STAT BOX
We launched ShePartakes with an orgasmic eleven course lunch at O Ya – attended by a fascinating mix of SheGives women, as well as women active in the Boston region’s food, wine and hospitality industries. Our guests included: Haley Fortier – from the forthcoming haley.henry wine bar, Valerie Gurdal – owner of Formaggio Kitchen, Amy Fischer – Director of Marketing and Events for Boston Common Magazine, Helen Gallo – Senior VP Northeast, Winebow and Kate Urekew – Founder of Revel Experiences.
Our Host, Nancy Cushman – co-owner of Cushman Concepts (O Ya + Hojoko) started our intimate conversation about women in Boston;s restaurant scene by sharing the story of the launch of O Ya. “The women who are part of Boston’s restaurant culture are extremely generous, welcoming and supportive” and that tradition — of women inspiring and celebrating other women — is at the crux of ShePartakes!
Don’t miss our next intimate lunch {Sugar + Spice} w. Ana Sortun (James Beard Award Winner!) at Oleana. Get Tix Here!
Meet the mastermind behind O Ya –
and the other Cushman Concepts – Nancy Cushman!
Nancy Cushman’s experience includes the creation of the highly acclaimed, award-winning O Ya restaurant Nancy’s passion for sake was sparked in Chicago. After her first sake experience, she became fascinated with it and made studying sake a passion, completing the Sake Professional Course in Japan with the world’s foremost sake expert. In 2007, she opened O Ya, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, with her husband Tim Cushman.
Chef Tim and Nancy Cushman have expanded their restaurant group to New York City. In 2014, they opened Roof at Park South, a seasonal rooftop cocktail bar with a 360 degree view of the NYC skyline from the top floor of the Park South Hotel. In 2015, they opened a second o ya in Manhattan and a new Japanese Tavern called Hojoko in Boston’s Fenway Neighborhood.
O Ya has received numerous awards, including being named by the New York Times’ Frank Bruni as the #1 new restaurant in the U.S. outside of New York. In 2012, Nancy travelled back to Japan to complete the Advanced Sake Professional Course and is now one of less than 100 people in the world to have this certification. In 2014, Boston Magazine ranked o ya the #1 restaurant in Boston. O Ya us Boston’s most impossible reservation to get and highly sought after for their Japanese-inspired cuisine and sake menu.
Thanks Nancy (+ Team) for hosting such a memorable launch to ShePartakes!
