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

In 2008, after being together for eight years, Jenn Gellman (right) and Millie Acosta decided to quit their jobs and start OnyxRai Productionz, a New York-based film, photography and post-production company focusing on red carpet shots, concert tapings, commercials, film projects and LGBT weddings. With Acosta’s love of independent and foreign films and Gellman’s passion for black-and-white photography, it was the only right thing to do. A CPA and world traveler, Acosta oversees the foundation of the business. Gellman says she provides comic relief to keep the business’ foundation from cracking. On being out in the entertainment industry, they say, “It’s been a positive experience. By being openly gay entrepreneurs, we have grown as a company. We are proud of who we are and what we stand for. We make it known with our business.” Their biggest struggle, though, is “not killing each other because we live and work together 24/7. But hey, it would make a great lesbian docudrama!”