Women's power luncheon has royalty on the menu

The Queen recently came to Aurora. You heard right, the Long Island Sound Banquets hosted royalty.

Ina Pinkney, also known as "The Breakfast Queen," is the famed chef and owner of INA'S, a popular Chicago restaurant. Chef Pinkney was the featured guest speaker at 3rd Ward Alderman's Stephanie Kifowit's first annual Women's Power Luncheon held on Sept. 17.

The two-term Aurora City Council member drew laughter and a sigh of relief from the sprinkling of men in attendance, when she told the lunchtime gathering of mostly women that the event was not an anti-men event.

When I got the word that the renowned Brooklyn-born chef, who has been a guest on the Food Network, CNN and featured by the New York Times, would visit Aurora, my interest piqued.

You see, it whetted my appetite to hear how someone who brags about being fired 19 times, has turned what many would consider a rather disconcerting employment history into an extraordinary success story.

The way I see it, whatever she has done to parlay her experiences into a successful career and business venture is a recipe that we can all use. Still, even I knew that it would not be in good taste to bring my resume along for a quick once-over.

As a native Chicagoan and admitted foodie, it was difficult to confess that I had not been to her restaurant. However, you can bet that during my next visit to Chicago, I will dine with the Queen.

The seasoned Pinkney, a fervent believer in second chances, describes a life altering epiphany this way, "Finally, at age 37, I baked a cake and found my calling."

At first, it sounds like an over- simplified recipe for success. However, the simplicity of Pinkney's formula is what makes the account of her life-altering moment so appealing and genuinely human.

The occasionally fiery and outwardly fun-loving chef did not disappoint, energizing and exciting an audience of business owners and community leaders. Talking candidly about what it takes to succeed Pinkney added a dash of seriousness, sharing a heart-rending account of contracting polio as a child and standing up to a lifetime of challenges.

There was a moment when Chef Pinkney offered sage advice about the significance of tenacity and courage, saying, "It takes less energy to be courageous than to be afraid." To me, this seemed the main ingredient of her message.

Something else worth noting: there was not the usual pomp and ceremony associated with a celebrity interview. Chef Pinkney simply sat down and revealed how she had made the most of her experiences, good and bad, by always learning and accomplishing something positive.

Audience member and fashion designer Claudia Urrutia said that she felt empowered and hopeful after hearing Chef Pinkney's amazing story of determination and triumph.

Summing up, Alderman Kifowit put it this way: "It was wonderful the way that Chef Pinkney challenged the attendees to look within themselves for ways to enrich their lives."

Anthony Stanford is a freelance writer living in Aurora. Contact him at bmhtales@sbcglobal.net.