I love this industry, and feel empowered and inspired by all my fellow die hard industry lifers who have stuck it out through the past two years. I love working with people who are still committed to the art of true hospitality, and it is a privilege working everyday to make the best experience possible for both our guests, and the incredible team we have put together at Lo & Behold.  Our crew is majority women with a few amazing men, and we are all family.

As for the male dominance over the bar and restaurant world, it does get better every day. I still have guests, both men and women alike, who will ask me if I can have "the bartender" make them a drink, gesturing to whatever male is behind the bar with me.  I usually reply, "Do you mind if I make it?" It's a great learning opportunity for whoever makes that assumption. 

Proving yourself is always harder as a woman in any industry, unfortunately.  I happen to live in an incredibly  progressive area, and I have been put in charge of men much older than myself since my early years in the industry, so my challenges have been fewer than most. I am also surrounded by powerful women in my community; we all support and inspire each other.  Sonoma county has so many female entrepreneurs and business owners, and none of us take any shit. I do have to give a shout out to Sonoma County men on this one - we all work alongside each other with respect and admiration that makes it easier to be a female than it is in other communities.

Keep it up, we are crushing it!