Meet Chef Bintou N’daw of Nafi’s Hot Pepper Condiments. Bintou, a caterer and food consultant, took over Nafi’s from her mother, Nafi. Nafi created the line of West African peanut sauces to fill a market need for African-influenced products in New York City. Nafi’s catering and in-store sales have slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Breadwinners
Voices from the Field: Kanpekies
Meet Suzanna of Kanpekies. A systems-focused architect, Suzanna started her shortbread cookie company as a side-business. In Japanese, the word kanpeki translates to “perfect,” which is what Suzanna wants to convey with her cookies (shop online here). Suzanna’s goal in 2020 was to increase her wholesale orders, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her existing […]
Voices from the Field: Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods
Meet Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods. After a dark period of addiction and homelessness, Janie Deegan found solace and healing through baking. Now, she’s a Food Network CHOPPED Sweets champion, and baker of sweet treats including her famous pie crust cookies (available online here). Janie had plans to scale her business through several grocers this […]
Voices from the Field: Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights
Business at Fauzia’s famous food truck came to a screeching halt in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the family out of work.
Voices from the Field: Celebrating a personal milestone amid Coronavirus-related job loss
This Hot Bread Kitchen workforce alumna is secure in her new apartment, thanks to quick access to unemployment insurance and the support of Hot Bread Kitchen.
Rokhaya’s Radical Confidence
Women’s History Month is a chance to turn the spotlight on the often invisible work of women. Meet Rokhaya: a teacher, mother, and Hot Bread Kitchen alumni. Rokhaya Gueye was disoriented when she arrived in New York City in 2016, not knowing how to communicate in English or where to search for a job. “When […]
