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

A multi-talented massage therapist, yoga instructor and personal trainer, Emily Huber founded the Brooklyn-based Seeing Through the Hands Studio after working for more corporate-minded spas. “Even if [the position] was ‘health and wellness’ focused, it wasn’t feeding my soul like I knew doing this work could,” Huber says of her previous jobs. “It felt too much like a factory: client in and out and off to their next service.” With a more holistic approach to overall wellness, Seeing Through the Hands offers a menu of massage and yoga options plus trendy, cardio-focused hula-hooping classes. Huber uses social media platforms like YouTube—where she posts how-to videos about self-care—plus good ol’ word-of-mouth to appeal to new clients. Being an out lesbian in the health-and-wellness field has only enhanced her business. “My main practice is in Brooklyn, and we are everywhere here,” she laughs. “It’s been wonderful.”