Women built, and still shape, our culinary culture every day

On 8 March the calendar fills with dinners, panel talks, articles and online events amplifying female voices. International Women’s Day can feel joyful and attentive, but the momentum often fades the next day and many events end up feeling like lip service. The food world is different.

For generations cooking has been predominantly a women’s realm and the knowledge and wisdom that sustained humanity passed down the female line, giving women an edge in the culinary sphere. Names such as Claudia Roden, Madhur Jaffrey and Elizabeth David sit alongside cooks and innovators including Georgina Hayden, who updates Greek recipes; Thomasina Miers, who is changing school canteens; Sally Abé, who calls out sexism in professional kitchens; and Asma Khan, who gives value to domestic traditions and works with an all-female team at Darjeeling Express.

Our restaurant, Honey & Co, has long been a matriarchy: most of the management team are women who lead the kitchens and run front of house, the wine programme, communications and logistics.

women, culinary culture, cooking, claudia roden, madhur jaffrey, elizabeth david, asma khan, darjeeling express, honey &, matriarchy