Queer Women We Love, Red Hot Entrepreneurs, Wonder Women

Workin’ It 2010

November 8, 2010 Cheryle Burke, Kat Long

Some chefs spend years in pricey culinary institutes trying to master natural foods. Deborah Gavito, proprietor of the snazzy NYC vegetarian restaurant Counter, learned the art of cooking with seasonal produce and edible weeds from her grandmothers. Gavito’s early fascination with natural cooking has grown into a long-time dedication to local and sustainable foods: her first venture, an all-natural baked goods business called Body & Soul, debuted in 1993. She sold her scrumptious treats at the Union Square Greenmarket, where she developed an appreciation for family farmers, and earned enough dough (pun intended) to open Counter in 2003. As Counter’s proprietor, Gavito designs fresh vegetarian fare, biodynamic wines and cleverly named organic vodka martinis (one is called “The Angry Lesbian”). “I waited on tables years and years ago, but other than that, I’ve only worked for myself,” Gavito says. “I don’t think I could take orders from any one else.”

45 of 2010’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs

With a design aesthetic all her own, Sossity Chiricuzio began Diesel Femme by creating unique clothing in a variety of materials, from vintage slips to everyday hardware. The Portland-based designer offers custom and off-the-rack creations with both feminine and masculine appeal; her growing fanbase inspired Chiricuzio to expand her brand to housewares. “Creating word of mouth, building a client base, learning new skills and improving others, finding the best base materials (especially as mine are almost entirely repurposed), figuring out the market for my products—these things all have a learning curve,” Chiricuzio says. “Without patience I’d have given up in frustration. Passion is the piece that keeps me going, keeps me excited. I have passion for what I’m doing, and who I’m doing it for, and above all, why I’m doing it.”