Los Angeles-based non-profit Regarding Her (RE:Her) announced today the recipients of its inaugural grant program, in partnership with DoorDash, the nation’s leading last-mile logistics platform.
A committee of hospitality and business experts selected 15 female-identifying food and beverage entrepreneurs from a diverse pool of applicants across LA County. In addition to the $10,000 cash grants to be used at the restaurateurs’ discretion, grantees also receive access to consulting and mentorship from specialists in restaurant finance, HR, and PR/marketing. The applicants span an array of backgrounds, ages, and business types—including restaurants, catering companies, bars, ice cream shops, a food truck, and a wine bar—in neighborhoods ranging from the South Bay to Santa Monica to Sierra Madre and beyond. The grant recipients are:
● Chef Marilyn’s, Queen of Down Home Southern Goodies (Crenshaw)
● Cuernavaca’s Grill (Downtown Los Angeles)
● Dreamy Creations Cupcake Café (Northridge)
● Gelateria Uli (Downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Grove)
● La Huesuda Tacos (Arts District)
● La Parrilla (Downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights)
● Mama Musubi (Pasadena)
● My Ramen Bar (Little Tokyo)
● Nickel Diner (Downtown Los Angeles)
● Pupusas Delmy (Atwater Village)
● Qusqo Bistro and Gallery (Sawtelle)
● Si Laa (Pico Robertson)
● Tatang (North Hollywood)
● Teresita’s Restaurant Inc. (East Los Angeles)
● Tuk Tuk Thai (Pico Robertson)
“We are overwhelmed and moved by not only the volume of applications, but also the caliber and worthiness of each one,” says Lien Ta, a RE:Her Founding Member. “These women have overcome incredible hardships and are still so full of hope and ambition to keep driving their businesses forward, and we are thrilled that we can support our fellow business-owners in this small but hopefully impactful way.”
“We’re proud to sponsor RE:Her’s inaugural grant program to empower women-owned restaurants in the months ahead as familiar faces begin dining in again,” said Becky Latman, Chef & Industry Partnerships at DoorDash. “Throughout the last year, there have been countless inspiring stories highlighting the resiliency and selflessness of restaurants nationwide, and we are honored to play a part in creating new stories for entrepreneurs across Los Angeles County.”
The RE:Her grant selection committee includes Mendocino Farms founder Ellen Chen, former Food & Wine editor-in-chief Dana Cowin, Los Angeles Times food writer Jenn Harris, The Hundreds co-founder Ben Hundreds, restaurant accountant Barbara Barschak, restaurateur Roy Choi, consultant and media personality Monti Carlo, trademark attorney Elizabeth Sbardaletti, Jessica Kaczmerek of the James Irvine Foundation, and Kristin Aldana-Taday of the Hilton Foundation.
RE:Her is a non-profit devoted to the advancement and empowerment of women restaurateurs, supporting members through industry-focused and consumer-facing initiatives, virtual and physical events, and promotion and representation. The organization launched earlier this year with a mission to provide opportunities and resources—financial, educational, and more—to women food business owners in Los Angeles and beyond, kicking off with a collaborative event in January 2021 called 10 Days RE:Her.
DoorDash is committed to supporting women-owned businesses, including through its Made by Women platform launched during Women’s History Month and various fundraising and loan-matching campaigns to benefit female entrepreneurs. Partnering with RE:Her is one of the ways DoorDash is bringing that commitment to life, creating more opportunities for women-owned businesses in the Los Angeles area.
