Twenty three years a chef, twelve a mother to twins, and a decade of restaurant co-ownership. She learned from those around her. The chefs, the activists, the farmers, and the immigrants. You can’t give up on your dream, and you can’t let down the people who count on you.
In the tiny footprint of her industrial kitchen, she pivots on her Dansko clogs. They show the wear and tear of dedication and the splash of soup she doesn’t care to wipe clean. But they do the job and support her sure-footedness as she leads the team, takes care of the people, and transforms the freshest ingredients into deliciously nourishing meals to-go.
More than the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, it’s she and her team – their commitment to quality, inclusion, and social justice that sustains the community from their little spot on Vine.
On Discovering Dansko
“When I first started cooking at 15 (23 years ago), I wore high-top Chuck Taylors while peeling onions. At 15 you have no pains or long-term commitment to health, so I wasn’t thinking about how my footwear would affect my back, etc.
I started wearing Danskos after working in New York at a Michelin-starred gastro pub. At that point, food had started to take a more central and serious role in my life. I paid attention to the chefs around me and began to pick up on the common traits and habits they had.”
On Never Giving Up
"Giving up is not an option if you have people who depend on you. My kids depend on me, my staff depends on me, my friends, and my whole family needs me to succeed.”
What Sylvie thinks of when she thinks of Teamwork
“I think of the word ‘together’. I think of Camaraderie. It’s something that is grown and takes work. It takes a lot of time and energy to create. No techy or consultant can sell you “culture”. Culture is created with blood, sweat, tears, burns, achy knees, and battles fought together… a group dedicated to the same common goal.
In the kitchen, we talk a lot about flow state’. It’s the moment in the group when all cylinders are clicking and we all are participating in a way that feels organic and results in a common success."
Supporting small farmers using seasonal produce.
Advice for women pursuing their dreams
“Every move you make in life informs your next decision. There is value in trying on different ‘pairs of shoes’ and seeing how they make you feel.”
