Tress Walker, Mum’s Kitchen
Did you know that New York City has the highest number of women entrepreneurs in our neighborhoods? According to New York City Small Business Services, women across the five boroughs employ over 190,000 people and generate approximately $50 billion in sales. This month, we’re proud to present our annual Women’s issue—dedicated to all the innovative women chefs, food entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, bakers, mixologists and more who help feed the borough everyday.
Coinciding with the print issue (you’ll be able to pick up a copy soon!), every weekday throughout the month of May, we’re featuring a different Queens woman in the food industry. From Flushing’s dumpling maestro Helen You, to Long Island City’s Brazilian baker, Daniela Martins-Schwarzbauer and Last Dragon Pizza’s Nicole Russell in Rockaway, each woman reflects the diverse and independent spirit of Queens. Oh, and did we mention that our woman-owned magazine produced this women’s issue with a team of all-women writers, photographers, illustrators, designers and editors (save for our photo editor, Ed Lefkowicz)? No big deal.
Tress Walker, Mum’s Kitchen
“Come, find your taste of home” is the salutation at the online enterprise Mum’s Kitchen, which specializes in Caribbean treats. And it was unsurprisingly inspired by Tress Walker’s very own mum. Growing up, she remembers sitting around the kitchen table chatting and peeling vegetables. But she also did her best to stay out of the way, so as not to disturb her mother’s carefully choreographed, perfectly timed routine involving all four burners on the stove.
Her business also honors the many generations of mums who came before, who were not only dedicated to feeding their families but to bettering themselves, and forging ahead no matter what obstacles life threw in their way. That resilience is reflected in Walker’s will to constantly keep learning and never take no for an answer, tirelessly working towards her goal of opening a café in Southeast Queens, near her St. Albans home. The centerpiece will be a big old table, of course, where visitors can talk, laugh and enjoy coconut liqueur–infused brownies, tamarind pods and codfish cake balls with mango-pineapple dipping sauce. And of course, do their best to stay out of the way!
