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Plant-based Chef Nina Curtis

Forging a Plant-based Path to Wellness

Once a competitive bodybuilder who believed it took animal protein to build muscle, Nina Curtis found her competitive edge when she “broke up with salmon” and became a vegan chef. While Nina Curtis has been a foodie since she was an eight-year-old helping her mom cook from scratch and lending a hand with her dad’s catering business, she never thought she would cook for a living. “That’s why you should never say never, because it could come back to haunt you,” she says. And, while her mom went organic long before it was a thing, Nina’s early professional food experience…

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Aimee Francaes holding tongs with a steak on the grill

Tales from the Belly of the Beast – An Interview with Aimee Francaes

Aimee Francaes and her husband designed a restaurant like no other — locally sourced ingredients prepared, butchered, and preserved in house, a comprehensive accommodation of those with food allergies, and a staff so well-trained that everyone can feel safe that their needs will be met. Oh, and the food is amazing.   When a friend heard I was going to celebrate women who are making history in food and beverage for Women’s History Month, Aimee Francaes immediately sprang to mind. Aimee and the love of her life, Jesse Hassinger opened Belly of the Beast almost three years ago with a…

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black woman in orange sweater with her hands on her heart self care

Heart Health Care Starts with Self Care

It may seem daunting, but the path to better heart health starts with figuring out exactly what their stressors — and de-stressors, may be. Three facts got me thinking: Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for women The meetings industry tends to be pretty female-centric Stress, which is endemic to meeting planning, also is a factor in coronary disease So how can meeting professionals in general, and women specifically, become more protective and proactive about their own heart health? During our conversation about heart-healthy food and beverage practices, I segued into asking Stefanie Sacks if she had any…

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