA. EAT FROM A HEALTHY MINDSET. EAT TO HAVE ENERGY. EAT FOR CELEBRATION. EAT FOR DELIGHT.

But no longer eat from the fork of fruitless ideas and thoughts that offer no nourishment to your mind and your value in society. Let go of anything that does not fulfill, inspire or nourish your soul.

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Life Is What You Bake It Ashley Cameron found the right combination of love and sweetness to create a burgeoning cookie empire. BY ASHLEY CAMERON

eing an entrepreneur—or “Cookiepreneur,” as I like to say—is in my blood. I come from a long line of familyowned businesses deeply rooted in hard work, problem-solving and staying true to your values. You would think this would be a natural trajectory for me post-college, but I was determined to forge my own path. I chose a career as a nurse. After graduating from Texas Christian University, I began a career at Texas Children’s Hospital, delivering babies in their labor and delivery unit. I loved every second of my job. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. I am eternally grateful for all my experiences and the new life I witnessed. But the time came for me to take a break, as my college sweetheart and I decided to have our own family, and I earned the new title of Mom. In three years, I was mom to not just one but three beautiful, magical creatures. As all parents know, this is such a wonderful, exciting and exhausting time in your life. In October 2019, our world stopped when at age 5, our oldest son, Charlie, was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (KD). Who knows what Kawasaki disease is? You would think that I would, being a nurse, but I didn’t, not really. KD is an acquired heart condition that affects young children. If untreated, it can cause inflammation in the heart’s coronary arteries. After a whirlwind of doctor appointments and hospital stays, we finally brought Charlie home. I would have taken him to Disney World on the same day had he asked because that sweet boy deserved all the magic and happiness for what he went through, but his request was simple: “I want to bake cookies with you, Mommy.” This small wish became our therapeutic refuge, and our days were filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked treats. Soon, we began sharing our creations with friends and family. Before I knew it, our baking sessions became a fullblown home bakery operation. What I thought was the start of a new passion project quickly became something more than I could ever imagine. I wanted to share Charlie’s story with the world to help raise awareness about this awful disease, but in a way that brought the love, joy, happiness and quality time we shared together into other people’s homes. Love&Cookies was born. Love&Cookies began from my unwavering belief that I had something unique—a delectable product, an eager market and a vision beyond a home bakery. What kick-started a healing experiment with my son morphed into something extraordinary. In October 2021, the Love&Cookies storefront opened in Lakeway, Texas. We offer a range of fresh gourmet cookies, 64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER 2023

brownies, cookie cakes and mouthwatering cinnamon rolls, quickly establishing our bakery as a loved fixture in the Lakeway community. But we wanted to take it a step further and bring Love&Cookies home, so I introduced our line of frozen gourmet cookie dough, delivering a warm homemade cookie experience without the fuss or artificial ingredients. Our cookie chronicle doesn’t stop there. Six months after opening our storefront, I decided to take a leap of faith to enter H-E-B’s Quest For Texas Best competition. To my astonishment, I emerged as one of the top ten finalists out of over 500 entries. I went on to clinch the first-place title, winning $20,000 and a spot on H-E-B’s shelves. Love&Cookies frozen gourmet cookie dough is now available in more than 250 H-E-B locations across Texas. You might be asking yourself, “How on earth is a small 1,000-squarefoot bakery able to support supplying all those H-E-Bs?” Great question. This is the part where the hard work and problem-solving come in. I decided to build my own manufacturing facility because, naturally, that’s the easy thing to do. I got to work. I learned everything I needed to know about manufacturing: food safety, the right equipment, shipping, logistics, packaging, staffing—the list goes on, but we built it! Winning the H-E-B competition changed my life and my family’s life. We are proud to be an H-E-B partner. When you fill your cart with Love&Cookies, you can read Charlie’s story on the back of every package of frozen dough sold in retail. We are achieving our mission and saving hearts one cookie at a time. Our Austin community has been amazing. They have cheered us on at all our major milestones and kept us going when things got (and will continue to be) challenging. I am so blessed to be surrounded by a network of intelligent, capable, strong women who continue to support and guide me as I navigate the sweet journey of Love&Cookies. For those of you thinking about starting a business or already have, keep going. You can do it! Surround yourself with people who see your vision and can help make that dream or passion project a reality. Take care of your people. You get out what you put in. No matter what journey you may take—sweet, sour and everything in between—life is what you bake it. Learn more about KD at kawasakikidsfoundation.org.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Cameron.

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