42: Vegan Restaurateur Behind Beyond Sushi & Willow, Tali Vaknin
05/12/21 • 37 min
Tali, an Ohio native was raised with strong family values. As a child, she always knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to fight for it. She has strong ties to her Hungarian and Israeli roots and is very connected to both cultures.
Tali ventured to the ‘Big Apple’ in 2005 to attend the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising. She graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Fashion Styling. Tali believes that there is a great parallel in
working with fashion and food.
In 2007, she was hired at KCD, New York’s leading PR/Production company where she tailored fashion shows and photo shoots for designers such as Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang. In 2009, Tali joined forces with Antony Todd, New York’s most elite
Event Designer, in creating exquisite tablescapes and design installations for clients including Elton John, Victoria’s Secret, Bulgari, and Harry Winston. In 2010, Tali worked with Primary Wave Music in planning their annual Grammy Party in LA while cultivating strategic marketing initiatives and brand partnerships with new and existing clients. In late 2010, Tali was hired as the senior catering manager at Esprit Events. In this role, she worked alongside Chef Guy in crafting intricate new menus and focused her efforts on business development.
While at Esprit Events, the idea of Beyond Sushi came to fruition and in December 2012, Guy and Tali took a leap of faith to open their first brick and mortar location. Tali took on all aspects of business development, marketing and developed the Beyond Sushi catering division. Her background in fashion and styling has made Tali a visionary in all design aspects
for each restaurant location with the talented team at Atal Design Group. Tali and Guy wed in August 2013 and welcomed two sons in 2014 and 2018. Their growing family is now the driving force behind their dedication to Beyond Sushi.
Beyond Sushi Website: https://beyondsushi.com
Willow Website: https://willownewyork.com
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About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
Check out our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!
WWB Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
WWB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.
Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
Tali, an Ohio native was raised with strong family values. As a child, she always knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to fight for it. She has strong ties to her Hungarian and Israeli roots and is very connected to both cultures.
Tali ventured to the ‘Big Apple’ in 2005 to attend the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising. She graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Fashion Styling. Tali believes that there is a great parallel in
working with fashion and food.
In 2007, she was hired at KCD, New York’s leading PR/Production company where she tailored fashion shows and photo shoots for designers such as Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang. In 2009, Tali joined forces with Antony Todd, New York’s most elite
Event Designer, in creating exquisite tablescapes and design installations for clients including Elton John, Victoria’s Secret, Bulgari, and Harry Winston. In 2010, Tali worked with Primary Wave Music in planning their annual Grammy Party in LA while cultivating strategic marketing initiatives and brand partnerships with new and existing clients. In late 2010, Tali was hired as the senior catering manager at Esprit Events. In this role, she worked alongside Chef Guy in crafting intricate new menus and focused her efforts on business development.
While at Esprit Events, the idea of Beyond Sushi came to fruition and in December 2012, Guy and Tali took a leap of faith to open their first brick and mortar location. Tali took on all aspects of business development, marketing and developed the Beyond Sushi catering division. Her background in fashion and styling has made Tali a visionary in all design aspects
for each restaurant location with the talented team at Atal Design Group. Tali and Guy wed in August 2013 and welcomed two sons in 2014 and 2018. Their growing family is now the driving force behind their dedication to Beyond Sushi.
Beyond Sushi Website: https://beyondsushi.com
Willow Website: https://willownewyork.com
---
About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
Check out our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!
WWB Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
WWB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.
Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
Previous Episode
41: A Look Into the Organic Spirits Industry with Allison Evanow, Founder of Square One Organics
Meet Allison:
As Founder and CEO of Square One Organic Spirits, Allison Evanow is the chief strategist, operations officer and visionary for Square One Organic Spirits, the U.S.’s first all organic spirits company she started in 2004. Since the launch of Square One Organic Vodka in 2006, Evanow has lead the company’s growth as a successful, independent spirits company with a portfolio of five organic spirits and distribution across the US and several countries. She was also one of the first women to start her own spirits brand in the U.S. and is recognized for mentoring other women spirits entrepreneurs as they have launched their own product lines. Square One Organic Spirits is a WBENC certified company (Women Business Enterprise National Certification).
In 2019 and 2020, Evanow is leading Square One into a broader category of organic and botanic products, with the introduction of a line of 5 organic non-alcoholic cocktail mixers and 4 ready-to-drink canned cocktails. As has been typical of Square One and Allison’s trajectory, they are a company of firsts and this portfolio of products is the only USDA Organic portfolio of spirits, non-alc mixers and RTD cocktails in the U.S. market.
Allison is a graduate of the University of Virginia and also holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. After starting Square One in Marin County, CA and living there for 14 years, Allison and her family now call Charlottesville, VA home.
What You'll Learn in this Episode:
- How Allison got started in the spirits industry.
- More about her company Square One Organic Spirits
- What mentorship look like and advice Allison has for fellow women in the spirits industry.
- How organic translates to the quality of spirits and it's benefits to the planet.
Website: https://squareoneorganicspirits.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squareoneorganicspirits
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About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
Check out our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!
WWB Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
WWB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.
Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
Next Episode
43: Black-Owned Business Directory App Eat Okra, COO & Co-Founder Janique Ewards
Meet Janique Edwards, COO / Co-Founder
Janique is a team leader with the ability to connect, organize, maximize productivity and improve program efficiency. and started her career with the Department of Homeland Security as a Mission Support Specialist providing administrative support services to smaller subdivisions within the agency. In 2017, she was promoted to the role of a Management and Program Analyst, where she currently uses her skills to examine and execute administrative support programs with the goal of increasing agency productivity.
As COO / Co-Founder of EatOkra, Janique focuses on sourcing and managing business data to attract more users, while developing the company’s brand identity and mission. The company now includes a team of eight; She oversees the daily operations of the company while also focusing on developing company culture, defining the overall mission and values, revising brand identity, managing team morale, framing business goals, and building strong industry relationships. Janique is a graduate of Herbert H. Lehman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
EatOkra was founded by husband and wife Anthony Edwards, Jr (CEO) and Janique Edwards (COO) in Brooklyn, NY as a comprehensive, user-friendly Black-owned business directory app that makes Black food and beverage the focal point. EatOkra’s mission is to provide a food-themed directory that encourages fellowship through one specific avenue, Black food.
Since their 2016 debut, EatOkra has welcomed welcomed 300,000+ users; features 5,700+ Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food trucks, bars and wineries across the U.S. are featured on the app and have been featured in the following media outlets: CuisineNoir, Forbes, Fox News Business, NBC New York, People, Thrillist and more.
The Edwards reside in Brooklyn, NY with their lovely daughter Bradley.
What You'll Learn in this Episode:
- How Janique and her husband Anthony started Eat Okra
- Diversity Janique see in Black-owned restaurants nationwide
- Corporate partnerships and sponsor The Food Truck Scholar and future partnerships and initiatives in the works with Eat Okra
Website: https://www.eatokra.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatokraTheApp
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About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
Check out our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!
WWB Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
WWB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
About Us - Women Who Brunch:
Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!
We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.
Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com
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