Four Houston Female Chefs Who Own it!
The female force is strong on the hospitality scene. You only have to look at the long and growing list of participants in I’ll Have What She’s Having to know it! Here are some to take a closer look at.
Evelyn Garcia Kin HTX
Currently the only local chef contestant on Bravo's Top Chef Houston, Chef Evelyn Garcia is a stranger to the concept of “no.” Saying yes has allowed her to organically evolve her culinary dreams from cooking on a flattop at the farmers market to her recent spot in the now-closed food hall Politan Row, called Kin by Chef Evelyn to her current new concept Kin HTX. Garcia’s culinary inspiration derives from the bold and vibrant flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine and the interplay of spicy, sour, salty and sweet. Though she creates her own interpretation of numerous Southeast Asian dishes, her favorite to make is curry. She loves the lengthy and meticulous process of building and layering flavors. In fact, she says her brain functions best when it’s processing and figuring things out, which is why being a small business owner came naturally. Her parents have been a constant source of encouragement to keep her on a path of forward momentum in realizing her vision. Garcia says they always know the right questions to ask, since they both have experience as business owners. The hours might be long and the work physically and mentally demanding, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Top Chef Update - as of this writing, Chef Evelyn is making Houston proud--winning accolades from the judges. Stay tuned and keep rooting our local chef on!
Stacey Tune Craft Burger and Dining with the Tunes
348 Mason Rd Katy, TX 77450
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Chef Stacey Tune was a fixture in her family’s kitchen from a very young age. Her earliest culinary memory involves making rice and peas from scratch with her mother and grandmother, a process that involved grating fresh coconut by hand. Since graduating from culinary school in Miami, she and husband, Shannen, have traveled the country to help open and operate the kitchens of numerous high-end hotels, a culture where she says “no” is simply not an option. As their family began to grow after the birth of their two children, the Tunes decided to settle in Houston in order to establish their own brands: Craft Burger and Dining with the Tunes. Their menu is as diverse as their travels and backgrounds, pulling in influences from Jamaica, California, Miami and now Texas. Being a small business owner has allowed Tune the flexibility in her schedule to be able to eat dinner together with her family every night and take her kids to school every morning, things she deems highly important. Tune likened running a small business to the fine art of juggling, one that wouldn’t be possible without the never-ending support of friends and family.
Carrie Roper Picnic on the Green
From helping her mother with a home-based bread business to an apprenticeship under a classically trained pastry chef in college, Carrie Roper’s early culinary experience helped her realize her love of food. Though she did sundry catering jobs in college, after graduation she created a career in human resources. After many years in HR, and the eventual creation of her own HR consulting company in Houston, she reignited her food hobby by purchasing a food truck. Later christened Picnic on the Green, the food truck was initially meant to operate on a small scale. But, a successful temporary run with shop Kuhl-Linscomb led to an invitation to create a permanent home for the food truck. Her style of cooking is nostalgic while also taking into consideration the melting pot of international influences present in Houston. Though being a small business owner is physically demanding, Roper says being an entrepreneur runs in her blood. At the end of the day she loves making people happy through her cooking and simply being able to have fun with something she’s so passionate about. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that her family and close friends love working on the truck with her.
Stephanie Hoban Verdine
449 W 19th St #C-200, Houston
Chef Stephanie Hoban’s path to her vegan restaurant Verdine began with the desire to fill a culinary void in Houston. In 2013, she created Ripe Cuisine, a concept that turned whole foods into approachable and delicious vegan dishes for vegans and non-vegans alike. Initially operating as a table at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market, Hoban transitioned to a food truck in 2014. Though the initial dream was to have a brick-and-mortar restaurant with proper sit-down vegan dining, it took six years of hard work and dedication to see her dream realized in Verdine. The immense support of her family in the early days coupled with immediate positive feedback at the farmers market fueled her passion and trajectory towards what is now Verdine. The restaurant is truly a family affair, with Hoban as owner and head chef, dad as CFO and mom stepping in to help with front of house. As a small business owner, Hoban likens her job to being the “utility knife,” stepping in when and where she’s needed. At the end of the day, the hard work is worth it in order to see a thriving vegan restaurant in a city known for brisket and chicken fried steak.
