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

“I’m the first one to admit that organizing is not rocket science,” says Liz Dahmen, owner of Make Space LLC. “It’s just time consuming, frustrating and often quite emotionally charged—so people put it off until a small mess becomes a huge nightmare. That’s usually when I get a call.” Dahmen began working as a professional organizer in 2005, after she operated a small green cleaning and consulting company. She founded Make Space with sustainability as the guiding principle, offering solutions for clients that are both simple to maintain and environmentally responsible. “Make Space isn’t just about getting rid of clutter,” Dahmen says. “If clients want to make space for a home office, or a yoga mat, or time to play with their kids, we do that, too.” She credits meditative exercise as her own sanity saver. “Being a small business owner is hard on your psyche. You only have yourself to report to at the end of the day, and when it has been a slow or bad day it’s really tempting to want to beat yourself up,” She says. “Exercise and mindfulness techniques remind me not to go there.”