March 3, 2021 —
March is Women’s History Month! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up a list of local restaurants, breweries and bars helmed by bad*ss women who have led their industry and continued to serve their communities despite the hardships endured this past year. Check out all the details below!
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Sojourn Philly is comprised of Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia’s “global vineyard,” adjacent Jet Wine Garden, Rex 1516, elevated Southern cuisine in a ‘faded mansion’ dining room, and Café Ynez, the Mexico-City inspired all-day diner located on Washington Avenue in South Philly. The esteemed restaurant group is helmed by three bad*ss women, Jill Weber — Owner of Sojourn Philly and Wining Archaeologist, Heather Rodkey — Director of Operations, and Qamara Edwards — Director of Business and Events. As a team, these three women have been leaders in the industry with philanthropic endeavors.
Sojourn Philly has previously partnered with fellow women entrepreneurs such as the Sisterly Love Food Fairs, as well as The Voter Project to raise awareness for the need for poll workers. Additionally, Sojourn Philly continues to pay health insurance for all full-time staff, and 401k benefits amidst the pandemic while they are continuously working on opening two new restaurants, Sor Ynez, a Mexico City-inspired veg-focused restaurant and REX.
This past year, Jill Weber co-developed Nourished, a meal delivery platform that enabled hospital staff to access healthy and affordable food options while supporting eight local woman-owned restaurants (including her own).
1525 South St | 215.735.1116 | www.jetwinebar.com
1516 South St | 267.319.1366 | www.rex1516.com
2025 Washington Ave | 215.278.7579 | www.cafeynez.com
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Jessie Prawlucki-Styer is Co-Owner and Pastry Chef of Fond, the acclaimed contemporary French restaurant on East Passyunk Avenue. Chef Jessie Prawlucki opened Fond in 2009 with her husband and colleague Chef Lee Styer. Prior to that, Chef Prawlucki worked her way up to Pastry Chef at Le Bec-Fin.
At the popular, three-bell restaurant in South Philadelphia, Chef Prawlucki prepares rich and flavorful desserts and freshly baked goods to complement the dinner menus. The eatery boasts a stellar bar program, full wine list, 50 indoor seats, and expansive outdoor seating. Over the past year, Chef Prawlucki has hosted successful Bake Shop Pop-Ups at Fond, and partnered with Philabundance for a food drive around the holiday season.
In an effort to pivot and adapt this past year, Fond temporarily transitioned to Fond For All — a prepared foods market and take-away restaurant featuring simple two-step meal kits to be enjoyed at home. During the winter months, Fond pivoted further to a street-side grill where Chef Prawlucki’s homemade sourdough bread, soups, and more were accompanied by Chef Lee’s cheesesteaks, sausage sandwiches, and additional takeaway items.
1537 S 11th St | 215.551.5000 | www.fondphilly.com
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In a largely male-dominated industry, Nancy Barton stands at the helm of Philadelphia Brewing Company, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and largest breweries. Barton and her husband Bill Barton have been the proprietors of the brewery located in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Barton and Philadelphia Brewing Company brew an impressive 15,000 barrels of beer per year, consisting of five year-round beers, several seasonal beers, and occasional one-off recipes, including their flagship beer — Kenzinger. One decade after opening Philadelphia Brewing Company, Barton expanded by launching new bar The Peacock Room — a 30-seat tavern selling Philadelphia Brewing Company beers and Commonwealth Ciders on tap and in bottles, as well as snack plates and craft cocktails with local spirits. Additionally, the dog-friendly beer garden is open for service year-round with bench-style, covered seating for purchasing beer to-go, and bring-your-own-food.
One of their many accolades include the fan-favorite Walt Wit being named Wheat Beer of the Year by Beer Scene Magazine. Barton has expressed strong interest in community involvement and focuses on local distribution opposed to distributing heavily across the country. Barton has shown support to local pet shelters by hosting fundraisers, and in most recent years, hosting “Caturdays” at Philadelphia Brewing Company where the Pennsylvania SPCA brings adoptable cats to the tasting room for potential adopters to choose from.
2440 Frankford Ave | 215.427.2739 | http://philadelphiabrewing.com/
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Sabrina’s Café, the locally grown group of popular breakfast, lunch and brunch restaurants, is co-owned and operated by Raquel DeAbreu. Raquel opened Sabrina’s Café in late-April 2001 with husband Robert DeAbreu, and named the new venture after her newborn baby Sabrina Isabella. Since then, four additional locations have opened in the Philadelphia area. Currently, Sabrina’s Café’s University City, Callowhill, Wynnewood, PA, and Collingswood, NJ locations are open for limited indoor dining, outdoor seating, takeaway, and delivery.
Over the past two decades Raquel and Sabrina’s Café have garnered awards and accolades from Travel + Leisure, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine and more. Previously, Raquel has worked with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and donated to various local churches in an effort to give back to the community. In the future Raquel hopes to delve further into charity work by assisting the homeless and mental health facilities.
www.sabrinascafe.com/
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Erin Wallace, of Devil’s Den, the South Philly spot for pub fare and an extensive beer selection, is not only one of the few female brewery owners in Philadelphia but she is a fixture in the city’s ever-growing beer scene.
A longtime board member of Philly Loves Beer and Philly Beer Week, Wallace is also the regional founder of the Philadelphia chapter of the Pink Boots Society — a non-profit organization with International membership which supports women working in the brewing profession, especially in creating craft beer. As for Devil’s Den, Wallace and the bar/restaurant have many accolades from multiple publications and have appeared in Philadelphia Magazine, and on Foobooz’s Top 50 Bars list on several occasions.
1148 South 11th Street | 215.339.0855 | http://www.devilsdenphilly.com
-Allanah Richman
