π Rotary Club of Chinatown is hosting a "Women in Entrepreneurship - Starting up a Business Successfully Workshop"!
π Topics:
1οΈβ£ Why Restaurant
2οΈβ£ Skill Set Required
3οΈβ£ Challenges & Rewards
4οΈβ£ Financial Requirements
5οΈβ£ Doβs and Donβts
π Date: Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
β° Time: 5:30 pm β 7:00 pm
π Location: Hop Lee Restaurant, 16 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013
π° Fee: $35/person (Includes a full dinner)
π§ RSVP: email Chinatownrotary@gmail.com
ποΈ Speaker: Erika Chou
Erika Chou combines her love of the restaurant industry with her background in fine arts, interior design, and branding. She brings her many talents to bear as an owner and operator after first gaining experience in the fashion industry, before working her way up the ranks of Andre Balazsβ Standard Grill and the Gotham City Hospitality Group. In 2012, she embarked on her own with the debut of Yunnan Kitchen, one of the first regional Chinese restaurants in NYC. Three years later, her sophomore project opened in the World Trade Center after which she founded Rivers and Hills Hospitality Group. Today, the group, deemed βa hit makerβ by Eater, includes concepts like powerhouse Wayla, James Beard Nominee Kimika, along with Wan Wan, JIA, Bronsonβs Burgers, and Lotus + Cleaver.
Along the way, Erika has been recognized as a leading female entrepreneur in the Food & Beverages industry by Cherry Bombe, The New York Times, and listed in the Hospitality News Watchlist of 15. A particularly notable feature was being named one of three pioneers of Chinese cuisine in America with a front-page feature by the New York Times. Her projects have been spotlighted in The New Yorker, Grubhub, Eater, Vogue, Louis Vuitton City Guide, The Infatuation, Bon Appetit, James Beard Foundation, and more.
In the past few years, Erika has pivoted by going back to her design roots and became a partner at the interior design firm, Bespoke Only. She has since then left to focus on her family and is very excited for whatβs to come.