Sierra Tishgart

Born: Philadelphia, PA — 1990 / Living: New York City, NY

Interview by Speciwomen — April 2016

Speciwomen: Tell us about yourself.

Sierra Tishgart: I am a Philly-born, New York-based food writer. I currently work as the Senior Editor of GrubStreet (New York Magazine’s food blog), and I also contribute to magazines like Cherry Bombe, ELLE, and Bloomberg Businessweek.

S: What got you into food?

ST: I was actually a picky eater all the way through college. When I first moved to New York (for a job at Teen Vogue), I lived alone in a tiny apartment in the West Village. It was really too small to cook in, or even sit comfortably and enjoy takeout. I started exploring my neighborhood, primarily going out to eat by myself, and wanting to experience and taste as much as possible. I grew curious about the people behind the restaurants that welcomed me and made me feel at home in New York.

S: Do you have any culinary influences?

ST: My dear friend, Jessica Koslow, is the sole owner — no partners or investors — of Sqirl in Los Angeles, and she’s a total powerhouse. I also admire Cherry Bombe's Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu for creating a much-needed sense of community for women in the food world!

S: Who inspires you?

ST: My mom, Joan Tishgart. She’s kind, selfless and the best listener. After 42 years of volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, she recently won the Big Sister of the Century award. The century!

S: What type of food do you like to cook?

ST: I love making breakfast — blueberry pancakes, soft-scrambled eggs, and all kinds of toasts. In the summertime, I am outside grilling as much as possible. In general, I rarely follow recipes, so my cooking tends to be quite simple: I use whatever produce looks best at the Greenmarket, whatever meat looks best at my favorite butcher shop (Hudson & Charles), and add fancy olive oil.

S: Who do you cook for?

ST: I primarily cook for myself, since I live alone. My three best friends come over almost every Wednesday, and I always make grand plans to cook for them, but we usually end up ordering Filipino food from Lumpia Shack. I’m quite nervous about cooking for others, to be honest!  But I love finding odd snacks and giving them as little gifts to people I care about. I’ve spent the past week trying to track down the Japanese calpis marshmallows from Bar Goto.

S: Do you have any other interests?

ST: Gardening brings me so much joy. The bulbs I planted in the fall are just starting to bloom! My goal this season is to learn more about growing fruits and vegetables — there was a tomato massacre during last summer’s heat wave. I love to vintage shop, so much so, that I met my three best friends at a store called Shareen.

S: What is your dream career?

ST: To travel the world, talk to strangers, and stuff my face with amazing food. It would be great to have my own TV show and share the stories of the chefs, designers and farmers who inspire me — but I always want to write, too.

S: How has womanhood impacted your life?

ST: It impacts my life in every way imaginable. In a professional sense, women in the restaurant industry do not always get the recognition, or the opportunities, that they deserve. There is still a boys’ club mentality. It is a priority of mine to tell their stories, but not to let gender act as a qualifier, or a defining attribute.