Culinary Pioneers: Women Who Have Changed the Way We Eat

March 18, 2021

In honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to highlight a few female trailblazers who changed the culinary world.

Since ancient times, women have played key roles in developing agriculture and farming systems.
Amelia Simmonswrote America's first cookbook, American Cookery, in 1796.
In 1866, Malinda Russell became the first-known African American author with her cookbook - Domestic Cook Book: Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen.
In the early 1900s, farmer Freda Ehmann perfected the fruit preservation process for shipping. She is considered the mother of California's olive industry.
You can thank Fannie Farmer for standardizing the system of measurements used in cooking and inventing measuring cups and spoons.
Mary Fisher can be considered the first foodie. Her 1937 articles taught readers to celebrate food, instead of just consuming it. Her magazine features still influence modern writers today.
In 1961, America's first celebrity chef, the iconic Julia Child, published her first cookbook inspiring millions to live fearlessly in the kitchen.
Edna Lewis, "the grande dame of southern cooking,” became the first person to win the inaugural James Beard Living Legend Award in 1995.
In 2009, our fearless founders, Nancy and Kimber, opened our flagship West Chester store.
By 2016, enrollment at the Culinary Institute of America was predominantly female for the first time ever!

We are proud to stock our shelves with artisan brands from female entrepreneurs around the world. Here are our favorite brands to support not only during Women's History Month, but also every day: Gracious Gourmet, Mama Faith’s, Peaches Provisions, Alice’s Cottage, Funny Farm Apiaries, and Sticky Maple Bucket.