Join Women Who Really Cook for a special after-hours gathering at Benedict’s in Wayzata, hosted by Abby Rakun of Northern Hospitality & Co.
This event will feature special guests Kate Romero (Nixta, Oro by Nixta) and Stephanie March (Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Weekly Dish), for an honest conversation about the challenges restaurants are facing - and how we can meaningfully support them right now.
Connect with fellow WWRC members over delicious bites and beverages, and learn about The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund, a new local fund that provides direct relief to struggling independent restaurants.
About Our Host:
Abby Rakun
Creative Director of Hospitality & Culture at Northern Hospitality & Co. (Benedict’s, Mill Valley Kitchen, Longtrees Woodfire Grill)
Abby met her husband in culinary school and has been stirring pots and ideas ever since. After raising three kids and perfecting the art of feeding people well (with a lifelong devotion to soup), she returned to hospitality through community-driven events and creative work.
Now the Creative Director of Hospitality & Culture at Northern Hospitality & Co., Abby shapes brand storytelling, guest experience, and the overall vibe across the group’s restaurants. Known for her wide-brimmed hats, big ideas, and belief that hospitality is about how people feel, she blends creativity, care, and a little spice into everything she does.
About Our Guests:
Kate Romero
Co-owner of Nixta Tortilleria and Oro by Nixta
Kate Romero is the co-owner of Minneapolis based Nixta Tortilleria and Oro by Nixta. That's the Twin Cities way of saying, she works to evangelize heirloom corn and nixtamalization. The restaurant is known for honoring traditional techniques while pushing creative boundaries, and it's dedication to community efforts and helping incubate other small businesses. Oro by Nixta earned national recognition as a restaurant in 2024 , including a James Beard Award nomination, Bon Appetit Sustainable Stewards award, and a spot on the NYT Best New Restaurants list. This year, with her husband and partner, she hopes to secure the nod for Best Chef Midwest, the most recent accolade.
When she's not running a business eight days a week, she likes walking her dog and chasing her son, the prince corn.
About Our Guests:
Stephanie March
Co-Founder of The Salt Cure Fund, Editor-at-Large for Mpls.St. Paul Magazine, Co-host of Weekly Dish radio show
Stephanie March is a veteran of the food world, having spent the last 25+ years covering the food and dining scene in the Twin Cities as both a print and broadcast journalist. Before that, she opened more than 50 restaurants across the country. Right now she is lending her insight and influence to help raise funds for restaurants, bars, and other small businesses in the hospitality world through The Salt Cure Fund. Her main goal, as always, is to tell great stories while preserving and celebrating the food cultures that sustain communities. And to eat more cheese. 🧀
What to Expect at This Month’s Meeting:
✨A thoughtful, engaging conversation on the current state of the restaurant industry
✨Time to connect with fellow WWRC members over delicious bites and beverages, generously provided by Benedict’s and Nixta
✨Insight into The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund, and other ways to support restaurants in meaningful, actionable ways
Location: Benedict's - Wayzata: 845 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391
Parking: Parking garage entrance is located at the corner of Promenade Ave & Mill Street, with direct access into the restaurant.
RSVP today to show up for restaurants, and for each other. That is the power of Women Who Really Cook 💪
