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

Like most media moguls, Lisa Darden wears multiple hats. As a filmmaker, producer, talent agent and owner of Hope Unlimited Produc-tions (HUP) Talent and Booking Agency, Darden represents musicians, authors, athletes, comedians and other celebrities for public events, as well as her own film projects. This December Darden will work with the 2010 OUTmusic Awards in New York helping produce the extravaganza. She also serves on the OUTmusic LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (LARA) Board of Advisors. Darden has worked closely with LARA Chairwoman/CEO Diedra Meredith and the Board of OUTmusic to bring in exceptional artists to host, present and perform, and help take the awards show to the next level. “We are excited to have created the ‘Sponsor A Young Person Initiative’ this year,” Darden says. “We will use our media platform and some of the best talent we have to create a powerful PSA for release in early November. Proceeds will benefit homeless youth and AIDS organizations determined to make an impact in the lives of young people.”