Celebrating women

Women entrepreneurs in the spotlight at Drake fundraiser

Young entrepreneur Ashley Inglis will be opening a new restaurant in Bloomfield this coming spring called Bermuda.

Over 20 women entrepreneurs in the County’s food and beverage industry gathered at the Drake Devonshire to celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8. Chefs, winemakers, beer brewers, cider makers, and restaurant owners or operators provided a selection of delectable foods as well as drinks, including cider, beer, wine and cocktails to the hundreds of people who came out to celebrate the work of women in the County. This is the third year that the event has been organized by Drake chef Alexandra Feswick and bar manager Cheynelle Fraser. “Every year it keeps growing and growing, which is very exciting for us,” said Ms. Fraser. “We do this to showcase the amazing women in the County who are business owners or who are running the show. But we also do it because we have a chance to raise money for Reaching for Rainbows. That organization is amazing. It is empowering and helping create opportunities for young girls.” For Chef Feswick, the event was also a way to show solidarity with County businesswomen. “I think it’s important that we are constantly lifting each other up, helping break down barriers, and the more people the more strength,” she said. “The more exposure we have for women that are currently leading the way, the more that other women are going to join forces and feel they have the confidence and mentorship to be able to open their own businesses and follow their own dreams.”

The participants included Mel Cannons of Idle Wild, Enid Grace of the soon-to-open Enid Grace Culinary, and whose former Wellington café was a popular morning spot for both visitors and residents, and wineries such as Karlo Estates and Lacey Estates. New this year was Zoe Marshall of Stock and Row.

She is a cider maker at Lighthall Vineyards, and learned her craft in Oregon under the direction of the renown Peter Mitchell. She and her partners will soon open a retail store at their property on Gilead Road, not far from Kinsip. She enjoys being her own boss. “I’m a little bit of a workaholic,” she said. “I like to be able to make my own decisions, to make my own timetable. I wake up early, so I can start working at 5 a.m. The County is definitely a community that supports women unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty unbelievable.” Another young entrepreneur is Ashley Inglis, who has been doing pop-up catering with her partner at various County wineries over the past four years. This spring she will be opening a casual restaurant in Bloomfield called Bermuda. She said it has sometimes been a bit of a struggle to be taken seriously. “A lot of people expect me to have a strong male behind me, but I’ve been pretty confident and it really helps to have women in this community always backing each other up,” she said. “Being a young female entrepreneur is tough because people don’t take you seriously, but over the years I’ve learned to stand my ground and fight for what I believe in.”

(L-R): Sam Valdivia and Morgan Ratcliffe of the La Condesa team with some of the snacks that will be available at Kōenji, a soon-to-open whisky bar at the former Stache location in Wellington.

The event raised $6,060 for Reaching for Rainbows. Reverend Lynne Donovan of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church started the group nine years ago as a way to change the life trajectory of vulnerable young girls. She quoted an Irish proverb—“We live in the shelter of one another”— and said this was the philosophy that has been their guide. “The proverb reinforces the core values that are behind Reaching for Rainbows,” she said. “Every one of us in this room, in order to be successful, needs a deep sense of belonging, needs a circle of friends, and needs to be encouraged to shine our best light. This is what we do at Reaching for Rainbows. We create a circle of friends, surrounded by adults who want to love them and challenge them and encourage them to be their best selves. I want to thank all of you for giving these girls and their families the opportunity to experience deep friendships and to discover the light that projects them into a successful future, and will make all of us healthier.” For more information about Reaching for Rainbows, or to make a donation, please visit reachingforrainbows.com.