Equity at the table (EAT))

Rather shamefully, I don’t find myself asking “whose food am I eating?” often enough when I eat out (or rather these days, in). Inquiry into this, and further inquiry as to who are the best chefs in Australia, reveal that since 2013, the majority of winners from two of Australia’s most influential food publications - the Gourmet Traveller and the Good Food Guide - have all been white. And mostly men. The kitchen is ostensibly one of those places where you would think value is placed on skills and merit, but race and privilege occupies this space in the very same way it pervades our everyday life - one which privileges whiteness and masculinity. Disappointing, but not surprising right?

This is where Equity at the Table (EATT) steps in. Founded in 2018 by Julia Turshen, a queer Jewish woman, EATT is an incredible international database that features only women and gender non-conforming individuals in and around the food industry, with a focus primarily on the POC and the LGBTQ+ community. EATT is a direct response to tackling racial and gender discrimination, a long known, but rarely addressed problem in the food industry.

While I laud at this resource, it is disappointing that once again, the onus falls on POCs and minorities to take up space. Until we arrive at a moment where inclusivity is a given and not a token, I would highly encourage you to take a moment to check out EATT and the talented women in the Australian food industry. Or else, think twice about whose food you are eating before you order your next meal.

Isabella