A vegan diet is based on plants and foods made from plants. Most people who follow a vegan diet do so for environmental, health and moral reasons. Research suggests that going vegan for two-thirds of meals could cut food-related carbon emissions by 60%. Therefore, it makes sense that society is moving toward an acceptance of veganism highlighted by the advancement of vegan restaurants and industries. Zoe Newman is a Newcastle-based chef who owns ‘Veganatomy’ – a woman-owned vegan sushi food market stall, located at HWKR Food Market on Gateshead quayside. Having received high praise from chef Gordan Ramsay, who states her food was ‘incredible’, veganatomy is clearly a delicious addition to the food scene in Newcastle.
For International Women’s Day, we interviewed and questioned Zoe about her position as a woman in the culinary arts profession. Unfortunately, the chef industry has been and remains primarily dominated by males. Zoe states:
“Every kitchen I’ve ever worked in, it’s been mainly men, and you have to fight to be heard, to be seen”
It seems that despite developments in modern equality, the culinary profession has not effectively advanced. However, small businesses such as Zoe’s may change this trajectory. Zoe runs her business completely solo and is passionate about women deserving equal rights in the kitchen. By building her own business from scratch, Zoe has challenged this gendered stereotype and encouraged independence for others in this field.
Zoe has never let herself be held back by the marginalisation of women in professional kitchens. Her vegan sushi business is a testament to her confident and dominant personality which shines through in her work. It is a pleasure to acknowledge women such as Zoe on international women's day as she inspires others to follow their goals, both in the kitchen and beyond.
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